Bird Flu

A doctor vaccinates a volunteer at a human vaccine trial for the bird flu H5N1 virus in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 3, 2008. REUTERS/Nguyen Huy Kham

Vaccination plan puts health care workers first

Reuters - Wed Jul 23, 3:02 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Essential health care workers would be immunized first if a flu pandemic broke out in the United States, the government said on Wednesday.

  • Health workers take part in a bird flu outbreak drill in Denpasar, on the resort island of Bali, earlier this year. Bird flu chiefs from across Southeast Asia have agreed to assess the ability of their governments to respond to a deadly human pandemic of the virus, an Indonesian official said.(AFP/File/Sonny Tumbelaka)
    ASEAN states to test readiness on bird flu pandemic AFP - Wed Jul 23, 5:45 AM ET

    JAKARTA (AFP) - Bird flu chiefs from across Southeast Asia have agreed to assess the ability of their governments to respond to a deadly human pandemic of the virus, an Indonesian official said Wednesday.

  • Quarantine officials in Seoul. South Korea will start year-round monitoring for bird flu after this year's outbreak -- the country's worst -- began later than normal, the agriculture ministry said(AFP/File/Jung Yeon-Je)
    SKorea to start year-round monitoring for bird flu AFP - Tue Jul 22, 2:30 AM ET

    SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea will start year-round monitoring for bird flu after this year's outbreak -- the country's worst -- began later than normal, the agriculture ministry said Tuesday.

  • A doctor vaccinates a volunteer at a human vaccine trial for the bird flu H5N1 virus in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 3, 2008. REUTERS/Nguyen Huy Kham
    Indonesian man dies of bird flu AP - Thu Jul 17, 7:27 AM ET

    BELENDUNG, Indonesia - An Indonesian cargo worker died of bird flu, relatives confirmed Thursday, raising the unofficial toll in the world's hardest hit nation to 111 in three years.

  • A Bosnian pharmacist displays Swiss drug maker Roche's Tamiflu bird flu anti-viral tablets at a pharmacy in the capital Sarajevo February 18, 2006. (Danilo Krstanovic/Reuters)
    Vical says its DNA vaccine for bird flu works Reuters - Thu Jul 17, 7:27 AM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A DNA-based vaccine against avian influenza can safely stimulate the immune system to levels expected to protect against flu, San Diego-based Vical Inc reported on Thursday.

  • A chicken among 2,700 birds about to be slaughtered by workers from the Health and Environmental Hygiene Department is seen in a market after it was declared an infected area in Hong Kong June 7, 2008. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)
    Experts identify genes for bird flu replication Reuters - Wed Jul 9, 1:08 PM ET

    HONG KONG (Reuters) - Scientists have identified around 100 genes that the H5N1 bird flu virus needs in a host in order to replicate, and this finding may help in the hunt for ways to block its proliferation.

  • SKorea lifts bird flu restrictions AP - Mon Jun 30, 4:23 AM ET

    SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea said Monday it has lifted all special restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of bird flu after a series of recent outbreaks.

  • Reserving Tamiflu for workers in case of pandemic AP - Thu Jun 26, 4:58 PM ET

    WASHINGTON - Fears of bird flu are receding and sales of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu have slumped. Now its maker is offering a deal to U.S. employers: Pay an annual fee and reserve enough to protect every worker if a new super-flu strikes.