RxPG News : Epidemics

Second foot-and-mouth case confirmed in southern England

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:21:29 PST

London, Aug 7 - A second case of foot-and-mouth disease has been discovered at a farm in southern England, British Environment Minister Hilary Benn confirmed Tuesday.

WHO warns of worsening dengue spread in western Pacific

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:36:45 PST

Manila, July 23 - The World Health Organisation - Monday warned that the western Pacific region may be heading for a major dengue outbreak unless concerted effort and cooperation were undertaken quickly.

Prostitution Defines AIDS Pandemic More Than Other Factors

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

In new academic research published today in the online, open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal PLoS ONE, male circumcision is found to be much less important as a deterrent to the global AIDS pandemic than previously thought. The author, John R. Talbott, has conducted statistical empirical research across 77 countries of the world and has uncovered some surprising results.

Promising Flu Vaccine from Insects

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 11:39:57 PST

An influenza vaccine produced with the use of insect cells appeared safe and produced an immunogenic response in healthy adults, suggesting promise as an alternative to using embryonated eggs for the development of influenza vaccine, according to a preliminary study in the April 11 issue of JAMA.

Bird flu claims eighth victim in Egypt

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 05:20:43 PST

Cairo, Dec 24 - With the death of an Egyptian woman due to bird flu Sunday, the death toll by the deadly disease rose to eight since March this year, a World Health Organisation - official said.

Global AIDS epidemic continues to grow: WHO

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:25:33 PST

London/Geneva, Nov 30 - Despite progress being made in many countries in tackling HIV/AIDS, the global epidemic continues to grow, latest figures published by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization - show.

Seoul reports second bird-flu outbreak in two weeks

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:32:59 PST

Seoul, Nov 28 - South Korea Tuesday reported its second outbreak in two weeks of the strain of bird flu that can be deadly in humans.

Tomatoes in Restaurants Linked to Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 04:24:00 PST

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the results of an investigation by state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigators, which found consuming tomatoes in restaurants as the cause of illnesses in the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. To date, 21 states have reported 183 cases of illnesses to the CDC.

Are Flu Vaccines Worth the Effort?

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:21:00 PST

Each year enormous effort goes into producing influenza vaccines and delivering them to appropriate sections of the population. But a review of the evidence in this weeks BMJ suggests that they may not be as effective as we think.

Lessons from SARS may help prepare for bird flu

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 21:52:00 PST

Lessons learnt from SARS epidemics in China may help us prepare for new epidemics, such as human avian flu, say experts in this weeks BMJ. Mainland China experienced three outbreaks of SARS between November 2002 and May 2004. The first outbreak resulted in a pandemic and caused huge financial loss and social panic, but rigorous control policies prevented further pandemics.

Incomplete vaccination could worsen the spread of avian flu

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 18:40:00 PST

Incomplete vaccination of poultry flocks could make the spread of deadly strains of avian flu such as H5N1 worse, scientists at the Universities of Edinburgh and Warwick have found. The research shows that even though the available vaccines are effective on individual birds, the disease is likely to spread unless almost all of a flock has been protected. The study, published in Nature journal, is the first to quantify how incomplete vaccination of flocks can contribute to the undetected spread of the disease.

Singapore facing unprecedented outbreak of Fusarium keratitis

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 04:45:00 PST

Researchers in Singapore have reported an outbreak of Fusarium keratitis (a fungal infection of the cornea) associated with soft contact lens wear and linked with use of certain contact lens cleaning solutions, according to an article in the June 28 issue of JAMA.

Scientists aim to thwart use of flu as bioweapon

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 05:15:00 PST

Flu is already a big killer, responsible for more than 35,000 deaths in the United States alone each year. And wild birds infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu are gradually broadening the scope of that disease. This week in Rochester, scientists are discussing ways to better understand the flu and also how to prevent the possibility that terrorists could somehow modify flu as a bioweapon to make it even more lethal than it is already.

Pakistani poultry industry demands 10-year tax holiday

Sun, 07 May 2006 18:27:00 PST

Pakistani poultry farmers have sought a 10-year tax exemption to support their dwindling business after the detection of the H5N1 strain of bird flu triggered a fall in demand and prices, a poultry trader said.

Pandemic prevention plan approved for Asia Pacific

Sun, 07 May 2006 18:16:00 PST

Government officials from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries Friday approved a regional plan to stave off a new influenza pandemic - or at least to keep the global economy running if millions of people die or fall ill with the disease.

H5N1 threat puts human flu back in spotlight

Sun, 07 May 2006 15:21:00 PST

The emergence of the avian influenza virus H5N1 that is currently devastating chicken flocks in many countries and threatening to unleash a worldwide epidemic among humans has triggered a renewed interest among scientists in studying influenza A viruses, according to investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This renewed interest could lead to new discoveries of immune system response to viruses that could lead to better drugs and vaccines, the researchers write in a review article that appears in the May issue of Nature Immunology.

Bird flu hits ninth poultry farm in Pakistan

Wed, 03 May 2006 01:07:00 PST

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza has struck the ninth poultry farm in Pakistan as authorities struggled to contain the spread of the deadly virus at poorly maintained facilities, officials said Monday.

Conjunctivitis caused by H7 avian influenza in a UK poultry worker

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 23:43:00 PST

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed that a poultry worker is suffering from conjunctivitis caused by H7 avian influenza. The individual works on the Norfolk poultry farm confirmed as having an outbreak of (low pathogenic) H7N3 avian influenza.

75 die of malaria in Assam, over 300,000 affected

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 13:43:00 PST

The death toll from a malaria epidemic sweeping Assam state has gone up to 75 while 335,000 people are affected by the disease, health officials said Friday.

Bird flu strain makes Britain slaughter chicken

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 01:16:00 PST

The British government has ordered the slaughter of some 35,000 chickens at a farm in the south-eastern county of Norfolk after dead birds tested positive for a strain of bird flu, it was reported Thursday.

China confirms new human case of bird flu

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 01:11:00 PST

An eight-year pupil in southwest China's Sichuan province was confirmed to be infected with H5N1 bird flu, the health ministry said Thursday.

Chhattisgarh chicken samples test negative for flu

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 00:57:00 PST

Chhattisgarh said Thursday that 5,500 chicken samples collected from poultry farms across the state have tested negative for bird flu.

EU for support to bird flu-hit poultry market

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:47:00 PST

European Union farm ministers Tuesday gave their backing to a plan under which European producers of eggs and poultry, hit by a slump in demand and prices over bird flu fears, will be eligible for partial compensation from the bloc's joint budget.

Pakistan culls 40,000 chickens to control the outbreak of H5 strain

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 20:15:00 PST

Pakistan has culled around 40,000 chickens at six farms near the national capital, where confirmed cases of bird flu have come to fore, officials said Sunday.

Pakistan suspects first human case of bird flu

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 19:32:00 PST

A man suspected to be Pakistan's first human case of bird flu was hospitalised near here Saturday.

Malaria alert in Tripura

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 19:18:00 PST

Health authorities in Tripura Saturday sounded a malaria alert after at least 50 people died of the disease in neighbouring Assam.

RealOpt - Computer Program to Halt Pandemics

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 18:31:00 PST

Your city has 48 hours to vaccinate every man, woman and child to prevent a dangerous pandemic. Where do you put the clinics, how many health care workers will you need and how do you get 2 million people to a finite number of emergency clinics?

Pakistan confirms fourth bird flu outbreak

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 17:56:00 PST

Pakistan Friday confirmed an outbreak of bird flu at a chicken farm near the capital and announced the culling of 10,000 chickens there.

Madhya Pradesh relaxes ban on transporting poultry

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 17:50:00 PST

With no fresh cases of bird flu being reported, Madhya Pradesh Friday relaxed a ban on transportation of poultry products except in one district in view of the losses suffered by poultry owners, officials said.

Fresh bird flu scare in Pakistan

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 22:54:00 PST

Pakistan Thursday ordered the culling of over 16,000 chickens in the vicinity of a poultry farm near Islamabad following reports of a poultry death due to suspected avian flu. The food and agriculture ministry ordered the culling around Tarlai after reports that a bird had died at a poultry farm there Wednesday night.

Malaria epidemic kills 50 in Assam

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 14:17:00 PST

At least 50 people have died and up to 25,000 affected in a malaria epidemic in Assam, officials Tuesday said. "Doctors and paramedics have fanned out to take preventive steps and cure those hit by the disease," Assam Health Minister Bhumidhar Barman told IANS.

Thousand birds die in Orissa poultry farm

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 14:13:00 PST

Over a thousand chickens have died in a poultry farm in Orissa, a media report said Tuesday, though officials confirmed the deaths of only five birds and said it had nothing to do with avian flu.

Pakistan confirms bird flu outbreak near Islamabad

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 08:16:00 PST

Pakistan Sunday confirmed a second outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain at a poultry farm near its capital Islamabad.

Assam health alert after malaria claims 35

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 18:17:00 PST

Authorities in Assam sounded a health alert Thursday following an outbreak of malaria that has claimed at least 35 lives and affected about 20,000 people.

Bank notes, photocopiers could help check epidemics

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 17:53:00 PST

Applying antiviral coating on bank notes, vending machines and photocopiers could help fight epidemics, scientists say.

WHO confirms Indonesia's 33rd bird flu victim

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 13:34:00 PST

UN health officials confirmed that a poultry worker in West Sumatra is infected with the bird flu virus, bringing the number of human cases in Indonesia to 33, a health ministry official said Tuesday.

Bird flu small dark cloud on world economy: IMF

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 13:29:00 PST

Despite an upbeat report card on the workings of the world's financial systems, the International Monetary Fund Tuesday saw a few dark clouds on the horizon - including worries about the impact of a potential bird-flu pandemic. A global avian flu outbreak in humans could cause high absenteeism in the financial industry, interfering with payments, clearing, settlements, trading and communications, the IMF warned in its periodic evaluation of the international finance systems, the Global Financial Stability Report.

Unusual Outbreak of Streptococcus suis with Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome in China

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 13:19:00 PST

Streptococcus suis is a pathogen with serious economic effects on the pig industry worldwide. The disease is endemic in adult pigs in most countries where pig farming is common. Infections in adult pigs are usually asymptomatic, but infant piglets that get infected through contact with colonized adult females can develop fatal sepsis. Transmission to humans is rare and generally restricted to individuals with occupational exposure to live or dead pigs. The first human case of S. suis infection was reported in Denmark in 1968. Most of the approximately 200 previously reported human cases were characterized by meningitis and septicemia, and associated with a mortality of less than 10%.

More donor money needed for bird flu: UN official

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:54:00 PST

Donor nations should be prepared to pledge hundreds of millions more dollars to combat bird flu as the H5N1 virus affects more developing nations, a senior UN official said Monday.

First case of H5N1 virus confirmed in Britain

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 03:45:00 PST

The first case of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was confirmed in Britain Thursday following tests on a decomposed swan floating in the harbour of a Scottish town.

Bird flu scare: Bangladesh burns Indian chicks

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:05:00 PST

Bangladesh's paramilitary border police seized nearly 16,000 one-day-old smuggled Indian chickens and set them ablaze out of fear of bird flu epidemic spreading from across the border, officials said Saturday.

91 infants die in Indian hospital, probe ordered

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 19:47:00 PST

Health experts have begun a probe into the mysterious deaths of a large number of children at a government hospital in Tripura, India, officials said.

Avian flu lab likely in Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 16:12:00 PST

Rajasthan, home to the sprawling Bharatpur bird sanctuary, plans to open a laboratory to test for the avian flu virus.

U.S. Unlikely To Have Enough Vaccines To Stop Avian Flu Pandemic

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 08:10:00 PST

A group of medical experts who attended a national avian flu conference last fall believe there is little chance the United States will be able to manufacture and stockpile enough vaccine or antiviral medication to stop a bird flu pandemic should the virus mutate into a form that can be spread easily from human to human, according to a survey led by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University. The results of the survey will be published in the June 2006 issue of the journal Global Public Health.

Third bird flu case among humans confirmed in Egypt

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:44:00 PST

Egyptian officials confirmed on Tuesday a third case of bird flu among humans three days after announcing the death of a woman by the deadly virus.

Pakistan confirms presence of bird flu

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:35:00 PST

Pakistan's authorities confirmed Tuesday the presence of deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in the country, an official statement said.

Meningitis claims 34 lives in Delhi in three months

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:32:00 PST

Meningococcal meningitis has claimed 34 lives while 486 people have reportedly been affected by the killer disease in the last three months in the city, a senior Delhi government health official said Tuesday.

Attractive birds more immune against bird flu

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 02:37:00 PST

A research team at Uppsala University, Sweden has shown in a new study, published in the journal Acta Zoologica, that the size of the spot on a male collared flycatcher's forehead reflects how well the immune defence system combats viruses such as avian influenza. The white spot is also attractive to female birds searching for a mate.

Culling operations completed in Maharashtra

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 02:20:00 PST

Culling operations in four Maharashtra villages that reported India's latest cases of bird flu have been completed but house-to-house mopping up will continue for a few days, it was announced Monday.

Rapid diagnostic test for viral hemorrhagic fevers developed

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 20:53:00 PST

Researchers at the Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health led by Thomas Briese, PhD, associate professor of Epidemiology, have developed a rapid, comprehensive diagnostic test for viral hemorrhagic fevers caused by the Ebola and Marburg viruses, as well as others. The new diagnostic tool is addressed in a paper published in the April 2006 issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Minor mutations in avian flu virus increase chances of human infection

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 20:26:00 PST

The H5N1 avian influenza virus, commonly known as "bird flu," is a highly contagious and deadly disease in poultry. So far, its spread to humans has been limited, with 177 documented severe infections, and nearly 100 deaths in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Iraq, and Turkey as of March 14, 2006, according to the World Health Organization.

Egypt reports second suspected human case of bird flu

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 20:22:00 PST

An Egyptian man has been suspected to be infected by the H5N1 bird flu virus, the second human infection reported in the north African country in two days, the Egyptian official MENA news agency reported Sunday.

43 Percent of Swaziland Population is HIV Positive

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 20:20:00 PST

Swaziland remains hardest-hit by HIV/AIDS with nearly 43 percent of its population infected, including more than half of all pregnant women aged 25-29, a UN official said.

Bhopal shrugs off flu scare

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 20:17:00 PST

The bird flu scare may have kept people away from chicken in many places, but not the residents of Bhopal, India who continue to relish on their favourite chicken dishes following slash in the poultry prices.

Egypt confirms first human death of bird flu

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 20:16:00 PST

Egypt announced Saturday that a woman had died of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu, the first human death of avian influenza in the populous north African country.

Poultry deaths raise concern in Tamil Nadu

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 20:13:00 PST

For the first time since the avian flu virus was reported in India in February, the death of poultry birds in Tamil Nadu has raised serious concerns with owners rushing to veterinary centres.

India takes proactive steps to contain bird flu

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 14:00:00 PST

The Indian government has launched proactive steps to contain the spread of bird flu in 38 districts in Maharashra after four villages in the state reported fresh avian flu cases this week, even as there were fears of the disease breaking out in Madhya Pradesh.

Migratory birds leaving India, bird flu fears recede

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 20:23:00 PST

Hundreds of thousands of migratory birds are starting to leave for their summer homes in Russian Siberia, China and Western Europe - and fading gradually with them is the bird flu scare in Jammu and Kashmir.

Meningitis raises head, 21 dead in Delhi

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 20:34:00 PST

The dreaded meningococcal meningitis has claimed 21 lives and 369 others are believed to have been affected by it in the Indian capital during the past three months, top health officials said Saturday.

WHO confirms 21st human bird flu death in Indonesia

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 21:25:00 PST

The WHO has confirmed that a four-year-old boy was Indonesia's 21st bird-flu fatality, a senior health ministry official said Friday.

Bird flu outbreak confirmed in Russia

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 21:23:00 PST

A bird flu outbreak has been confirmed at a bird product processing plant in southern Russia, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

China reports 10th human death from bird flu

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 21:48:00 PST

China confirmed Wednesday that a nine-year-old girl had died from H5N1 avian influenza in the eastern province of Zhejiang, raising the human death toll from the virus to 10 in the country.

Chicken flies high on airline menus again

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 21:40:00 PST

With the threat of avian flu fading and no fresh case being reported in the last 15 days, many airlines in India are back with poultry products on flight menus.

Poland confirms H5N1 virus in wild swans

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 04:56:00 PST

European Union newcomer Poland Monday confirmed the presence of H5N1 bird flu virus in two dead wild swans.

Malaysia on alert with outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 04:42:00 PST

Malaysian authorities have declared a state of alert Tuesday following detection of more than 600 new cases of the hand, foot and mouth viral disease in the state of Sarawak on Borneo island.

Human bird flu deaths rise to 21 in Indonesia

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:26:00 PST

A four-year-old Indonesian boy who died this week was infected with bird flu, a health official confirmed Saturday, bringing the country's death toll from the disease to 21.

Hong Kong on alert following suspected bird flu death

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:23:00 PST

Hong Kong was on alert against human cases of bird flu after a man Saturday died of suspected H5N1 infection in southern China, close to the border with the territory.

Novavax, Bharat Biotech to develop pandemic flu vaccine

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:11:00 PST

Amid growing concern over avian influenza, two major pharma companies - Novavax Inc. and Bharath Biotech International - announced Monday a tie up to develop a pandemic influenza vaccine for India and Southeast Asian markets.

Hong Kong bans Chinese chickens after bird flu death confirmed

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:10:00 PST

Hong Kong has banned live chicken and pet bird imports from China after confirmation that a 32-year-old man died of bird flu after visiting a market near the border, officials said Monday.

Bird flu reaches sixth German state

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:08:00 PST

Bird flu reached a sixth German state after the H5NI virus was found in a wild goose in Lower Saxony where a large chunk of the country's poultry breeding farms are located.

Over 90 dead in chikungunya epidemic in French island

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:06:00 PST

The deaths of 93 people on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion were because of an epidemic of the mosquito-borne viral disease chikungunya, French Health Minister Xavier Bertrand said here Friday.

Chemotherapy may help bird flu victims

Fri, 03 Mar 2006 12:43:00 PST

Chemotherapy for an immune system disorder might also be effective in treating people infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu, scientists say.

Human bird flu fatality rises to 20 in Indonesia

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 17:21:00 PST

A 27-year-old Indonesian woman, who died in a Jakarta hospital early this week, has been confirmed positive for bird flu, a health official said Saturday.

Europe's bird flu strain most dangerous: experts

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 17:19:00 PST

The bird flu found this month in the shadow of the Alps is the most virulent sort, German animal infection specialists said Saturday as signs mounted that the H5N1 influenza virus must have reached Europe some time last year.

China announces two more human cases of bird flu

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 17:16:00 PST

A nine-year-old girl in east China's Zhejiang province and a 26-year-old woman farmer in east China's Anhui province were confirmed to be infected with the H5N1 virus of bird flu, the health ministry said Saturday.

Bird flu confirmed in 8 EU countries

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 17:10:00 PST

With the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus surfacing in France Saturday, the dreaded disease has been detected in a total of eight European Union countries since it first appeared in the union Feb 11.

1,000 chickens dead in Assam, alert sounded

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 17:03:00 PST

The Assam government in India Sunday sounded a health alert after some 1,000 chickens died over the weekend in two villages, officials said.

Panic recedes as flu suspects test negative in India

Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:01:00 PST

Panic over the avian influenza receded in India Friday after tests showed no human had been infected by the virus even as a clean-up exercise continued in the Maharashtra region that reported the country's first case of bird flu.

Dead turkeys in France test positive for bird flu

Sat, 25 Feb 2006 09:56:00 PST

The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus was present on dead turkeys found on a farm in the southeast of France, officials confirmed Saturday.

Bird flu could have jumped to humans: official

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 02:29:00 PST

The Indian government said Wednesday it could "not rule out the possibility" of avian influenza spreading to human beings in a village in Maharashtra.

Avian influenza contained: India

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 02:21:00 PST

Indian officials confidently asserted Thursday a bird flu outbreak in the western region had been contained and that no cases of human avian influenza had been reported.

Indian government defends avian flu test procedures

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 16:09:00 PST

The Indian government Monday defended its testing procedures for avian flu, saying they were of international standards, even as it brushed aside suggestions that bias was involved.

No commercial sale of Tamiflu: India

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 16:08:00 PST

There will be no retail sale of Tamilflu in India, the antidote for human avian flu, as this could be counterproductive, a senior official said here Monday.

Bulgaria reports first suspected human case of bird flu

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 16:02:00 PST

A Bulgarian man suspected of having caught bird flu has been put into an isolation chamber for close observation and tests.

Bird flue scare turns Delhiites to mutton

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:55:00 PST

As the dreaded H5N1 strain of avian flu struck India, residents in the national capital Sunday started shying away from chicken and flocking counters selling mutton.

Alerting people on bird flu through sand sculptures

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:54:00 PST

Sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik Sunday created sculptures in a beach in Orissa to make tourists aware of the bird flu - a day after the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus surfaced in Maharashtra.

Chicken cooked Indian way safe

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:53:00 PST

Chicken cooked the Indian way - at high temperatures and in gravy - is absolutely safe notwithstanding the country's first reported cases of avian flu but steaks should be avoided, a health official said Sunday.

Bird Flu Scare: Restaurants in Indian Capital Stop Serving Poultry Dishes

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:46:00 PST

Close on the heels of some airlines keeping chicken dishes out of their menu, numerous restaurants in the capital too have stopped serving these with people reluctant to order poultry dishes.

Bird Flu Scare: Ravens at Tower of London kept indoors

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:43:00 PST

The ravens in the famous Tower of London are being kept indoors to protect them from the bird flu threat, as legend has it that the 11th century fortification and the kingdom itself will fall if they leave the tower. Special aviaries have been created for the six birds within one of the towers of the fortress on the Thames, as the deadly disease spreads across Europe. However, it has not yet reached Britain.

Uttar Pradesh on alert after poultry deaths

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:38:00 PST

The Uttar Pradesh government in India has ordered extensive measures against any incidence of avian flu following the death of 1,400 chickens in Etawah district. State chief secretary R. Ramani, who convened a late evening meeting here Monday in this regard, however denied that the mass death of chicken in the district had anything to do with avian flu.

Sri Lanka bans Indian poultry imports

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:36:00 PST

Sri Lanka banned the import of poultry products and bird food from India following reports of an avian flu virus threat in the country, the Daily News newspaper said Tuesday. A Health and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said Sri Lankans are "unnecessarily frightened" after reports about the virus in India. All measures have been taken to prevent the entry of the virus into the country. Laboratory officers were being trained in Hong Kong in the use of new surveillance technology. They would return to Sri Lanka by the end of February and train officers of all hospitals to combat the virus, he added.

Bird flu confirmed in Kuala Lumpur, chickens culled

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:35:00 PST

Malaysia has confirmed that the death of 40 free range chicken found in the capital was caused by the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza, a report said Tuesday. "Tests have confirmed that the birds, which died last week were caused by the H5N1 strain," Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister, Muhyddin Yassin told the Star newspaper.

Soybean industry hopes bird flu won't hit poultry feed

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:33:00 PST

Soybean producers in Maharashtra, India hope that the domestic demand for poultry feed will not be impacted if the bird flu is contained in Nandurbar in Maharashtra. Even if the H5N1 avian influenza does spread beyond Nandurbar, the dip in demand for poultry feed is not expected to be too serious in the long run. What is giving them a degree of comfort is the large export demand this year, far in excess of the domestic demand, according to Rajesh Agarwal, chairman of the Indore-based Soybean Processors Association of India.

Bird flu impels Christians to turn religiously vegetarian

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:31:00 PST

The bird flu scare is impelling Christians in Kerala, India to religiously observe the 50-day Lent, a period of frugality beginning Feb 27 leading up to Easter, by becoming pure vegetarians, according to several members of the community.

Italy records 16 cases of bird flu

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:29:00 PST

The deadly H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus has been confirmed in a total of 16 wild birds in Italy, media reports said Monday. The latest cases involve a wild duck found dead near a pond in the central Italian region of Umbria and a buzzard and a wild cock hosted at an animal care centre in Sicily, Italy's bird flu reference laboratory in Padua said.

Land of chicken tikka butter masala in flap over bird flu

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:25:00 PST

To eat or not to eat chicken these days is the million-dollar question for people in Punjab, India - traditionally known as the land of butter and tandoori chicken. Chicken sales across Punjab have dropped 30-50 percent in the last three days since reports of avian flu in chicken in a Maharashtra village. Chicken rates have dropped too - from Rs.75 (USD 1.50) to Rs.65 (USD 1.30) per kg in the retail market.

Chicken Prices Plummeted in Indian Capital with Bird Flu Scare

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:21:00 PST

The bird flu scare sent prices of poultry products plummeting by about 60 percent Wednesday with the birds being sold for as low as Rs.12 per kg (USD 0.25) in the Gazipur wholesale market in east Delhi.

Indian drug makers gear up to combat bird flu

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:20:00 PST

Indian pharmaceutical firms, known globally for their capacity to produce cheap generic or unpatented drugs, are bracing to supply bird flu medicines.

Maharashtra to widen bird culling operations

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:18:00 PST

The area for culling of birds in the region of Maharashtra that reported India's first case of bird flu will be extended as authorities Tuesday went on the overdrive to check against the spread of the disease.

223,000 birds culled in India, avian flu contained: officials

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:17:00 PST

Indian authorities Tuesday claimed to have stopped the possible spread of avian flu from the country's western region with the culling of 223,000 chickens, saying the focus would now be on cleanup operations and the rehabilitation of poultry farmers.