Scientists put interactive flu tracking at public’s fingertips (Science Daily) New methods of studying avian influenza strains and visually mapping their movement around the world will help scientists more quickly learn the behavior of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus, Ohio State University researchers say. The researchers linked many powerful computer systems together to analyze enormous amounts of genetic data collected from all publicly available isolated strains of the H5N1 ... [News Source]

NEWS SCAN: Slowdown on oyster safety, food tracing recommendations, avian flu in France (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy) FDA backs off on Gulf Coast oyster safety plan In response to protests from the oyster industry and politicians, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the suspension, pending further study, of a plan to prevent the summertime contamination of Gulf Coast oysters by Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. [News Source]

Flight Paths of Death (Pasadena Weekly) Flight Paths of Death [News Source]

Interactive Flu Tracking Now At Your Fingertips (redOrbit) New methods of studying avian influenza strains and visually mapping their movement around the world will help scientists more quickly learn the behavior of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus, Ohio State University researchers say.The researchers linked many powerful computer systems together to analyze enormous amounts of genetic data collected from all publicly available isolated strains of the H5N1 ... [News Source]

Scientists Put Interactive Flu Tracking at Public’s Fingertips (Newswise) New methods of studying avian influenza strains and visually mapping their movement around the world will help scientists more quickly learn the behavior of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus, researchers say. [News Source]

Scientists put interactive flu tracking at public’s fingertips (PhysOrg) New methods of studying avian influenza strains and visually mapping their movement around the world will help scientists more quickly learn the behavior of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus, Ohio State University researchers say. [News Source]

Scientists put interactive flu tracking at public’s fingertips (EurekAlert!) New methods of studying avian influenza strains and visually mapping their movement around the world will help scientists more quickly learn the behavior of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus, Ohio State University researchers say. The researchers linked many powerful computer systems together to analyze enormous amounts of genetic data collected from all publicly available isolated strains of the H5N1 ... [News Source]

Antismoking fight proves a pyramid-size task. Perhaps not since Egypt built the great pyramids has the government embarked on as challenging a national project: wiping out smoking in public places. Despite laws, smoking is ubiquitous, but antismoking forces are making another try. [News Source]

Audit finds federal labs struggle to keep track of pathogens. Government labs struggle to keep track of viruses and bacteria, a recent audit found. The Public Health Agency of Canada document warns weak controls at federal facilities could allow harmful pathogens to go missing. [News Source]

Apocalypse fatigue. What will it take to rally Americans behind the need to take strong action on cutting carbon emissions? [News Source]

Thailand: 1,500 Rapid Response Units On Bird Flu Watch Standby (Bernama) BANGKOK, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Thailand's Minister of Public Health Witthaya Kaewparadai on Monday instructed provincial health chiefs to prepare 1,500 local rapid response units to monitor the bird flu situation following the death of 1,000 ducks in the central province of Suphan Buri in Thailand. [News Source]

MCOT Public Company Limited.2008 (MCOT – English News By Thai News Agency) BANGKOK, Nov 16 (TNA) - Thailand's Minister of Public Health Witthaya Kaewparadai on Monday instructed provincial health chiefs to prepare local rapid response units to monitor the bird flu situation amid concerns of the re-emergence of bird flu outbreaks following the death of a thousand ducks in the central province of Suphan Buri. [News Source]