News archive : Avian Flu

Follow the news of avian flu outbreaks around the world, and attempts by scientists, public health experts, policy makers, and governments to control its spread.

Avian Flu

News in brief

Nature Medicine

Published:: 28 March 2007

Keywords:: Avian Flu; Influenza; Gene Sequence

WHO boss faces test of independence

China's candidate secures top job at health agency.

Nature

Published:: 15 November 2006

Keywords:: Avian Flu; World Health Organisation

Family tragedy spotlights flu mutations

Human-to-human transmission raises demand for DNA data.

Nature

Published:: 12 July 2006

Keywords:: Avian Flu; Avian Flu Vaccine; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Transmission; H5n1 Virus; Molecular Evolution; Mortality; World Health Organisation; Gene Sequence

Action stations FREE

The time for sitting on flu data is over.

Nature

Published:: 28 June 2006

Keywords:: Avian Flu; China; H5n1 Virus; World Health Organisation

Pandemic 'dry run' is cause for concern

Indonesian bird-flu cluster rings alarm bells.

Nature

Published:: 31 May 2006

Keywords:: Avian Flu; Mortality; Pandemic; World Health Organisation

Alarms ring over bird flu mutations

Turkish virus shows increased affinity for humans.

Nature

Published:: 18 January 2006

Keywords:: Avian Flu; Disease Transmission; Virulence; World Health Organisation; Gene Sequence

Indonesia struggles to control bird flu outbreak

As officials in Washington discuss how to tackle outbreaks of bird flu more effectively (see From rhetoric to reality ), an outbreak in humans continues in Asia. Declan Butler assesses the situation in Indonesia, and finds out how likely it is that the virus might evolve into a pandemic strain.

Nature

Published:: 12 October 2005

Keywords:: Avian Flu; Chickens; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Transmission; H5n1 Virus; Virulence

The 1918 flu virus is resurrected

The recreation of one of the deadliest diseases known could help us to prevent another pandemic. Or it might trigger one, say critics. Andreas von Bubnoff investigates whether the benefits outweigh the risks.

Nature

Published:: 05 October 2005

Keywords:: Avian Flu; Molecular Evolution; Pandemic; Poultry; Gene Sequence; 1918 Spanish Flu

Threat of pandemic brings flu drug back to life

Nature Medicine

Published:: 31 August 2005

Keywords:: Antivirals; Avian Flu; Pandemic

Bird flu: crossing borders

Despite recent reports from governments that bird flu is under control, it continues to spread through Asia's poultry and claim lives — there are even signs of human-to-human transmission. Declan Butler tracks the disease's inexorable spread.

Nature

Published:: 20 July 2005

Keywords:: Avian Flu; China; Epidemiology; Geese; H5n1 Virus; Migratory Birds; Poultry

Infectious disease: Vietnam's war on flu

Having suffered heavily from avian influenza in 2004, Vietnam might now be brewing the next human flu pandemic. Yet, as Peter Aldhous discovers, local researchers don't have the resources to investigate the risk properly.

Nature