U.S. reaction to swine flu: Apt and lucky. Although it is too early to write the obituary for swine flu, medical experts have found that while luck played a part, a series of rapid but conservative decisions by federal officials worked out better than many had dared hope. [News Source]

Garlic prices soar in China amid flu fears. As H1N1 swine flu continues to worry China's leaders — who are rolling out a nationwide vaccine program — its people seek a more traditional remedy. Just as some Chinese turned to turnips to prevent the SARS virus in 2003, garlic has emerged as a swine flu fighter in 2009. [News Source]

Scientists to probe global warming’s impact on avian flu virus (MalaysiaNews.net) Washington, Jan 2 (IANS) Does global warming help the avian flu virus mutate into more lethal versions? That's the million-dollar question bothering scientists as they embark upon research to shed light on the characteristics of host-switching infectious agents. [News Source]