New research helps explain why bird flu has not caused a pandemic (EurekAlert!) ( Imperial College London ) Bird flu viruses would have to make at least two simultaneous genetic mutations before they could be transmitted readily from human to human, according to research published today in PLoS ONE. [News Source]

Business › Japan suspends imports of French poultry products due to bird flu (Japan Today) The farm ministry said Wednesday it has suspended imports of poultry products from France, where avian influenza has broken out on a duck farm. The… [News Source]

Japan bans French poultry imports (Bangkok Post – Thailand’s English news) Japan is suspending imports from French poultry suppliers following an outbreak of bird flu at a duck farm, a report said Wednesday. [News Source]

Asia to get flu drug stockpile by April 2010. Asia will receive a stockpile of 500,000 courses of H1N1 flu drugs to supplement any shortfall in the region--even though northern hemisphere countries such as South Korea and Japan have so far been able to cope with the outbreak. [News Source]

H1N1, asthma can be a dire combination in children. While H1N1's effects in a healthy child can range anywhere from mild congestion and sore throat to serious respiratory illness, and even death, the 7 million American kids who have asthma are at a higher risk for complications and death if they contract the novel flu virus. [News Source]

Child dies as swine flu turns drug-resistant. Another child has died after contracting swine flu, as it emerged yesterday that the first cases of swine flu becoming resistant to antiviral drugs have been reported in Scotland. [News Source]

Swine flu vaccine access may depend on location. It appears some states are doing better than others with the availability and distribution of the swine flu vaccine. In California, for example, health officials are reporting that some high-risk people will not have access to the vaccine until 2010. [News Source]

Better not cough: Santas lobby for swine flu shots. Many of the nation's Santas want to be given priority for the vaccine and not just because of those runny-nosed kids. There's also the not-so-little matter of that round belly. Research has suggested obesity could be a risk factor. [News Source]

Common cold may hold off swine flu. A virus that causes the common cold may be saving people from swine flu. If this intriguing idea turns out to be true, it would explain why swine flu's autumn wave has been slow to take off in some countries and point to new ways to fight flu. [News Source]

FDA reassures doctors skeptical of H1N1 vaccine. It's difficult to find doctors who don't believe in the new H1N1 swine flu vaccine, but there are a few. Some are concerned about all vaccinations, or are not convinced that the H1N1 vaccine has been vetted enough--despite the government's intensive monitoring program. [News Source]

Officials defend handling of flu vaccine. Federal officials said the root causes of a nationwide shortage of swine flu vaccine were beyond their control. [News Source]