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Focus on Bird Flu

Focus on Bird Flu

How far "bird flu" virus has traveled down the evolutionary path to becoming a pandemic virus is unknown. Nor is it certain that the much-feared strain will ever acquire all the genetic features necessary for rapid, worldwide spread. Nevertheless, the similarities between the Spanish flu virus of 1918 and the H5N1 strain slowly spreading through Asia provide unusually concrete evidence of how dangerous the newer virus is.
-- Changes Cited in Bird Flu Virus, The Washington Post, October 6, 2005

Turkeys in Chile Found to Have Swine Flu
SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 21 -- Chilean officials said Friday that tests show swine flu has jumped to birds, opening a new chapter in the progress of the global epidemic.
 

Interactive Map

Track the latest developments in the spread of the deadly H5N1 influenza virus.

Avian Flu

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What is bird flu? Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a virus that is highly contagious among wild birds and often fatal to domesticated birds and poultry. The H5N1 strain was first detected in humans Diagram of a flu virus in 1997 and has killed 60 people in Southeast Asia since 2003.

How do humans get bird flu? The virus is spread through contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces. However, risk of infection in humans is low and person-to-person transmission is rare.

What is the pandemic threat? Scientists worry the H5N1 virus will mutate and become more easily spread from person to person, spurring a pandemic.

_____  Key Stories _____

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Heading Off Lethal Potential of Bird Flu

Scientists are closely tracking avian flu in hopes of aborting the bird-to-man transfer of disease.

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The 1918 Flu

Resurrecting the deadly Spanish influenza virus of 1918 may prove to be a vital service to global public health.
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Tracking Bird Flu

Health experts fear that Asia's bird flu outbreak could develop into a threat similar to the 1918 epidemic that killed tens of millions of people worldwide.

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Avian Flu Hits Europe

Resurrecting the deadly Spanish influenza virus of 1918 may prove to be a vital service to global public health.
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Graphic: Bird Flu's Toll

Since 2003, avian influenza has killed at least 63 people and spread from Southeast Asia to Europe.

Graphic: How Does Bird Flu Spread?

How can you stop the spread of the among birds and humans?.

Graphic: Assessing Bird Flu

More than 200 million domestic birds have been killed. Ninety-eight people have died. Scientists believe the virus could evolve into a global influenza epidemic. But they cannot predict when, or if, that will occur.


The Debate

The latest editorials and opinion about the worldwide bird flu threat.

Discussions

Special Report

Find out what you need to know about this flu season. 

Novavax Moves Closer to Licensing Bird Flu Vaccine (Post, August 27, 2008)
 
Hong Kong Acts to Curb Avian Virus (Post, June 12, 2008)
 
China Rushes to Halt Bird Flu Among Ducks (Post, September 19, 2007)
 
PLAYERS: Meet David Acheson: Your Stomach's Best Friend (Post, July 4, 2007)
 
Bird Flu Claims Lives, Ways of Life in Asia: Hong Kong Discourages Buddhist Ritual (Post, January 14, 2007)
 
Fairfax Issues Pandemic Flu Response Plan: Nearly 700 Deaths Possible in Outbreak (Post, September 16, 2006)
 
Bird Flu Vaccine Shows Promise (Post, July 27, 2006)
 
Kids' Farm Moves Birds as Precaution: Maneuver Is Part of Plan to Reduce Threat of Avian Flu (Post, June 29, 2006)
 
WHO Reports Mutation in Human-to-Human Bird Flu: Investigator Says Virus Did Not Spread Beyond Indonesian Family (Post, June 24, 2006)
 
Bird Flu Fears Ignite Debate on Scientists' Sharing of Data (Post, May 25, 2006)
 
Bird Flu in Indonesian Family May Raise Global Alert Level (Post, May 25, 2006)
 
NBC's 'Apocalypse 10.5': Let's Get Ready to Crumble! (By Tom Shales, May 21, 2006)
 
WHO Probes Bird Flu Cluster: Signs of Human Transmission Sought in Indonesian Deaths (Post, May 19, 2006)
 
TV Preview: ABC Spreads The Germ of A Disturbing 'Bird Flu' (By Tom Shales, May 9, 2006)
 
Indonesians Love Chicken, Bird Flu Scare or Not: As Others Panic, Citizens Accept Life With Virus and Do Not Alter Their Diet (Post, April 30, 2006)
 
The Unmerry Month of May (By Lisa de Moraes, April 27, 2006)
 
A Pandemic of Fear (By Marc Siegel, March 26, 2006)
 
Researchers Shed More Light on Bird Flu (Post, March 23, 2006)
 
U.S. to Increase Testing Of Wild Birds for Avian Flu (Post, March 21, 2006)
 
Israel Announces First Cases of Deadly Bird Flu Strain, in Turkeys (Post, March 18, 2006)
 
Spooked by Bird Flu, Egyptians Hoard Water: Residents of Cairo Fear Chickens Dumped in the Nile Could Infect Their Drinking Supply (Post, February 26, 2006)
 
India Kills Chickens to Contain Flu (Post, February 20, 2006)
 
In Pile of Waste, Md. Scientists Dig Up a Response to Bird Flu: Making Compost of Infected Flocks May Curb Spread (Post, February 20, 2006)
 
Swan Deaths Spread Fear Of Bird Flu In Europe: Sales of Poultry Plummet in Italy (Post, February 16, 2006)
 
More on Bird Flu
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