Taiwan prepares to mass produce new bird flu vaccine (AFP via Yahoo! News) Taiwanese scientists are preparing to mass produce a bird flu vaccine developed using a novel cell-based technology to battle any possible epidemic of the deadly H5N1 virus. [News Source]

Hong Kong get tough on imported food. Hong Kong's government on Thursday said it will introduce laws to toughen food checks after environmentalists found yet more vegetables contaminated with banned poisons. [News Source]

Hong Kong gets tough on imported food. Hong Kong's government on Thursday said it will introduce laws to toughen food checks after environmentalists found yet more vegetables contaminated with banned poisons. [News Source]

India earmarks Rs.1.34 bn to fight bird flu (IANS via Yahoo! India News) New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) India Thursday allocated Rs.1.34 billion to prepare, control and contain bird flu for three years starting March 2007. [News Source]

Bird flu awareness programme gets CCEA's nod (ANI via Yahoo! India News) New Delhi, Apr 12 (ANI): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday cleared the implementation of a bird flu awareness programme-- Preparedness, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza-- at a cost of Rs.134.78 crores for three years. The awareness programme includes pre-outbreak preparedness, planning and coordination; supporting an Outbreak Containment Plan; and Bird Flu ... [News Source]

Bird flu spreads to southern region (Gulf Times) DHAKA: Bird flu has spread to the southern region of Bangladesh, despite persistent efforts by veterinary and health personnel to contain it, a senior official of the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry said yesterday. [News Source]