Regular Assessment of Bird Flu in Poultry Needed (Scoop.co.nz) A reported change in the bird flu virus comes as no surprise but underscores the need to assess regularly vaccines currently in use for poultry, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today. [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]

New H5N1 Bird Flu Virus in Asia (Ag Report) PARIS - Nov 8/06 - SNS -- The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza has mutated into what is called the Fujian virus, according to a report in last week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on the identification of a new H5N1 virus sublineage in poultry. [News Source]

Bird flu expert selected to head WHO. Bird flu expert Dr. Margaret Chan was selected Wednesday as the world's top health official, making her the first Chinese national chosen for such a high-ranking U.N. post. [News Source]

As WHO picks new chief, U.S. is an issue. U.S. officials deny they are seeking to force the administration's health policies upon the world. [News Source]

India sounds bird flu alert as migration season begins (Hindustan Times) India on Wednesday sounded a bird flu alert in all states as the season of migratory birds begins with the onset of winter. "We have given clear instruction to all our states to be on vigil. [News Source]

Bird-flu rift shows China’s travails. An unusually public dispute between the Chinese government and bird-flu researchers underscores that China is still wrestling with efforts to bring infectious-disease research under a single, state-sponsored umbrella. [News Source]

Workers prepare for flu pandemic. Even as thousands of South Carolina residents are being vaccinated against the flu, emergency workers across the state are learning how to deal with an influenza pandemic. [News Source]

Bird flu expert set to lead WHO. A Chinese expert on bird flu is set to become the next head of the World Health Organization. [News Source]

India sounds bird flu alert as migration season begins (New Kerala) New Delhi, Nov 8: India Wednesday sounded a bird flu alert in all states as the season of migratory birds begins with the onset of winter. "We have given clear instruction to all our states to be on vigil. [News Source]

Bird flu expert selected to head WHO (AP via Yahoo! News) Bird flu expert Dr. Margaret Chan was selected Wednesday as the world's top health official, making her the first Chinese national chosen for such a high-ranking U.N. post, delegates said. [News Source]

Lower poultry exports due to bird flu this fiscal: Sohoni (New Kerala) New Delhi, Nov 8: Incidence of bird flu in some areas of western India early this year will impact exports of poultry products, despite the country declaring itself an avian influenza free nation. [News Source]