In our increasingly interconnected world, new diseases are emerging at an unprecedented rate, often with the ability to cross borders rapidly and spread. More than at any previous time in history, global public health security depends on international cooperation and the willingness of all countries to act effectively in tackling new and emerging threats. WHO and its partners are closely involved in the global response to H5N1 avian influenza, which has caused huge outbreaks in poultry and...

A strain of H5N1 avian influenza identified last year has become dominant in southern China and is the source of a new wave of bird flu in Southeast Asia, scientists reported today. Chickens tend to succumb only in the winter, but the researchers found cases in 11 of the 12 months of their study, up from four of 12 months the previous year. The Fujian-like strain, named for the coastal Chinese province where it was first identified, has steadily risen in prevalence over the past year,...

A worker in a bio-hazard suits gestures as new gas for the culling machine arrives at the entry of a sealed off poultry farm in Hofing, southern Germany September 9, 2007. German authorities started the biggest culling action in post-war history on Saturday at two farms in the Bavarian towns Trumling and Hofing as a protective measure over fears of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. Here is a chronology of major recent bird flu developments: Feb. Her death brings the number of confirmed...

Earlier studies have revealed that poultry and mice infected with the virus gain weight even when they don't eat much and research has also shown that people, who are obese, carry the virus more than their lean counterparts. In a new finding, it appears that adenovirus that causes cold and sore throat could also lead to obesity in certain cases. The study revealed that stem cells or master cells that can mutate into other cells and tissue were infected with adenovirus as they altered into...

Are biofuels everything they're cracked up to be? Following the president's proposal, we would need 35 billion gallons of fuel if corn remains the primary source. Since 70 percent of the corn grown is fed to livestock and poultry, this means that there will be higher prices for meat, milk and eggs. The grain is first crushed and fermented, followed by as many as three distillation steps. government became interested in biofuels when Brazil demonstrated several years ago that ethanol,...