More Good Avian-Flu News!

Ok, I don't know what this all means, or if it means that I am just watching out for Bird-Flu stories, but there is more good news!


During the last avian flu outbreak, the bottleneck for producing Tamiflu was a shortage of star anise (which contains a precursor required for the production of Tamiflu). Researchers have found that pine and spruce needles contain the same precursor and that it is easily extracted.


Reference: L. N. Gedivinne et al. Foliage extracts of conifers as potential sources for isolation of shikimic and quinic acids, precursors to Tamiflu. American Chemical Society fall meeting, Boston, August 26, 2010.

Avian Flu Update 25 Aug 2010

Well, finally some good news related to avian flu (which admittedly has been out of the news recently, but certainly not out of my mind... especially walking by the lake looking at all of the geese families marching around).Apparently mice can detect the difference between poop that has been through an infected bird and poop that has only passed through a normal, well adjusted bird.  Just thought I would share my joy at knowing we will be well looked after if the threat of the avian flu rises again.

I, for one, am SO relieved.