With Bird Flu Quiet, Poultry Producers Enjoy A Comeback (Investor’s Business Daily via Yahoo! News) Few industries are as vulnerable to events beyond their control as the meat and poultry industry. Even when something happens half a world away, like an outbreak of avian flu or mad cow disease, it can wreak havoc on the U.S. market. [News Source]

US govt says to reduce bird flu testing during ‘07 (AlertNet) Source: Reuters (Adds detail, byline) By Christopher Doering WASHINGTON, May 4 (Reuters) - The United States will test fewer wild birds during 2007 for the avian influenza virus than it did a year ago, but ... [News Source]

U.S. govt says to reduce bird flu testing (Reuters via Yahoo! News) The United States will test fewer wild birds during 2007 for the avian influenza virus than it did a year ago, but government officials said on Friday surveillance efforts will focus on species and locations with the greatest chance of detecting the virus. [News Source]

GHANA: Poultry culled after first bird flu infection reported (IRIN) TEMA, 4 May 2007 (IRIN) - Ghana has begun a mass culling of poultry after the country’s National Veterinary Laboratory said it had detected the nation’s first infection with the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza. [News Source]

Masks may not help against Super-Flu. If a super-flu strikes, face masks may not protect you. [News Source]

Expert to speak at pandemic flu meeting. Among the breakout sessions are programs dealing with pandemic planning for schools, planning for faith-based organizations and planning for businesses. [News Source]

U.S. issues guidelines on use of face masks in flu outbreak. If a flu pandemic ever emerges, surgical masks “should be considered” by anyone entering a crowd, and thicker industrial masks “should be considered” for anyone taking care of the sick. [News Source]

Heath officials issue West Nile reminder. The mosquito-born virus was first detected in the Western Hemisphere in 1999 and has since spread across North America and into all 48 continental states. According to the CDC, over 15,000 people in the US have since tested positive for WNV infection. [News Source]

Nigeria: Bird Flu – FG to Pay N281 Million to Poultry Farmers (AllAfrica.com) The Federal Government yesterday said it will pay N281 million compensation to 111 poultry farmers whose birds are affected by Avian Influenza popularly called bird flu in 13 states. [News Source]

Human risk low for avian flu in Maryland (Montgomery County Sentinel) Despite two incidents of avian flu among birds in and around Maryland since last September, the state is at low risk for the type that presents a danger to humans, said government authorities. [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]

RP imposes ban on poultry from West Virginia due to bird flu (INQ7.net) MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines has imposed a temporary ban on imports of poultry from West Virginia after US authorities confirmed an outbreak of the H5N2 bird flu virus in a turkey farm there, officials said Friday. [News Source]