U.S. health agency stages bird flu war game (Reuters via Yahoo! News) A leading U.S. health agency staged a war game this week to test its response to one of the worst health emergencies it could imagine -- an outbreak of avian flu on American soil. [News Source]

US, Japan fund bird flu vaccine project (Viet Nam News) GENEVA — The US and Japan agreed this week to provide financial assistance to six developing countries, including Viet Nam, in order to step up domestic avian influenza vaccine production, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). [News Source]

Sanitary chief expects bird flu in Russia, office allays fears (Budapest Business Journal) Russia's chief sanitary doctor said Friday outbreaks of bird flu could occur in Siberia and European Russia this summer, while Russia's agriculture competition office responded that they were fully prepared to deal with it. [News Source]

BSF and Customs alerted about Avian Flu cases in Pakistan (New Kerala) New Delhi, Apr 27: The Border Security Force (BSF) and Custom authorities in the border areas with Pakistan have been asked to step up vigilance against informal/illegal trade of restricted livestock and its products in view of the outbreak of Avian Influenza in Pakistan, the government informed the Rajya Sabha. [News Source]

Japan provides $155 mln to combat bird flu in Indonesia (Antara News) The Japanese government has allocated US$155 million fund since 2004 to combat bird flu virus as well as to improve human and poultry health, a Japanese official has said. [News Source]

China and World Bank kicks off bird flu prevention project (Interfax) Shanghai. April 27. INTERFAX-CHINA - The Chinese government and the World Bank have launched a $2.5 million avian and human influenza prevention project with the aim to reduce outbreaks in high-risk bird flu areas, a World Bank official said today in Beijing. [News Source]

Final Epidemiology Report Into Avian Influenza Outbreak In Suffolk Published, UK (Medical News Today) Defra has today published the final epidemiology report into the outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in Suffolk confirmed in February. The report sets out the findings of the National Emergency Epidemiology Group who have been investigating the outbreak in close consultation with the European Commission and the Hungarian Authorities. [click link for full article] [News Source]

Panel needs B9bn for plan to fight bird flu (Bangkok Post) The National Committee on Avian Influenza Control needs nine billion baht for a plan to fight bird flu and a potential flu pandemic, Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham said yesterday. [News Source]

Global bird-flu vaccine stockpile a stage nearer (EARTHtimes.org) Geneva - Health leaders moved closer to creating a world stockpile of vaccine in preparation for a potential pandemic of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu after a two day meeting ended in Geneva Thursday. The World Health Organization (WHO) countries... [News Source]

G&FC Checking Ducks for Avian Influenza (Ashley County Ledger) The outbreak of avian influenza in Asia several years ago has put public health officials on the alert in the U.S. But wildlife managers also play an integral part in monitoring for signs of the virus. [News Source]

China says needs more funds, aid in bird flu fight:. China needs more money and more help to improve its health services to fight bird flu, an official said on Thursday, while the WHO said the threat of a pandemic remained a real possibility. [News Source]

Government sets long-term plan to tackle bird flu (MCOT) BANGKOK, April (TNA) - The Thai government has stepped up its preventive measures against the outbreak of Avian influenza -- bird flu -- in response to concerns that an outbreak is likely to take place later this year, and, as part of the long-term solution, has set aside Bt 9 billion baht (US$257 million) for a three-year plan designed to deal with the deadly virus. [News Source]