influenza

Epidemiologists and virologists worry that avian influenza could generate a pandemic if allowed to spread and mutate.

That drug, called CD388, is designed to prevent influenza, but is not a vaccine.

Scientists track the evolution of influenza viruses because they mutate constantly and the seasonal flu vaccine has to be updated each year to keep up.

Spain will confine poultry indoors in several regions starting Monday in response to escalating cases of avian influenza across Europe, the agriculture ministry said Wednesday.

It added it also was affected by the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza and pneumoviruses within the poultry industry.