The world is unprepared for a massive virus outbreak, the deputy chief of the World Health Organisation warned on Tuesday, amid fears that H7N9 bird flu striking China could morph into a form that spreads easily among people.

Keiji Fukuda told delegates at a WHO meeting that despite efforts since an outbreak of another form of avian influenza, H1N1, in 2009-10, far more contingency planning was essential...

Koko: Infectious Disease — Not War Of Our Own Making — Should Be Our Top Priority Along with Poverty

Robert Steele

Foolish humans — one trillion dollar virus in gestation. China’s bird flu outbreak cost $6.5 billion (Reuters) – The H7N9 virus appears to have been brought under control in China largely due to restrictions at bird markets, but caused some $6.5 billion in losses to the economy, U.N. experts said on Tuesday. Health authorities worldwide [...]

Bird Flu Costs in China set at $6.5 Billion

VOA News

Scientists and economists say the H7N9 bird flu outbreak in China has cost that country's poultry industry $6.5 billion, as consumers shun chicken and health officials make gains in controlling the deadly virus. The cost data, provided by China's agriculture ministry, was reported Tuesday at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. At the conference, United Nations experts warned health authorities worldwide to be on the lookout for the virus, which is known to have infected 130 people ...

Mystery Respiratory Illness Infects 7, Kills 2 in Alabama

Taylor Berman

A mystery respiratory illness has killed two people and infected five others in Alabama. All of the victims have shown signs of fever, cough and shortness of breath, but the Alabama Department of Public Health hasn't been able to identify the disease.

Read more...

       

China's Bird Flu Outbreak Breaks Bank

The H7N9 virus appears to have been brought under control in China largely due to restrictions at bird markets.

Dan Brown's Inferno, The Council on Foreign Relations and Bird Flu

Kitty Pilgrim

I love a good thriller. I write them myself, filled with colorful bad guys with evil plots to conquer the world. But the new Dan Brown book, Inferno, caught my attention on several levels -- his understanding of a current global threat, and his misrepresentation of an organization that has been active in trying to prevent it.

Now, Dan can spin a good story. Without giving anything away, his evil mastermind is intent on unleashing a viral plague on the world for the purpose of population control...