NEWS SCAN: WHO confirms 5 Egyptian H5N1 cases, Jakarta culls backyard birds, ’silent’ avian flu infection (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy) WHO confirms 5 cases of H5N1 in Egyptian preschoolers The World Health Organization (WHO) today confirmed five previously reported cases of H5N1 avian influenza in Egypt... [News Source]

The Challenges Of Avian Influenza Virus (redOrbit) The latest special issue of Science in China Series C: Life Sciences focuses on the recent progress in the H5N1-related research field.Early 2009, eight human infection cases of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, with 5 death cases, were reported in China. [News Source]

Study shows hidden bird flu cases in Cambodia. The H5N1 bird flu virus can infect people without causing noticeable symptoms, but only rarely, according to a report published on Thursday. The study also suggests that people may become infected by swimming in ponds where infected birds have dabbled. [News Source]

Japan eases flu rules, no let up in Australia. Japan scaled back measures for handling the H1N1 flu on Friday but there was no let up for the rest of Asia as experts warned of more trouble with the approach of winter in the southern hemisphere. [News Source]

The challenges of avian influenza virus: Mechanism, epidemiology and control (EurekAlert!) The latest special issue of Science in China Series C: Life Sciences focuses on the recent progress in the H5N1-related research field. [News Source]