Tamiflu protects ferrets in avian flu study (CIDRAP) May 4, 2006 (CIDRAP News) – A new study suggests that the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) can prevent deaths in ferrets infected with H5N1 avian influenza, according to reports today from an avian flu conference in Singapore. [News Source]

Confusion over bird flu warnings (Powys County Times) THERE was confusion this week over bird flu notices warning the public not to feed water fowl in Mid Wales. The signs, which have been put up by Severn Trent Water around Lake Vyrnwy, appear to state that due to concerns over avian influenza visitors should “not feed the ducks or geese.” [News Source]

Beware Europe’s unknown viral nasties. A veritable zoo of nasty new viruses is circulating in Europe and could be killing people without even being suspected. [News Source]

Expect the worst … it’ll happen, disaster forum told. One thing is certain if a pandemic flu hits Ontario: It will be a disaster. [News Source]

Bird flu would ravage U.S., White House warns. The White House on Wednesday unveiled a foreboding report on the nation's lack of preparedness for a bird flu pandemic, warning that such an outbreak could kill as many as 2 million people and deal a war-like blow to the country's economic and social fabric. [News Source]

U.S. discusses adding avian strain to influenza vaccine. The U.S. is considering adding a component of the deadly bird flu virus to the seasonal-flu shot as a hedge against a possible outbreak. [News Source]

‘Merchant of drumsticks’ aims to allay chicken-flu fears. For the U.S. chicken industry, with about $38 billion in annual retail sales, maintaining public confidence is crucial. Last year, the average U.S. consumer gobbled down nearly 90 pounds of chicken. [News Source]

States welcome flu plan but say they need federal money. State and local officials welcomed the federal government's latest plan for dealing with pandemic flu, but some complained that the Bush administration had failed to provide the money needed. [News Source]

There’s more than one bird flu, experts warn. The deadly H5N1 bird flu which is currently sweeping across the globe is not the only potential candidate virus for the next human flu pandemic strain, experts have warned. [News Source]

Inside the White House Plan for the Pandemic. A White House report establishing a national response to a global disease outbreak, including bird flu, warns that state and local law enforcement may have to enforce isolation or even quarantine procedures in certain cases to try to contain the pandemic. [News Source]

White house plan defers leadership in bird-flu fight. Many crucial questions about the government's response remain unanswered in the implementation plan. [News Source]

Pa. says the state is preparing for flu. Pennsylvania public health officials have been preparing intensively for a flu pandemic that in a worst-case scenario could strike nearly 13 percent of the population and cause an estimated 9,000 deaths statewide. [News Source]