H5N1

Poland reported its first outbreak of the disease yesterday, saying laboratory tests confirmed two wild swans died of the lethal strain.
The swans were found dead Thursday in Torun, some 200 kilometres northwest of Warsaw. Samples were being sent to Britain for further tests.
-The Associated Press (24 HOURS, March 7, 2006).

Bird flu toll rises

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China reported its ninth death from the deadly bird flu virus yesterday while Poland detected its first case of H5N1 virus in the country in two dead swans...

In Europe, while Poland recorded its first case of bird flu, France, Switzerland and Romania reported more cases of the virus. Poland said two swans found dead on the banks of the River Vistula in the northern city of Torun tested positive for H5. Fird flue has hit at least 14 new countries over the past month (TORONTO SUN, Monday, March6, 2006).

Austria, Poland confirm bird flu

Avian flu extended its spread across Europe as Poland confirmed yesterday that two dead swans had the virulent H5N1 virus and Austria reported a cat at an animal sanctuary tested positive for the virus.
The virus is currently spreading among wild birds and has reached at least 15 new countries over the past month, moving across Europe and also hitting Egypt and West Afruca,
REUTERS (METRO, Tuesday, March 7, 2006).

Bird flue continues its crawl across a nervous Europe

Poland, Austria report H5N1

BY KAROLINA SLOWIKOWSKA

WARSAW * Avian flu extended its spread across Europe yesterday as Poland confirmed two dead swans had the virulent H5N1 virus and Austria reported a cat at an animal sanctuary tested positive for the virus..

Two dead swans found in northern Poland had H5N1, the Polish veterinary institute told the PAP news agency.
"It was the H5N1 strain. It's certain," said the institute's Jan Zmudzinski.
Reuters (NATIONAL POST, Tuesday, March 7, 2006).

Dutch city to open cannabis pharmacy

The Duch city of Groningen looks set to open the Netherlands' first pharmacy totally dedicated to providing high quality cannabis for pain relief at affordable prices, a newspaper reported yesterday.
Although cannabis is readily available in Dutch coffee shops, the foundation for Medicinal Cannabis Netherlands, a support group for patients, intends launching a pharmacy so people can access high-grade medical cannabis, the daily NRC Handelsblad said.
Two more cannabis pharmacies are planned in the Dutch towns of Hoogezand and Assen.
REUTERS (METRO, Thursday, February 2, 2006).