Senior UN expert urges better preparedness for flu pandemic (People’s Daily) A senior United Nations expert on Tuesday called for better preparedness for an influenza pandemic despite greater awareness in the aftermath of the outbreaks of avian flu. Briefing reporters here about a report on responses to avian influenza and state of pandemic readiness, UN System Influenza Coordinator David Nabarro said many countries are planning for an influenza pandemic, but many of the ... [News Source]

Countries Lack Adequate ‘Bird Flu’ Response Plans (Scoop.co.nz) Most countries that have strategies in place to deal with a possible avian influenza pandemic have not properly tested those plans, leaving them extremely vulnerable if a major outbreak were to occur, the head of United Nations efforts to prepare such an eventuality said today. [News Source]

Bird flu response broad but untested: UN (The West Australian) The good news is most countries have plans to deal with a global bird flu pandemic. The bad news is most of those plans are untested and could fail, UN officials said. [News Source]

Bird flu response broad but untested: UN (AAP via Yahoo!7 News) The good news is most countries have plans to deal with a global bird flu pandemic. The bad news is most of those plans are untested and could fail. [News Source]

Bird flu response broad but untested: UN (AAP via Yahoo!7 News) The good news is most countries have plans to deal with a global bird flu pandemic. The bad news is most of those plans are untested and could fail. [News Source]

Bird flu pushed back, pandemic threat remains: UN (Reuters via Yahoo! News) International efforts have pushed back the spread of bird flu this year, but the risk of a global influenza pandemic killing millions is as great as ever, the United Nations and World Bank reported on Tuesday. [News Source]

Bird flu pushed back, pandemic threat remains: UN (Reuters via Yahoo! News) International efforts have pushed back the spread of bird flu this year, but the risk of a global influenza pandemic killing millions is as great as ever, the United Nations and World Bank reported on Tuesday. [News Source]

IDNR participating in avian influenza surveillance (The Canton Daily Ledger) SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) again this fall is participating in the national surveillance effort for highly pathogenic avian influenza by collecting samples from hunter-harvested ducks during the upcoming Illinois waterfowl hunting season. [News Source]

IDNR participating in avian influenza surveillance (The Canton Daily Ledger) SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) again this fall is participating in the national surveillance effort for highly pathogenic avian influenza by collecting samples from hunter-harvested ducks during the upcoming Illinois waterfowl hunting season. [News Source]

Egypt to host international bird flu conference (Russian Information Agency Novosti) CAIRO, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - Egypt is to host an international conference on the bird flu virus in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh on October 25, the country's health minister said on Tuesday. [News Source]

IDNR participating in avian influenza surveillance (The Canton Daily Ledger) SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) again this fall is participating in the national surveillance effort for highly pathogenic avian influenza by collecting samples from hunter-harvested ducks during the upcoming Illinois waterfowl hunting season. [News Source]

No bird flu in Tripura (New Kerala) Agartala, Oct 21 : The Tripura government today denied any case of avian influenza in the state. [News Source]