Department of Agriculture is overstating the threat posed by avian flu to justify its budget, and to a large extent, its existence. But the constant hum of warnings in this country about the avian flu irks him - especially since influenza has long infected about 30 percent of the native wild duck population when it migrates annually to Canada. He has also emerged as a leading naysayer on the prospects for a avian flu pandemic. Butcher insists the likelihood that the H5N1 avian flu virus in...

A surge in corn prices this spring and favorable early season weather allowed Nebraska corn producers to plant 9.1 million acres of corn this year, 100,000 acres more than the initial USDA estimate in March and the largest corn planting in the state since 1936. A surge in corn prices this spring and favorable early season weather allowed Nebraska corn producers to plant 9.1 million acres of corn this year, 100,000 acres more than the initial USDA estimate in March and the largest corn...

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...