By recreating an extinct virus that killed as many as 50 million people, scientists race to defeat avian flu before it evolves into a deadlier form. Three vials of saline solution, each about the size of a ballpoint pen cap, held the genes of the virus responsible for the Spanish Flu of 1918--the deadliest influenza pandemic ever to hit mankind. Then, 79 years later, another strain of avian flu jumped straight from birds to humans. By inserting the genes into human kidney cells, Tumpey...

June 27 (Bloomberg) -- German authorities are testing the carcasses of four birds to determine whether they carried the H5N1 strain of avian flu after the virus was found in nine cases in the country in the past three days. Czech authorities reported new cases of bird flu today, at a chicken farm in eastern Bohemia and in a dead swan discovered in the country's south, Czech media reported, citing the State Veterinary Administration. Authorities said all 28,000 chickens at the farm will...

Small drops in the number of cases of human Campylobacter in New Zealand, are encouraging signs that the poultry industry s extensive science and research programme undertaken with New Zealand Food Safety Authority and ESR is on the right track, according to the Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand Executive (PLANZ) Small drops in the number of cases of human Campylobacter in New Zealand, are encouraging signs that the poultry industry s extensive science and research programme...

By Gregg Easterbrook Posted Monday, May 8, 2006, at 1:39 PM ET Joely Richardson, Justina Machado, and Stacy Keach Millions die, heaps of bodies are set alight on mass pyres, and government officials wearing moonsuits mumble bad dialogue in Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America, a made-for-TV disaster movie airing on ABC Tuesday night. By Gregg Easterbrook Posted Monday, May 8, 2006, at 1:39 PM ET Joely Richardson, Justina Machado, and Stacy Keach Millions die, heaps of bodies are set alight...

It may have one big enough manufacturing unit for agricultural equipment of all sorts including small tractors, as Bihar will provide a ready market too. Unfortunately, the potentials for industrialization are also limited. Except for districts like Rohtas and some more, the state, particularly the north and western regions, still lacks irrigation facilities. In every monsoon, the north Bihar remains under the threats of devastating floods affecting millions of people, mostly poor in rural...

The following are some recommendations to help prevent foodborne diseases: * When storing or transporting food, kept the food's temperature below 40 F. The best way to check that cooked foods are safe to eat, including those foods cooked on a barbecue, is to measure their internal cooking temperature with a chef's type of stem thermometer. If a plate or cutting board is to be reused after holding raw meat or poultry, it should be thoroughly cleaned before using again. Temperature and time,...