Bird flu – the pandemic clock is ticking
Further reading
The Science of Immunisation: Questions and Answers (November, 2012)
This publication aims to address confusion created by contradictory
information in the public domain. It sets out to explain the current
situation in immunisation science, including where there is scientific
consensus and where uncertainties exist. The Science of Immunisation:
Questions and Answers was prepared by a Working Group and Oversight
Committee made up of Academy Fellows and other Australian scientists
with internationally recognised expertise in immunology.
September 2008, pages 20-21
Bird flu vaccines under scrutiny (by Simon Grose)
Discusses the limitations of bird flu vaccines.
April 2008, page 14
Bird flu breakthrough
Reports on a technique developed to safely study the bird flu virus.
September 2005, page 5
How viruses jump species
The discovery of a common receptor for both Hendra and Nipah viruses on human cells explains how viruses can infect numerous species.
Cosmos
30 April 2009
Swine flu: the facts
Explains what swine flu is and concerns regarding the virus.
June 2006
Contains a number of articles on bird flu, including:
- Controlling a bird flu pandemic
- Avian influenza and other pandemic risks
- The avian flu dilemma
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Nine issues that could derail the Australian pandemic plan
Collections of articles on bird flu and swine flu are available
Collections of articles on bird flu and swine flu are available.
22 September 2008, page 8
Watch out for the other bird flu (by Debora Mackenzie)
Reviews the status of different bird flu strains.
24 May 2008, page 5
Indonesia holding out for bird flu vaccine deal
Reports on Indonesia’s refusal to share bird flu strains for vaccine development
12 April 2008, page 6
Bird flu case raises fears of undiagnosed infections
Summarises information gained from recent cases of bird flu.
30 June 2007, page 16
Do flu vaccines really protect the elderly? (by Debora Mackenzie)
Explains why there is little change in the number of elderly people dying from the flu.
19 May 2007, page 12
UK tests could miss bird flu in migratory birds (by Deborah Mackenzie)
Looks at the discrepancies in the levels of bird flu recorded in the UK.
17 April 2007
US approves first bird flu vaccine for people
Reports on the US approval of the first bird flu vaccine for people.
17 February 2007, page 8
Poor countries hold out for bird vaccine (by Debora MacKenzie)
Looks at ways that Indonesia is using to ensure that it gets a vaccine against pandemic flu.
10 February 2007, page 10
Europe must get to grips with bird flu (by Debora Mackenzie)
Claims that efforts to track the virus after an outbreak in the UK are in disarray.
24 January 2007
Deadly H5N1 may be brewing in cats (by Debora Mackenzie)
Reports that H5N1 virus is widespread in cats in Indonesia, providing a route for the virus to adapt to mammals and possibly humans.
4 November 2006, pages 8-9
Bird flu outruns the vaccines (by Debora Mackenzie)
Looks at the evolution of a new strain of H5N1 that has infected nearly three times as many birds as in previous years.
21 October 2006
Tamiflu could boost drug-resistant flu in wild birds (by Debora MacKenzie)
Looks at the potential problems associated with the presence of the antiviral drug Tamiflu in waterways.
16 September 2006, page 14
Flu’s killer tactic puts families at risk (by Debora MacKenzie)
Clusters of blood relatives may be infected and die from bird flu because of similar genetic susceptibility and a lethal over reaction of the immune system.
12 September 2006
Live bird flu vaccine raises hope of pre-pandemic shots (by Debora MacKenzie)
Describes the possible use of a nasal spray of live, weakened flu virus as an alternative to the standard flu vaccine.
17 June 2006, pages 10-11
Today’s bird flu vaccine will do (by Debora Mackenzie)
Argues that vaccination with a ‘broad spectrum’ vaccine may be necessary to prevent a pandemic.
4 May 2006
Way to mass produce key bird flu drug revealed (by Debora MacKenzie)
Describes the synthesis of Tamiflu using two cheap and plentiful chemicals.
14 January 2006, pages 6-7
Time to stamp out bird flu at source (by Debora MacKenzie)
Looks at the cost of controlling bird flu in poultry flocks.
4 February 2006, pages 30-31
A race against time to diagnose bird flu (by Debora MacKenzie)
Looks at the methods used to diagnose cases of bird flu.
7 January 2006, special supplement pages i-viii
The bird flu threat (by Debora Mackenzie)
Answers some common questions and dispels some misconceptions about bird flu.
20 October 2005, page 14
Race is on to make bird flu drugs (by Debora Mackenzie)
Production of the antiviral drug Tamiflu has increased to meet demand.
15 October 2005, pages 6-7
Bird flu: Kick start vaccination or face the consequences (by Debora Mackenzie and Kristin Choo)
Describes some of the problems associated with vaccinating millions of people against bird flu.
8 October 2005, page 16
Bird flu warning from replica virus (by Debora Mackenzie)
Describes the similarities between the 1918 human flu and H5N1 bird flu viruses.
3 August 2005
Flu pandemic: Lethal yet preventable (by Gaia Vince)
Suggests that it is possible to prevent a flu pandemic if action is taken to prevent the spread of the virus within a 3 week period.
6 October 2004
Virulent 1918 flu genes resurrected (by Debora MacKenzie)
Describes work on the flu virus that caused the 1918 pandemic to understand what made the strain so virulent.
28 September 2004
Bird flu transmitted between humans in Thailand (by Debora MacKenzie)
Describes the first 'probable' case of human-to-human spread of bird flu.
7 July 2004
Super-fit bird flu evolved in China (by Debora MacKenzie)
The genetic history of 2004s deadly avian flu suggests it evolved recently in China.
January 2006
Living with influenza
Looks at the strategies available to combat bird flu including vaccines, inverse genetics and antiviral agents.
November 2003, pages 3-6
Viruses without barriers
November 2005, pages 23-31
Preparing for a pandemic (by W Wayt Gibbs and Christine Soares)
Asks if we are ready to respond to a pandemic, and describes the technical difficulties of vaccination and what can be done to treat the sick.
25 April 2005
Cooping up avian flu (by Christine Soares)
Buying time to arm for a pandemic is possible – maybe.
Page updated October 2008.