More effective bird flu vaccine not likely for 6 months\nBANGKOK, Thailand -- Asia's bird flu virus is resistant to key anti-influenza drugs, and an effective vaccine is probably more than six months away, the World Health Organization said Sunday, as Indonesia confirmed it had become the seventh country in the region with an outbreak.\nThe WHO said it would launch a massive funding appeal to help Asian nations destroy millions of chickens in an attempt to stem the disease. Experts warned that if the mass slaughter is improperly carried out, it might only help the virus' jump from fowl to humans.\nIn Indonesia, bird flu has affected millions of chickens, said Sofjan Sudardjat, a senior Indonesian Department of Agriculture official. But the virus has not crossed over to humans, he said.
U.S. Congressional delegation makes visit to Libya\nTRIPOLI, Libya -- A U.S. congressional delegation, flying in on the first U.S. military plane to Libya in more than 30 years, made a landmark visit aimed at warming ties after the North African country renounced its nuclear weapons programs.\nThe bipartisan delegation arrived aboard a U.S. Navy plane bearing an American flag for its 30-hour visit as U.S. and British experts were preparing to start dismantling Libya's weapons of mass destruction programs with Col. Moammar Gadhafi's blessing.\n"I'm here to reinforce the positive steps that have been taken by the leader of Libya," said Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., who stepped off the plane wearing a pin of the American and Libyan flags.
Storms lead to search for dozens of Philippine fishermen\nSAN FERNANDO, Philippines -- Rescuers in the Philippines launched a massive search for 53 fishermen missing after their boats were pounded by strong winds and high waves off three northwestern provinces, authorities said on Sunday. At least two fishermen died.\nMore than 100 fishermen either managed to reach shore safely or were plucked from the sea by searchers from the navy, coast guard, air force and villagers, the National Disaster Coordination Center said.\nThe coast guard commander in the north, Eduardo Legaspi, said the fishermen set out Friday afternoon when the weather was calm but ran into a squall early Saturday. The weather bureau said winds churned up waves as high as 13 feet in the area about 155 miles north of Manila.
