The Director of the World Health Organization in the South Pacific says that that the world might be able to avoid an Avian influenza pandemic. While recognizing that the situation was perilous, Dr. Shigeru Omi says a surge of help from the international community had brought a new impetus to the battle against the disease.

"I believe that the momentum that is now building up will give us a chance to change the course of history and head off a pandemic caused by the H5N1 virus," says Dr. Omi."Of course, I have no illusions about the danger the world is in, because we are dealing with a virus that is unpredictable, firmly entrenched and continuing to spread

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports Saturday that tests conducted by the World Organization for Animal Health have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in samples taken from domestic birds in Turkey.

In Romania, investigations of recent poultry deaths have, to date, identified the H5 subtype of avian influenza virus. Further testing is under way to determine the strain and whether the virus is highly pathogenic

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports Saturday that tests conducted by the World Organization for Animal Health have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in samples taken from domestic birds in Turkey.

In Romania, investigations of recent poultry deaths have, to date, identified the H5 subtype of avian influenza virus. Further testing is under way to determine the strain and whether the virus is highly pathogenic

Consumer groups want the U.S. government to import generic versions of patented medicines such as Roche AG's Tamiflu to help the country prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic.

Tamiflu currently is considered the first line of defense against the H5N1 avian flu virus that experts fear could spark a deadly, worldwide outbreak in people. Swiss firm Roche is under pressure to step up production to quickly fill orders from several countries that want to stockpile the drug

The agriculture minister says Thursday, experts confirm a strain of the bird flu virus has been found in samples taken from dead birds in Romania's Danube Delta.

Samples are being sent to Britain in order to attempt to identify the specific strain. So far, there are no indications it is the H5N1 strain, which is blamed for the deaths of more than 60 people in Asia since 2003