End to bird trapping sought (Manila Bulletin) STA. FE, Nueva Vizcaya -- Environmentalists have raised concern about the possible entry of the dreaded avian influenza or bird flu in Nueva Vizcaya as they sought a stop to the practice of bird trapping in the mountains in this province. [News Source]

Scientists examine bird flu infections to monitor for ‘pandemic’ mutations (PhysOrg) Scientists funded by the Wellcome Trust are to examine what is preventing the H5N1 avian influenza virus from causing a human pandemic and what mutations are required to realise its deadly potential. The research could hold the key to early identification of a potential influenza pandemic, and to developing drugs and a vaccine. [News Source]

Scientists examine bird flu infections to monitor for ‘pandemic’ mutations (EurekAlert!) ( Wellcome Trust ) Scientists funded by the Wellcome Trust are to examine what is preventing the H5N1 avian influenza virus from causing a human pandemic and what mutations are required to realise its deadly potential. The research could hold the key to early identification of a potential influenza pandemic, and to developing drugs and a vaccine. [News Source]

VIETNAM: Uphill battle to raise awareness of bird flu (AlertNet) Source: IRIN The key message that needs to be heard is that Avian Influenza (AI) is endemic in Vietnam and needs to be controlled, say UN officials involved in the battle to identify and contain avian influenza outbreaks. [News Source]

Novavax moves closer to licensing bird flu vaccine. Novavax said yesterday that its bird flu vaccine elicited a robust immune response in humans, moving the biotech a step closer to licensing its pandemic vaccine production system. [News Source]

Discovery Offers Potential For Drugs To Fight Bird Flu, Other Influenza Epidemics (Medical News Today) Researchers at Rutgers University and The University of Texas at Austin have reported a discovery that could help scientists develop drugs to fight the much-feared bird flu and other virulent strains of influenza. [News Source]

Sharp unveils new anti-bird flu air purifier (AFP via Yahoo! News) Japan's Sharp Corp. said Wednesday that it has developed an air purifier that eliminates 99.9 percent of the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu within 10 minutes. [News Source]

Pitt Scientists Receive $3.6 Million To Test Vaccine Against Deadliest Strain Of Avian Flu (Medical News Today) Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research have been awarded $3.6 million from the National Institutes of Health to conduct animal studies of vaccines designed to protect against the most common and deadliest strain of avian flu, H5N1. [News Source]

Researchers identify information to help stop avian flu spread (The Daily Texan) Researchers from UT and Rutgers University have discovered new information that will help to develop a drug to curtail the prevalence of the avian flu in humans. The researchers identified the structure of the virus, which binds to a protein that defends the human body against the virus, said Robert Krug, UT research team leader and professor of molecular genetics and microbiology. [News Source]

Pitt gets $3.6 million for avian flu vaccine (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Monkeys and viral decoys could be key to creating an effective avian-flu vaccine before a worldwide pandemic can strike. ... [News Source]

Novavax Moves Closer to Licensing Bird Flu Vaccine (Washington Post) Novavax said yesterday that its bird flu vaccine elicited a robust immune response in humans, moving the biotech a step closer to licensing its pandemic vaccine production system. [News Source]

Study could aid bird flu drugs (UPI) AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- University of Texas and Rutgers researchers have reported a discovery that could help scientists develop drugs to fight bird flu and other influenza strains. [News Source]