What is bird flu? (Daily Telegraph) Avian influenza or 'bird flu' is a contagious disease of birds, caused by influenza A viruses that can cause a range of symptoms, from mild illness and low mortality to a highly contagious disease with a near 100% fatality rate. [News Source]

Scientists attack government bird flu planning. Some of Britain's top scientists yesterday accused the government of failing to listen to expert advice in its preparations for a flu pandemic and of stockpiling a single drug, which might not work, to treat the population. [News Source]

Second flu drug needed ‘to avert catastrophe’. A global outbreak of a highly lethal strain of influenza threatens to engulf Britain if the Government does not change its policy on how to deal with such a pandemic. [News Source]

US boosts its stockpiles of bird flu vaccine. The United States government ordered enough vaccine on Monday to protect an additional 2.7 million people against bird flu, adding to a stockpile for use in an outbreak of the deadly virus. [News Source]

New bird flu infection in poultry reported in northern Egypt. Some household poultry in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria have been tested positive for the H5N1 virus. [News Source]

Vietnam basically completes bird flu vaccination in 2006. Vietnam has vaccinated 163.4 million fowls in the second batch of bird flu vaccination, fundamentally finishing its two-phase vaccination plan for 2006. [News Source]

More bird flu vaccine needed, Royal Society warns. Britain should stockpile more than one antiviral drug to tackle any bird flu pandemic and appoint an independent flu specialist as a special adviser to the government, scientists said. [News Source]

Government urged to rethink bird flu drug plans. The government's strategy to prevent a flu pandemic is inadequate because the H5N1 virus can develop resistance to the only drug being stockpiled in the UK, scientists warned yesterday. [News Source]

GSK wins $40m bird flu vaccine contract in US. GlaxoSmithKline, Britain's largest drug company, has won a contract worth at least $40m (£21m) to supply the US with bird flu vaccines. [News Source]

Poultry roaming free as flu fears ease. The Dutch agriculture ministry on Tuesday lifted an order on keeping poultry indoors, introduced to protect flocks from the threat of avian flu from migrating birds, as fears of a possible outbreak receded. [News Source]

Who’s using whom? Will China gain influence from having one of its people at the head of WHO or will the winner be WHO itself as China becomes more engaged in fighting infectious disease? [News Source]

Dutch let poultry outdoors as bird flu fears ease (Reuters via Yahoo! News) The Dutch Agriculture Ministry on Tuesday lifted an order on keeping poultry indoors, introduced to protect flocks from the threat of avian flu from migrating birds, as fears of a possible outbreak receded. [News Source]