Going up the Flu(e)

Stories emanating from China could be very worrying - more deaths of people who contracted avian 'flu. But good news as well of a brother and sister who both contracted the disease. Although the sister died, the boy survived - we are told by the Chinese authorities that his own immune system kicked in.
Meanwhile there is consternation in Britain over the fact that the reports of an imported parrot from South America dying from avian 'flu were incorrect. In fact 50 finches from the Far East were the culprits. Yes, the outbreak was contained by the fact that all the birds in question were in quarantine but not even being able to tell which bird was diseased doesn't exactly fill one with confidence in the authorities. And also the more restrictions are placed on the import of exotic birds the more lucrative it will be to smuggle them into the country - thus by-passing any controls. Phrases about rocks and hard places come to mind.
More news of an "incurable" disease is the gentleman in Britain who tested positive for HIV in 2002 and when re-tested 14 months later was found to be completely clear. Investigations found that both tests were accurate - so the body can fight and win against HIV. The gentleman has agreed to undergo tests to help ascertain how it all happened - perhaps there can be hope for others who thought that theirs would be a slow lingering death.