City prepares for avian flu (Potomac News) The Manassas City Council heard a presentation Wednesday on the H5N1 avian influenza and what would happen in the event of a pandemic. The presentation was in two parts, one part giving an overview of the avian flu, and another part which detailed local plans to deal with it. [News Source]

FluWrap: West Java Goes Own Way (RedNova) By KATE WALKER West Java, the Indonesian province worst-hit by avian influenza, has opted out of a government-backed special commission on public bird-flu education, saying it will instead focus its efforts on improving its existing bird-flu-prevention team. [News Source]

New drug blocks influenza, including bird flu virus (EurekAlert!) MADISON -- Opening a new front in the war against flu, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have reported the discovery of a novel compound that confers broad protection against influenza viruses, including deadly avian influenza. [News Source]

Bird flu: Who’s next? Bangladesh!The Role of Public Administration (News From Bangladesh) In comparison to malaria and diarroeal diseases, which together kill over 3 million people every year, bird flu has killed very few people. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the H5N1 virus may mutate into a new human flu virus against, which humans have no immunity. [News Source]

FluWrap: West Java goes own way (UPI) LONDON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- West Java, the Indonesian province worst-hit by avian influenza, has opted out of a government-backed special commission on public bird-flu education, saying it will instead focus its efforts on improving its existing bird-flu-prevention team. [News Source]

Vietnam to import bird flu vaccines from Italy. Vietnam will, sometime this month, import six million doses of bird flu vaccines to be used among white-winged ducks. [News Source]

Urban bird owners get anti-flu advice. Hundreds of undocumented chickens live in Seattle, a clucking time bomb planted right in the urban core should the severe Asian strain of avian influenza ever finds its way to this region. [News Source]

N.J. unveils campaign about flu pandemic. Average citizens need to prepare for the influenza pandemic that public health officials have been warning is overdue, New Jersey's top health officials said Tuesday in announcing a public awareness campaign. [News Source]