A DNA-based vaccine shows promise against avian flu (PhysOrg) (PhysOrg.com) -- Though it has fallen from the headlines, a global pandemic caused by bird flu still has the United States` Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on high alert. Yet, to date, the only vaccines that have proven even semi-effective are produced in chicken eggs, take five to six months to prepare and act against a single variant of the H5N1 virus, which mutates incredibly ... [News Source]

US approves test for human and bird flu (AFP via Yahoo! News) The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new test that can rapidly diagnose and identify human influenza infections and human bird flu, the agency announced. [News Source]

DEFRA changes its routine wild bird avian flu surveillance FWi (Farmers Weekly Interactive) DEFRA has changed the way it identifies wild birds that may be carrying avian flu, as part of its routine ongoing surveillance for the H5N1 virus. [News Source]

US approves test for human and bird flu (AFP via Yahoo! News) The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new test that can rapidly diagnose and identify human influenza infections and human bird flu, the agency announced. [News Source]

Scientists Working To Protect Northern Ireland From Bird Flu (Medical News Today) Queen's University Belfast scientists are involved in two international projects aimed to protect Northern Ireland's agri-food industry from Bird Flu and African Swine Fever, a disease which kills pigs. Working with colleagues from other EU-member states and the Far East in the FLUTEST project they are providing improved diagnosis and early warning systems for bird flu. [News Source]