Deaths from H5N1 virus continue to be reported in Asian countries and parts of Africa, and there have been outbreaks in poultry in some countries for the first time. However, there are some positive signs that in many areas, the virus is being more effectively controlled.
April 11 — The World Health Organization (WHO) confirms 2 more deaths from H5N1 avian flu, 1 in Egypt and 1 in Cambodia. This brings the global avian flu count to 291 cases, with 172 deaths, a 59% fatality rate.
April 9 — New poultry outbreaks of H5N1 are reported in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
April 2 — The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports there are some positive signs that avian flu is coming under control. There are fewer infected birds so far in 2007 compared to last year, when there was a surge in the virus, particularly in Europe. However, Indonesia, Egypt, and Nigeria have not yet been able to control the virus.
March 29 — It's announced that a network of clinical researchers stretching from Southeast Asia to the United States will begin testing to see whether doubling the standard dosage of Tamiflu will help patients overcome either the often-deadly H5N1 avian influ enza or severe seasonal flu.
March 27 — Indonesia agrees to resume sharing of H5N1 avian flu samples with the WHO after discussions produce agreement on a mechanism for improving access to vaccines for developing nations. Indonesia stopped sharing samples in February on the grounds that drug companies were using them to produce vaccines that poor countries couldn't afford.
March 24 — The Canadian government agrees to provide $2 million to the Canadian-based International Consortium on Anti-Virals to help fast-track new influenza drugs and other antiviral medications to market.
March 23 — Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia report their first confirmed cases of H5N1 virus in bird populations.
March 15 — The US Department of Agriculture announces it will step up anti-smuggling efforts and monitoring of live bird markets in 2007 to protect the US from H5N1 avian influenza.
March 8 — The WHO confirms the first fatal case of H5N1 avian influenza in Laos.
March 6 — China confirms its first report of H5N1 in poultry since September 2006.
February 27 — A US FDA panel recommends that the agency approve the nation's first H5N1 influenza vaccine, despite new evidence that the vaccine is less protective than reported in a clinical trial last year.
February 23 — Afghanistan confirms its first H5N1 virus outbreak in poultry since April 2006. No human cases have been reported in the country.
February 14 — The WHO issues a report that adds to previous evidence that young people are more susceptible to H5N1 and are more likely to die than older people. It found that 89% of patients were below age 40 and that fatalities among 10- to 19-year-olds were 76%, compared to 50% for patients over 50.
