US unveils action plan to combat possible bird flu pandemic (Channel NewsAsia) WASHINGTON : The White House on Wednesday released an action plan to counter any avian flu pandemic, amid fears that an outbreak could cause a massive loss of life and widespread economic damage in the United States. [News Source]

Is Nashville Ready For Bird Flu Pandemic? (WKRN Nashville) The Avian Flu has yet to spread to the United States, but experts believe it's only a matter of time. Health experts warn that the strain of the virus that could hit in Middle Tennessee could be the kind that infects people and it could be fatal. | | Metro officials are working with state health officials to get ready for the possible outbreak of the Avian Bird Flu. Wednesday, News 2... [News Source]

Bird flu outbreak would threaten ‘basic functioning’ of US society: White House (AFP via Yahoo! News) The White House released an action plan to counter any avian flu pandemic, amid fears that an outbreak could cause a massive loss of life and widespread economic damage in the United States. [News Source]

Preparing For The Bird Flu (KWWL-TV Iowa City) A severe outbreak of Avian Influenza, or the "bird flu", could take 4 out of every 10 American workers off the job, for weeks at a time. On Wednesday, the White House released a revised plan to deal with the possible outbreak, but warned the federal government cannot solve the problem alone. [News Source]

Bird flu would threaten ‘basic functioning’ of US society: White House (AFP via Yahoo! News) The White House released an action plan to counter any avian flu pandemic, amid fears that an outbreak could cause a massive loss of life and widespread economic damage in the United States. [News Source]

US flu response plan offers few answers. A medical reality is complicating federal preparations for the next pandemic: Flu spreads in ways that make it extremely unlikely that the United States could avoid being hit. [News Source]

Draft report outlines plans for pandemic. The federal government will stockpile 75 million doses of antiviral drugs and 20 million doses of vaccine to combat any outbreak of pandemic flu, according to a summary of a draft response plan. [News Source]

Big impact forecast with bird flu. The government is forecasting massive disruptions if bird flu or some other super-strain of influenza arises, including as much as 40 percent of the national workforce off the job, but U.S. borders probably won't be closed to fight the spread. [News Source]

Pandemic flu plan suggests limited federal role. A draft flu pandemic response plan from the federal government says a worst-case scenario could kill up to 2 million people in the United States. [News Source]

Who’s paying for bird flu prep? The Bush administration has a plan to deal with a massive bird flu epidemic. But what role should the government play — and what costs should private business bear? [News Source]

Federal bird flu aid may be tough. States, cities and businesses should not expect to be rescued by the federal government if a flu pandemic strikes, warns a draft of the latest national response plan, one already under fire from critics who say federal preparations are moving too slowly. [News Source]

Bird flu tests show good news. New Jersey investigators are awaiting final test results from a federal laboratory after finding a chicken and two ducks at a Camden County live poultry market that appear to have been infected with a mild version of bird flu. [News Source]