The cock crows: This week in bird flu

Big Bird! The Thanksgiving week has been, appropriately, quite busy in regards to China's ongoing bout against the deadly avian influenza virus. Even our precious hometown Shanghai is beginning to feel the pinch.

So from the mouth of one foul to another, here's a brief rundown of this busy week in bird flu.

11/28: Thought Pudong Airport was far enough? Thanks to our feathered friends, passengers at Shanghai Pudong International Airport "will have to fill out health declaration forms starting today as part of efforts to prevent the spread of bird flu."

11/25: Bird flu hysteria has hit Beijing. "Two dead, wild birds were found at a Beijing office tower yesterday. A dying dove fell to the ground outside a tower on Jianguomenwai Street yesterday. People working in the tower called the police and the epidemic prevention immediately." Some more birds also perished in Xinjiang, bringing the total number of bird flu outbreaks in China this year to 26.

11/24: While China's record of publicizing disease is less than stellar, China has invited the WHO to investigate two bird flu-related deaths in Anhui Province, including its third confirmed case. In other BF news, China's Sinovac Biotech is currently conducting clinical trials on its cleverly named bird flu vaccine, Panflu. With China's bio-technical prowess still largely unproven, Shanghaiist will be clinging to our Tamiflu -- though we may be willing to part with it for the right price.

11/23: China Daily reports: "Ministry of Agriculture yesterday confirmed bird flu outbreaks in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Southwest China's Yunnan Province ... Following the footsteps of Beijing, South China's Guangzhou and Northwest China's Urumqi have closed their live-fowl markets. And Shanghai is about to do so in a day or two. Apart from the 464 markets that are designated to sell fowl, Shanghai will ban sales in any other place." Does that include KFC?

Check out our bird flu archives.