America.gov-Global Health: Avian Flu

U.N. Official Sees Bird Flu as Threat for Next Decade

Cheryl Pellerin — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 09:22:23 GMT

Bird flu is likely to remain a health threat to animals, and possibly humans, for the next decade, the U.N. coordinator for avian influenza says. Dr. David Nabarro tells journalists the avian influenza virus H5N1 "still is a major animal health issue for most of the world and we think it's going to stay that way for five, perhaps 10 years, to come.”

Bird Flu in Humans Reappears in Egypt

Cheryl Pellerin — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:21:31 GMT

Egyptian health authorities detect the first case of bird flu in a human since May, a report that also is confirmed by the World Health Organization. In addition, Indonesian agricultural officials confirm that H5N1 has been detected in pigs and cats, according to news reports. This is a worrisome development because it is well established that pigs could become living test tubes for the emergence of a new viral form easily transmitted among humans.

China Reports Human Bird Flu Death with Unknown Infection Source

Cheryl Pellerin — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:20:08 GMT

The Ministry of Health in China reports another human death attributed to the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N1, but the source of the patient’s infection is proving difficult to identify. In a separate development, the Ministry of Health in Indonesia reports the survival of a 17-year-old male from West Java Province after more than two weeks of sickness with respiratory symptoms attributed to bird flu.