Flu focus: NIH project aims for better drugs (PhysOrg) Rice University scientists have won a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to scrutinize the influenza A virus for clues that could lead to more effective antiviral drugs. Strains of influenza A include this year's pandemic H1N1 variety, some seasonal varieties and the much-feared H5N1 bird flu. [News Source]

Flu focus: NIH project aims for better drugs (EurekAlert!) ( Rice University ) Biochemists at Rice University have won $1.5 million in stimulus funding from the National Institutes of Health to scrutinize the influenza A virus for structural clues that could boost the effectiveness of antiviral drugs. The influenza A category includes this year's pandemic H1N1 flu strain, some seasonal varieties of flu and the much-feared H5N1 bird flu. [News Source]

Avian flu could be sexually transmitted by ducks FWi (Farmers Weekly Interactive) The avian flu virus may be a sexually transmitted infection in ducks, therefore, explaining the seasonal peaks in outbreaks during the breeding season. [News Source]