Simulations key to Asia’s bird flu preparedness: experts (AFP via Yahoo! News) Asia Pacific nations should carry out regular exercises to test their preparedness for a bird flu pandemic, communicable disease experts said after witnessing a simulation in Singapore. [News Source]

NZ Poultry Meat Industry Free Of “Bird Flu” (Scoop.co.nz) The completion of a comprehensive testing programme for notifiable Avian Influenza has clearly demonstrated that the New Zealand Poultry meat industry is free of notifiable avian influenza, Poultry Industry Association executive director Michael Brooks said today. [News Source]

Suspected bird-flu cases in Phichit (The Nation) Three more people with suspected bird-flu have been reported in Phichit, one of the provinces listed by the government as an avian-flu "red zone". [News Source]

Indonesia’s leaders hamper bird flu control (Business Day) JAKARTA – Bird flu control in Indonesia is being hampered by some local government leaders who are deliberately ignoring orders to cull infected fowl, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said. [News Source]

Bulgarian bird flu unlikely virulent strain (Sydney Morning Herald) Bird flu reported in Bulgaria last week is most probably not from the highly virulent H5 or H7 strain, potentially dangerous for humans, veterinarian officials said yesterday. - [News Source]