Reports from Hanoi say that Tamiflu, the antibiotic that the world is stocking up on in case of a human bird flu pandemic has proven to be ineffective in treating some patients who have been stricken down with Bird Flu.  More.

Source:  The Australian

An annual poultry eating festival in Spain has been a huge success again this year in spite of Bird Flu fears in Europe.  More.

Source:  AFP via Yahoo News Australia & NZ

A local-based Indian pharmaceutical company has been granted the license to manufacture an Indian based version of Tamiflu.  More.

Source:  The Indian Express

The United Nations has asked Indonesia to "step up" its efforts in preparation for a Bird Flu outbreak in order to minimalize further outbreaks.  More.

Source:  People's Daily Online - China

Some Americans will no doubt be less than happy to learn that Tamiflu drugs which they purchased from Asia over the internet have been seized by US Customs officials after it was discovered that the drugs were fake.  More.

Source:  ABC News Radio Australia

Romanian officials fear that they have found yet another outbreak of bird flu in poultry.  The H5N1 hotspot this time is 100km out of Bucharest.  More.

Source:  The Australian

A recent examination into the possible effects of Bird Flu into the New Zealand economy has found that the Bird Flu could cost NZ up to NZ $40 billion - the most devastating economic impact since the 1930s Great Depression.  More.

Source:  Sydney Morning Herald

I have just read this article in the NY Times that talks about Intrade - where members bet on a variety of things.  It's a prediction market.  One of the events that members of intrade can bet on at the present is when Bird Flu will arrive in the US.  I checked it out - it's true.  Charming!  

Up to 15 villages have been affected by bird flu in Crimea in the Ukraine as the virus spreads.  More.

Source:  Sydney Morning Herald

Indonesia has confirmed that a man has died after falling ill with the bird flu virus.  Read the story.

Source:  ABC News Online Australia

The deaths of thousands of birds in Malawi have sparked fears that the avian virus is responsible.   The birds are believed to have migrated from the middle east and samples have been sent off for testing.  More.

Source:  ABC News Online Australia

The Health Act has been altered in Australia to include Avian Influenza as being a notifiable disease.  This means that identified cases must be reported.  More..

Source:  The Australian

China has revealed that yet another person has fallen ill with human bird flu amid reports of more poultry bird flu outbreaks in the country.  Read the story.

Source:  Bangkok Post

Large US pharmaceutical company Baxer is sending staff to Indonesia to discuss a joint venture in producing anti-bird flu vaccine.  The move comes about as Indonesia's local drug manufacturers reveal that they have encountered problems in manufacturing vaccines in accordance with required world standards.  More.

Source:  People's Daily Online

The Chinese government has announced that they will track migratory bird patterns and wild birds under the umbrella of the State Forestry Administration in a bid to quell the spread of bird flu.  Read the story.

Source:  ChinaView.cn

Canadian poultry farmers in British Columbia will no doubt be relieved that a quarantine ban has been lifted after their farms have been cleared of H5N1 bird virus fears.  Read the story.

Source:  CBC News

Authorities have asked hunters in California to take in birds for testing against the H5N1 bird flu strain.  More...

Source:  ABCnews

Following the death of a five year old boy from Bird Flu, Thailand's Prime Minister has asked health officials to be more alert to the possibility of bird flu.  Read the story...

Source: Bloomberg News

President Yushchenko has put three regions in Crimea under an indefinite state of emergency following H5N1 bird flu outbreaks.. Read the story.

Source:  Moscow Times

A family in America is preparing for a pandemic of bird flu... Read the story

Source:  USA Today

Health officials in Indonesia's hospitals are saying that funding and equipment promised to them from Jakarta are yet to reach the hospitals. Read the story.

Source: AFP via Yahoo Australia & NZ News

Eastern Europe is in flux after confirmation of bird flu in both Crimea and also Romania where four chickens were found to have the H5N1 strain of bird flu.  Read the story. 

Source:  The Australian

Crimea, in the south of the Ukraine has found multiple cases of bird flu in their poultry.  Read the story.

Source:  People's Daily Online

A Vietnamese doctor who has been treating bird flu patients has found the Tamiflu drug to be 'useless'.  Read the story.

Source:  Times Online

Three villages in Romania have been quarantined after fears of bird flu outbreaks.  Read the story.

Source:  China Views

Some people will profiteer from anything.  There's been fake poultry vaccines sold in China.  Obviously, the fake vaccines will hinder the fight against bird flu.  Read the story.

Source:  Bloomberg.com

Chinese authorities have allowed most of the people who came in contact with a woman who died of bird flu to go home.  The woman, who was the second bird flu victim in the Anhui province had become infected with H5N1 after coming into contact with sick poultry.  More..

Source:  People's Daily Online

In a move that raises eyebrows, Citigroup has outlined a plan for Australian investors that will help them to make money on shares should a flu pandemic occur.  Read the story...

Source:  News.com.au

China has reported more cases of bird flu in their poultry.  More...

Source:  International Herald Tribune

In a bid to determine the true face of bird flu in Indonesia, the administration has warned local authorities to report factual truths rather than cover up bird flu outbreaks.  More...

Source:  The Jakarta Post

Hong Kong, which knows all about SARS is preparing for a flu pandemic.  People are wearing protective masks in public, and following hygienic practices.  More...

Source:  IOL: News for South Africa and the World

Chinese authorities say that the H5N1 strain of bird flu that they have found in Chinese sufferers is different to the H5N1 strain found in Vietnam.  Chinese authorities claim the virus is not yet transferrable from human to human.  More...

Source:  AFP via Yahoo News

Shanghai airport is asking international travellers to complete health declarations upon entering and leaving China.  In a bid to halt the spread of bird flu, authorities are targetting travellers with fevers.  More...

Source:  Khaleej Times Online

Indonesian authorities have confirmed that a boy admitted to hospital earlier this month has been suffering from bird flu.  Hopefully the boy will make a recovery.  More...

Source:  The Jakarta Post

Australia will test its preparedness for bird flu in the coming week with a simulation exercise nationwide.  WHO has been urging ALL governments to prepare for bird flu outbreaks, and a possible pandemic.  More...

Source:  Northern Territory News

246 birds have died in Northern Mongolia from the H5N1 strain of Avian Flu Virus as the disease continues to be found in areas of China.  More...

Source:  Sydney Morning Herald

Indonesia has announced that it will start producing its own version of Tamiflu.  Indonesia is able to manufacture the drug as Roche, the worldwide patent holder of the Tamiflu does not have a patent covering the production of the medicine in Indonesia.  More...

Source:  Canada.com

Like many of us I can't help but have that niggling feeling that a bird flu pandemic is just festering in little pockets all over the world.  I read with dismay the Aceh story that Indonesian authorities have been reluctant to cull poultry  eventhough they know this may help prevent the spread of the disease.

They have cited economic reasons as the basis for their reluctance, however a bird flu pandemic would of course have the potential to bring their economy to a stand still. 

So... is that a false saving then?  Surely!  I'd like to see the UN putting the weights on nations who sit back and do little to assist in helping to prevent the disease spreading. Time is of the essence!

First is was a tsunami, now embattled Aceh has found poultry infected with the H5N1 strain of avian flu in three districts.  Indonesia has been reluctant to cull birds.  Read the story...

Source:  ABC Radio Australia

The destruction of poultry and vaccination of millions more in Asia has already caused economic losses as quantified in this report over at Forbes.  More...

Source:  Forbes.com

A fifteen year old boy who contracted bird flu after handling infected dead poultry is making a good recovery.  Some welcome news!  Read the story...

Source:  People's Daily Online

Australia's Health Minister, Tony Abbott,  has predicted that a pandemic of Avian Bird Flu could take as long as three years for Australia to recover economically.  Abbott is urging Australian businesses to make contingency plans.  Read the full story...

Source:  Forbes.com

Medical authorities are testing the specimens of a 54 year old man from Vietnam's south who died soon after being admitted to hospital.  It is suspected that the man was suffering from bird flu.  His family's ducks died approximately 10 days before the man fell ill.  Read the story...

Source:  Chinadaily.com.cn

The US is taking no chances when it comes to bird flu after having imposed a temporary ban on the importing of any poultry from mainland British Columbia.  Canadian authorities claim the Bird Flu virus that killed a duck in British Columbia had a different strain of the Avian Flu than the H5N1 virus.  More...

Source:  Chinadaily.com.cn

China's vice-minister for Agriculture paints a grim picture in relation to China's fight against an outbreak of Bird Flu.  Despite mass cullings of  poultry, migratory birds are believed to be making the situation much more difficult to control.  Read the story...

Source:  Chinaview.cn

Indonesian authorities have confirmed that two more people have died after contracting bird flu, bringing Indonesia's toll to seven deaths.  The first reported case in Indonesia was in July.  More...

Source:  BBC News

The world's fears of human avian virus spreading  continue to be fuelled as China reveals that at least one person has died from the bird flu virus... Read the story...

Source:  News.com.au

Australia's Foreign Affairs minister Alexander Downer has pledged $6m of Australian taxpayers money to fight Bird Flu virus in the South East Region.  The money will go towards a range of associated activities including surveillance.  Read more...

Source:  news.com.au

Some South Korean scientists have apparently said that they believe that the 'west' is overly concerned with the threat of Bird Flu Avian virus, and have suggested that the fear of a world wide pandemic has been started by drug manufacturers.  Read the report.

Source:  The Korea Times

According to a news report at Mid-day.com from India, the country does not have any supplies of the vaccine that is used to fight Bird Flu.  Read the story

China continues to find bird flu within its boundaries with the ninth outbreak of the disease in one month.  More...

Source: Ninemsn.com.au

Thailand has announced that it will be making its own version of Tamiflu, the bird flu antibiotic.  While Roche hold the world wide patent for the drug, there is no patent held in Thailand.

Source:  Yahoo News Australia & NZ

Federal opposition leader Kim Beazley has been critical of the John Howard government's handling of bird flu in the South East Asian region, saying that Australia should have done more to stop the spread of bird flu initially. 

Source:  The Age

Officials in Indonesia have confirmed two more cases of bird flu in humans.  The cases have caused the death of one of the victims, the other, an 8 year old boy is in hospital.  Read the report.

Source:  India Times

The death of a parrot from bird flu in the UK is the catalyst to start UK worries in the region.  Read the report

Source:  Telegraph.co.uk

70km from Hanoi, Bird Flu has killed 3,000 fowls in Vietnam. 

Source:  China View

It's true!!  Read the google blog for yourself :)

Source:  Google Blog

According to Melbourne's Herald Sun there is widespread paranoia here in Australia about Bird Flu.  Some people fear catching Bird Flu from their neighbour's pet budgie.  Read the report.  (I hope no one tells my daughter about that report, she has a pet budgie)

Source:  Herald Sun

Vietnam's Hanoi is the latest city to have Bird Flu fear breakout with the hospitalisation of a woman who is showing symptoms of Bird Flu infection. 

Source:  China View

According to a report in The Age newspaper, should a Bird Flu pandemic occur then there could well be a world wide recession. 

Source:  The Age

As the world braces itself for an outbreak of Bird Flu there is increasing pressure on Roche to allow other companies to start producing Tamiflu.  Read this news report about Malaysia. 

Indeed!  I can't say that I blame governments for putting the weights on Roche.  If push comes to shove surely the preferred course of action will be manufacture now - worry about the patent later.  I don't want to see Roche on the dud end of the deal either though so let's get things moving people and get those agreements happening.  Then again, what a magnanimous and philanthropic gesture it would be for Roche to give the greenlight to the world to start manufacturing. 

Thailand continues to find more incidences of Bird Flu, this time the H5N1 virus has been found in chickens in the Supanburi province.  Read the report for more information.

Source:  Forbes

APEC have been meeting in Brisbane discussing plans of attack for Bird Flu.  Combating a breakout is going to cost big dollars.  Read the Story.

Source:  CBC World News

Canada has found the H5 avian flu virus in some migratory birds.  At this stage they do not know what strain of the virus the birds had, however they believe that it is not the killer strain.  Read the report.

Source:  The Australian

Japanese authorities plan to cull thousands of poultry birds after detecting what they believe is a case of bird flu.  Read the report...

Source:  Mainichi Daily News

Perhaps a little reassurance today for Australians from a report in the Courier Mail where a Mackay-Whitsunday Coast and Marine Program spokesman has said that the risk that  migratory birds from Asia that come to Australia at this time of year are unlikely to be carrying the bird flu.  Let's hope he's right. 

Source:  The Courier Mail

The Philippines wants to manufacture the sought after drug Tamiflu and has asked the WHO for permission to do so.  Currently, Roche own the patent for Tamiflu and so they are the ones who manufacture it at the present.  Read this story.

Source:  Philstar.com

Well there's no doubt that Bird Flu Fear is sweeping the world. I particularly liked reading the AM transcript (from the ABC).

Roche chief William Burns said this: "four ducks carrying avian flu and Europe has gone mad."

Indeed! I don't think Europe has exclusivity on the going mad bit though. We should fear what the virus will do once it hits Africa, apparently 4/5 chickens live in people's backyards. That's a bit close for comfort to people don't you think? Given that there's a potentially deadly virus that you could catch from them? Spare a thought for South Africans - they're preparing, but they are stuck right in the midst of the rest of the country.

I'm half wondering why a massive culling program hasn't been undertaken - BEFORE the birds migrated.....

Here's a transcript of a program on ABC radio called AM.  The program spoke with the UN's expert on Bird Flu and yes, he's concerned about what the virus will do once it hits Africa, but you really should read the transcript for yourself - it touches on some of the scare mongering that is going on. 

Source:  ABC - AM Progam

Romania has told the world that they have found their second case of H5N1 avian flu. The second bird, a dead heron was found in the north east of Romania. Read the full story.

Source: The Weekend Australian

Bird flu is the main suspected cause of death for two more Vietnamese people... Read the story

Source:  News.com.au

Australian funeral directors are getting their act together in preparation for any bird flu pandemic by getting together in Canberra to figure out their plan of action. 

Read the article here...

Source: ABC News Online

Reporter: Michael Edwards

TONY JONES: Well, Hungary is claiming a major breakthrough in developing a bird flu vaccine. It says its vaccine has already been successfully trialled and could be ready for mass production by March next year. Hungary's Health Minister is so convinced he even used himself as a human guinea pig in the trials. Already, Indonesia and a number of other countries have expressed interest in the vaccine, but doubt has been cast on it by the World Health Organisation. Shortly we'll speak to the Health Minister, Tony Abbott, but first Michael Edwards has this report. It was produced by Annamaria Talas.  More...

Source:  ABC - Lateline (transcript)

According to a report by Leigh Dayton, Australians have gone into panic mode over the bird flu threat and have been stocking up on the prescription drug Tamiflu - so much so that we're out of stock at the present. 

Read the report...

Source: The Weekend Australian

Tests have confirmed that three people on the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion are not carrying the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, as first feared, the Health Ministry said today.  More...

Source:  Ireland On-line

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an outbreak of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds affecting a number of countries in south and central Asia. Avian influenza is a contagious viral infection that can affect all species of birds, and can cause disease in humans on rare occasions. More...