U.N. Official Sees Bird Flu as Threat for Next Decade (U.S. Department of State) Bird flu is likely to remain a health threat to animals, and possibly humans, for the next decade, the U.N. coordinator for avian influenza says. Dr. David Nabarro said October 23 that the avian influenza virus H5N1 "still is a major animal health issue for most of the world and we think it's going to stay that way for five, perhaps 10 years, to come." [News Source]

Wrong labels prompt recalls. Incorrect labelling is the main reason food products were pulled off supermarket shelves in safety recalls last year, figures show. [News Source]

Russia tests bird flu vaccine. Clinical tests of a bird flu vaccine, developed by the Russian Health Ministry's state-owned Science and Production Association Mikrogen in conjunction with the Academy of Medical Sciences, have been conducted in the last three months with encouraging results. [News Source]

In flu crisis, we all can’t stay home. Ask Americans whether they would hole up at home to keep from spreading a super-strain of flu, and at first they pledge to cooperate. [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]

UGA Study Identifies North American Wild Bird Species That Could Transmit Bird Flu (Medical News Today) University of Georgia researchers have found that the common wood duck and laughing gull are very susceptible to highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses and have the potential to transmit them. [click link for full article] [News Source]

Glaxo says more govts plan to buy bird flu vaccine (AlertNet) Source: Reuters LONDON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline Plc expects to sign more contracts to supply governments with its experimental bird flu vaccine for humans, following purchases by Switzerland ... [News Source]

Glaxo says more govts plan to buy bird flu vaccine (Reuters via Yahoo! News) GlaxoSmithKline Plc expects to sign more contracts to supply governments with its experimental bird flu vaccine for humans, following purchases by Switzerland and an unidentified Asian country. [News Source]

Study warns U.S. of avian influenza perils (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Many Americans would have no one to care for them if they became ill during a bird flu pandemic, and a substantial number would suffer serious financial hardship, a Harvard University poll showed on Thursday. [News Source]

Study warns U.S. of avian influenza perils (AlertNet) Source: Reuters By Jason Szep BOSTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Many Americans would have no one to care for them if they became ill during a bird flu pandemic, and a substantial number would suffer serious financial ... [News Source]