Bird Flu Deaths in Indonesia Fuel Concern Over Disease Control (Bloomberg.com) May 15 (Bloomberg) -- At least five Indonesians from North Sumatra province are suspected to have died in recent weeks from bird flu, a World Health Organization official said, fueling concern over the country's ability to halt the virus in poultry. [News Source]

Canada ups effort to prepare for bird flu pandemic (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Canada is stepping up efforts to prepare for a potential bird flu pandemic, health officials said on Saturday, as a new outbreak of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus in poultry was discovered in Romania. [News Source]

Officials Hope Bird Flu Movie Provokes Preparation Not Panic (Fort Wayne News Channel 15) (Ft Wayne, IN)- A network movie about the a strain of avian influenza that can easily pass from person to person is creating a new buzz about bird flu. Indiana says it's ready. [News Source]

Avian flu wanes in Asian nations it first hit hard. The virulent bird flu that raised fears of a human pandemic has been largely snuffed out in the parts of SE Asia where it claimed its first and most numerous victims. [News Source]

Summit to take aim at the flu. In an effort to make sure emergency plans are in place well ahead of any flu pandemic, Howard County officials will soon begin educating the county's leaders to respond to a widespread medical disaster. [News Source]

Doctors challenge claims of Vioxx study. People who took the painkiller Vioxx were at increased risk of heart attack and stroke for at least a year after they stopped taking the drug, several doctors said, challenging claims the drug's maker had made. [News Source]

PhilHealth covers avian flu and flu pandemic (Sun Star) THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has expanded the benefit for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome by including "bird flu" and influenza pandemic in its coverage. [News Source]

Area officials prep for bird flu pandemic (Sentinel & Enterprise) Leominster officials are taking seriously the threat posed by a bird flu pandemic -- so seriously that they are determining where mass graves could be located in the city. [News Source]

City braces for possibility of bird flu (Stamford Advocate) STAMFORD -- City health officials, local businesses and agencies have been preparing for several months for something they hope will never strike in Stamford: avian flu. [News Source]

Avian flu wanes in Asian nations it first hit hard (International Herald Tribune) The bird flu has been largely snuffed out in the parts of Southeast Asia where it claimed its first victims. [News Source]

Avian Flu Wanes in Asian Nations It First Hit Hard (New York Times) Even as it crops up in Europe and Africa, the bird flu that raised fears of a human pandemic has been largely snuffed out in Southeast Asia. [News Source]