Bird Flu
Bird flu outbreak in Romania, EU's first in a year
Mar 16, 2010 12:09 EDT
The first outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu in Europe for a year has been identified in a backyard poultry farm in Romania, the European Commission said Tuesday.
Bangladesh slaughters 117,000 birds over avian flu
Mar 14, 2010 06:59 EDT
At least 117,000 chickens were destroyed in northern Bangladesh Sunday after avian flu outbreak on one of the country's largest poultry farms, a local official said.
New inhaled drug protects from flu in single dose
Feb 25, 2010 20:05 EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A single dose of an experimental influenza drug saves more mice from H5N1 avian influenza than the preferred drug Tamiflu, researchers reported on Thursday, and can also protect against infection.
Quidel swine flu test gets emergency approval
Feb 23, 2010 17:05 EST
Quidel says FDA granted emergency approval for test kit designed to detect 2009 swine flu. Medical diagnostics maker Quidel Corp. said Tuesday it received emergency approval for a test designed to detect the 2009 swine flu.
Virus experiment reminds that flu surprises await
Feb 23, 2010 14:17 EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers who mixed together bird flu and ordinary flu viruses created three extremely virulent new strains, a reminder that influenza viruses can swap genes to create dangerous offspring.
Novartis flu vaccine additive boosts wide protection
Jan 20, 2010 13:19 EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A vaccine additive made by Novartis and used in its European influenza shots can boost the body's immune response to a wide range of viruses, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.
World veterinary agency to probe meat-climate link
Jan 07, 2010 14:20 EST
The world's top authority in farm animal health announced on Thursday it would launch a study into the role of meat in climate change.
Indonesia reports 15 new bird flu deaths in 2009
Jan 06, 2010 10:18 EST
Indonesia reports 15 new bird flu deaths for 2009, taking human toll to 134. Indonesia on Wednesday reported 15 more bird flu fatalities in 2009, taking the human death toll in the country worst hit by the illness to 134.
Indonesia reports 15 new bird flu deaths in 2009
Jan 06, 2010 05:07 EST
Indonesia reports 15 new bird flu deaths for 2009, taking human toll to 134. Indonesia on Wednesday reported 15 more bird flu fatalities in 2009, taking the human death toll in the country worst hit by the illness to 134.
Indonesia reports 15 new bird flu deaths in 2009
Jan 06, 2010 05:07 EST
Indonesia on Wednesday reported 15 more bird flu fatalities in 2009, taking the human death toll in the country worst hit by the illness to 134.
WHO chief: swine flu pandemic continues
Dec 29, 2009 13:02 EST
WHO chief says too early to say if swine flu pandemic has peaked everywhere. Many more people could become sick with swine flu this winter even though it has peaked in North America and some European countries, the head of the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
WHO chief: swine flu pandemic continues
Dec 29, 2009 13:02 EST
Many more people could become sick with swine flu this winter even though it has peaked in North America and some European countries, the head of the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
May take a year to conquer H1N1 flu pandemic: WHO
Dec 29, 2009 12:17 EST
GENEVA (Reuters) - The H1N1 flu pandemic may not be conquered until 2011 and continued vigilance is required against the virus which can still mutate, the head of the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.
WHO chief says too early to declare flu victory
Dec 29, 2009 04:47 EST
World Health Organisation chief Margaret Chan said Tuesday it was too early to declare victory over swine flu and insisted that measures taken to deal with the pandemic were justified.
China treating severe swine flu with blood plasma
Dec 25, 2009 23:30 EST
China has started treating severely infected swine flu patients with blood plasma donated by survivors ? a therapy not yet proven to work but one that has shown potential to save lives.
Former CDC head lands vaccine job at Merck
Dec 21, 2009 11:48 EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dr. Julie Gerberding, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was named president of Merck & Co Inc's vaccine division, the company said on Monday.
Flu pandemic that has the world on alert
Dec 16, 2009 12:05 EST
The first flu pandemic of the 21st century, swine flu, has been less deadly than feared since it emerged this year but has taken an unusually high toll among the world's young, leaving thousands dead.
Vietnam reports 5th bird flu death this year
Nov 30, 2009 23:49 EST
Bird flu has killed a Vietnamese man, the Health Ministry reported Tuesday, following warnings from the World Health Organization about a potential combination of the bird flu and swine flu viruses.
China expert warns of pandemic flu mutation
Nov 25, 2009 11:16 EST
HONG KONG (Reuters) - China must be alert to any mutation or changes in the behavior of the H1N1 swine flu virus because the far deadlier H5N1 bird flu virus is endemic in the country, a leading Chinese disease expert said.
Asia to get flu drug stockpile by April 2010
Nov 17, 2009 05:12 EST
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Asia will receive a stockpile of 500,000 courses of H1N1 flu drugs by April next year to supplement any shortfall in the region, an official with a Japanese donor agency said on Tuesday.
