Spammers are peddling drugs online that claim to combat bird flu. The junk mail campaigns tout offers to sell Tamiflu, the drug said to be the most effective in protecting humans from the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, implicated in the deaths of dozens of people in Asia. The drug is in high demand because of fears the…

Concerned about apparent confusion between traditional seasonal flu and a possible avian flu pandemic, U.S. health officials stressed Monday that avian flu is not yet affecting humans to a great degree and has not yet arrived in the country. By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay News October 24, 2005 Read the full story at forbes.com.

When the dot-com bubble burst five years ago, hundreds of would-be Internet kingpins exited the industry in shame. But at least they were not wearing handcuffs. The same cannot be said for the online merchants caught in the latest bust – this one of a swindle, not a bubble. Late last month, federal drug investigators shut down 4,600 illegal Internet…

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday closed three factories, producing fake medicines worth millions of rupees. FIA Director Chaudhry Manzoor said the agency was appointed to check Drugs Act violations, at which the FIA launched a campaign against manufacturers producing fake medicines. October 22, 2005 Read the full story at dailytimes.com.

The EU is considering pushing for stronger intellectual property rights laws at world trade talks. The EU says counterfeiting is now a global criminal racket operating with organised crime rings in arms, drugs and cigarettes. October 21, 2005 Read the full story at lankabusinessonline.com.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's controversial plan to help Illinois residents buy prescription drugs from foreign pharmacies has failed to draw huge numbers of participants. October 20, 2005 Read the full story at southernillinoisan.com.

After his recently confirmed Food and Drug Administration commissioner suddenly resigned, President Bush wisely tapped Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach to fill the slot. By Peter Pitts October 20, 2005 Read the full story at washingtontimes.com.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Governments must cooperate to stop the global spread of counterfeit drugs, most of which come from India and China, two of the world's biggest pharmaceutical firms said on Wednesday. October 19, 2005 Read the full story at boston.com.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 – After a two-year search, the Food and Drug Administration named a new director to its Office of Drug Safety from within its own ranks Wednesday and gave the unit more authority. By Gardiner Harris October 19, 2005 Read the full story at nytimes.com.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday warned against fake medicines after recently busting a Luzon-based ring. The NBI is working with the departments of trade and health to find ways to distinguish low-cost government-imported medicines from spurious ones. By Julmunir I Jannaral October 18, 2005 Read the full story at Gulf-Times.com.