(May 23, 2006)--Two separate research teams, one in the U.S. and the other in Germany, have come up with a two-pronged approach to fighting bird flu, details of which are scheduled for publication Tuesday.

The two teams of researchers were able to engineer combination vaccines to protect against both bird flu and Newcastle disease.

Their findings are being published in Tuesday’s issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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The deadly H5N1 avian flu has raised concerns, with millions of birds killed in Asia and elsewhere.

More than 120 people have died.

Scientists worry that the virus will evolve into a form that can be easily spread among people, leading to a worldwide epidemic.

Meanwhile facemasks, oxygen equipment and IV's are on the bird flu shopping list prepared by local governments for federal officials.

The National Association of County and City Health Officials is telling congressional staffers that a federal bird flu plan puts too much emphasis on developing a vaccine and monitoring the infection track.

Click Here For Association Web Site

The local health officials say too little attention is being paid to providing equipment and supplies for treating masses of potential bird flu victims.

A briefing for the health officials suggests a three-tier approach to patient treatment.

To avoid clogging hospital beds, one California county is preparing for most patients to be treated at home.

Sicker patients would go to triage centers like modified hotel rooms and only the sickest would be hospitalized.

Click Here For More Information On Avian Flu From The U.S. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention

Click Here For More Information On Avian Flu From The World Health Organization

Click Here For Government Flu Information Web Site

Click Here To Read Texas Draft Flu Pandemic Preparedness Plan

Click Here For Department Of Defense Flu Pandemic Web Site

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