BIRD FLU RIPS THROUGH RUSSIA'S POULTY

WARNINGS OF IMMINENT HUMAN INFECTION OUTBREAK

Russian scientists are now warning there remains only a few steps of mutation before the H5N1 becomes infectious in humans.

In Russia, in the space of only one month, more than 800,000 birds have been slaughtered to stop the spread of bird flu amongst poultry stocks in the southern regions of the country.

President Vladimir Putin has called for the establishment of a bird flu crisis centre following reports of three new outbreaks.

Russia claims it has developed two new vaccines that should prove effective against the H5N1 bird flu strain, with the government set to buy some 100 million doses from domestic producers.

Russian scientists now say it is only a matter of time before the virus mutates further and begins to infect and spread amongst human populations.

Go here for a report from The Hindu.