Bird Flu Deaths Climb as Scientists Probe Human Link (Update1) (Bloomberg.com) May 23 (Bloomberg) -- The number of reported bird flu fatalities this month climbed to 13, the highest since February 2004, as scientists investigate whether the virus has undergone changes enabling it to spread more easily between people. [News Source]

Combo vaccines for avian flu developed (USA Today) Combination vaccines that could point the way to a more efficient and cost-effective means of battling bird flu have been created by separate teams of researchers. Scientists in the United States and Germany reported on methods of combining vaccines for flu and Newcastle disease. [News Source]

Three new avian flu cases reported in Indonesia, 2 in Iran (CIDRAP) May 22, 2006 (CIDRAP news) – Local tests indicate that two more Indonesians have died of H5N1 avian influenza—one of them from the extended family case cluster still being investigated in northern Sumatra, according to news reports. [News Source]

Combo Vaccines for Avian Flu Developed (AP via Yahoo! News) Combination vaccines that could point the way to a more efficient and cost-effective means of battling bird flu have been created by separate teams of researchers. [News Source]

Combo Vaccines Developed Against Bird Flu (HealthDay via Yahoo! News) MONDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists are reporting an effective and inexpensive way to vaccinate poultry against avian flu and, hopefully, prevent its spread to humans. [News Source]

Vaccines protect birds from bird flu, other virus (Reuters via Yahoo! News) A bird flu vaccine piggybacked onto a widely used vaccine against another bird virus could be a quick and easy way to protect poultry against the H5N1 avian influenza virus, researchers said on Monday. [News Source]

British boost for bird flu research (AFP via Yahoo! News) Fears of a deadly bird flu pandemic have prompted Britain's Medical Research Council (MRC) to boost its funding for studies into the virus, the body said. [News Source]

Lack of live chickens may protect state from avian flu virus. The avian influenza virus - if it continues in its present form - would have a tough time making inroads in the human population in Michigan and much of North America. [News Source]

Scientists hunt bird flu in Alaska. The search for the first wild bird carrying a deadly flu virus to North America is under way on a lonely stretch of coastal salt marsh on the outskirts of Alaska's largest city. [News Source]

UN Asks for DuPont’s Assistance to Help Control Spread of Avian Flu in 69 Nations (Logistics Management) As a precautionary measure to combat avian flu, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today asked DuPont to provide initial supplies of its DuPont Virkon S veterinary disinfectant to meet the short-term needs in 69 nations, where it is needed most to help governments and farmers prevent avian flu from spreading. [News Source]

Should Pet Owners Be Concerned About Bird Flu? (WCVB TheBostonChannel.com via Yahoo! News) For months, scientists have been tracking and testing birds as they migrate into the United States. Bird flu is not in this country, but many residents are wondering what steps they can take to protect their pets. [News Source]

Bird flu update: 22 May 2006 (SciDev.net) Below is a roundup of the key developments on the spread of the bird flu virus (H5N1) and the threat it poses to human health. Each title is a link to the full article. [News Source]