NEWS SCAN: WHO says stay vigilant for avian flu, H5N1 risk in poultry workers, community MRSA up 7-fold (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy) WHO warns countries to stay on guard for H5N1 threats The World Health Organization (WHO) today warned that recently confirmed cases of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry in Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam serve as a reminder that the virus is still a threat to humans. [News Source]

NEWS SCAN: WHO says stay vigilant for avian flu, H5N1 risk in poultry workers, community MRSA up 7-fold (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy) WHO warns countries to stay on guard for H5N1 threats The World Health Organization (WHO) today warned that recently confirmed cases of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry in Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam serve as a reminder that the virus is still a threat to humans. [News Source]

U of G Research May Lead to More Effective Avian Influenza Vaccine (University of Guelph News) University of Guelph scientists have made a discovery that may lead to more effective vaccines to protect poultry and humans from the deadly avian influenza virus. "We have found one of the molecular determinants of the H5N1 avian influenza virus that can induce immune responses in chickens," said Prof. Shayan Sharif, a researcher in the Department of Pathobiology and lead author of the study ... [News Source]

Vaccine makers are slow to perfect new techniques. After a lethal bird flu virus emerged in Asia, U.S. officials launched an intense effort to build new defenses against a pandemic, including replacing an antiquated vaccine system, which depends on millions of chicken eggs. [News Source]

Shifting vaccine for flu to elderly. Health officials are trying to shift supplies of the seasonal flu vaccine away from chain pharmacies and supermarkets to nursing homes--hoping to counter a shortage that threatens to cause a wave of deaths this winter among the nation’s most vulnerable population. [News Source]

The flu fighters—in your food. While many people are still waiting for swine-flu vaccine to become available in their area, there is a lot they can do in their own kitchens to help fight off disease and build a strong immune system. [News Source]

The flu fighters—in your food. While many people are still waiting for swine-flu vaccine to become available in their area, there is a lot they can do in their own kitchens to help fight off disease and build a strong immune system. [News Source]

Swine flu may have hit one peak; more to come. The pandemic of swine flu may be hitting a peak in the Northern Hemisphere, global health officials said on Friday, but they cautioned it was far from over. [News Source]

Swine flu may have hit one peak; more to come. The pandemic of swine flu may be hitting a peak in the Northern Hemisphere, global health officials said on Friday, but they cautioned it was far from over. [News Source]

Europe H1N1 flu deaths doubling every 2 weeks. The number of H1N1 swine flu deaths in Europe has doubled almost every two weeks since the middle of October and 169 people died of the virus in the past week, disease surveillance experts said on Monday. [News Source]

Europe H1N1 flu deaths doubling every 2 weeks. The number of H1N1 swine flu deaths in Europe has doubled almost every two weeks since the middle of October and 169 people died of the virus in the past week, disease surveillance experts said on Monday. [News Source]

Safety of GSK flu vaccine in doubt. Health minister Akira Nagatsuma said Monday he will send a fact-finding team to Canada by early December to "thoroughly investigate" allergic reactions to a new swine flu vaccine that Japan plans to import. [News Source]