Bird flu update: 30 October 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]

Stockpiling Glaxo’s Bird Flu Vaccine In UK (Medical News Today) UK Prime MInister, Tony Blair, and Chancellor, Gordon Brown, had talks with J. P. Garnier, Glaxo's CEO, about building up a stockpile of H5N1 bird flu vaccines. Glaxo has signed a deal with Singapore, according to The Times (UK). Switzerland has ordered 8 million doses, the order provides enough doses for one per head of the entire Swiss population. Click here to read about the Swiss order. [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]

Nigerian farmers fear bird flu is spreading (Tiscali) JAJI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Small poultry farmers in Nigeria close to where the deadly H5N1 avian flu virus was detected said on Thursday birds were dying in large numbers and they did not know why. [News Source]

Bird flu likely to re-emerge in cold, wet (Bangkok Post) A re-emergence of the avian influenza outbreak is likely as the country is entering the cold season while fowls are in poor health due to widespread floods, Livestock Development Department chief Yukol Limlamthong has warned. [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]

No avian flu found in tests of Ohio birds (Akron Beacon Journal) Tests conducted by two federal agencies have confirmed that no avian influenza virus was found in samples collected from wild ducks in Ohio several weeks ago. [News Source]

Preparations for a flu pandemic. Neither America nor the rest of the world is yet ready to handle a worst-case pandemic. [News Source]

No avian flu found in tests of Ohio birds (Akron Beacon Journal) Tests conducted by two federal agencies have confirmed that no avian influenza virus was found in samples collected from wild ducks in Ohio several weeks ago. [News Source]

Workshop warns of bird flu pandemic (Jonesboro Sun) JONESBORO -- Are you ready? The key question in Friday's pandemic preparedness workshop sponsored by St. Bernards Healthcare Associated Regional Providers and St. Bernards Healthcare focused on being able to deal with the crisis of a Type A Avian influenza -- better known as bird flu. [News Source]

Thailand mulls plan to set up bird flu vaccine factory (MCOT) BANGKOK, Oct 28 (TNA) - In a bid to keep Thailand well-prepared for possible recurrence of another outbreak of bird flu, Thailand will study the possibility to set up a factory to produce avian influenza or bird flu vaccine. [News Source]

Hunting for bird flu (KATU Portland) Hunting seasons are in full swing right now and Northwest waterfowl hunters are on the front line keeping watch for the bird flu. The search has really hit home for one local hunter, who recently recovered from a mysterious illness. [News Source]