Friday, November 04, 2005

Animal health watchdog calls for stronger action ahead of bird flu meeting

The world's paramount agency for veterinary health has issued a
renewed appeal for countries to beef up efforts to combat avian
influenza on the farm, in the run up to a major conference on bird
flu.

'The avian influenza virus strain that appeared in Southeast Asia
about two years ago is currently circulating endemically in several
Asian countries that lack the tools and resources needed to implement
the appropriate eradication measures,' the World Organisation for
Animal Health (OIE) said here.

The OIE called for wealthy countries to help developing nations to
vaccinate all their poultry populations against the H5N1 strain.

It also advocated medium-term measures such as training farmers and
local veterinarians in spotting bird flu infections in order to
quickly contain outbreaks.

'If the international community does not help them in this way, there
is every likelihood of global crises associated with emerging and
re-emerging national diseases frequently occurring,' the OIE said.

The OIE and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have
estimated short-term needs for improving poultry surveillance and
other veterinary measures at 150 mln usd. Only 30 mln usd has been
committed so far, sources at those agencies say.

The OIE, the FAO and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are to stage
a meeting in Geneva next Monday to Wednesday on how to strengthen
cooperation against bird flu. Representatives from the World Bank and
national governments will also attend.

H5N1 at present is confined to migrating birds and poultry, with
backyard flocks of chickens, geese and ducks the most vulnerable. 'The
virus rarely occurs in commercial farms, which now know how to protect
themselves,' the OIE press release said.

The virus is a threat to humans who come into close proximity to
infected birds, notably by breathing virus-laden nasal secretions or
dried, pulverised faeces.

More than 60 people have died of the virus in Asia since 2003, roughly
half of the known cases of human infections. There have been several
suspected cases, but none of them confirmed, by which the pathogen has
spread from human to human.

The fear is that H5N1 could acquire these contagious genes by mixing
with a conventional human flu virus, emerging as a new virus against
which no one would would have immunity.

www.forbes.com

World business booms

The global private sector economy boomed at its fastest rate in 15
months in October, providing ample fuel for central banks to ratchet
up warnings of rising inflation and the need for higher interest
rates.

Monthly surveys of thousands of companies in the major economies of
North America, Europe and Asia indicated a sharp rebound in activity
last month.

Manufacturers steamed ahead at their fastest rate in 13 months.
Service sector firms signaled they were at full tilt again, aided by a
sharp recovery in the United States after a September stutter caused
by hurricanes and soaring fuel costs.

With activity at full blast and the cost of energy and raw materials
still high, the rising threat of inflation is holding the attention of
increasingly hawkish central banks worldwide.

"Policymakers cannot be complacent," Federal Reserve Vice Chairman
Roger Ferguson told a conference in Washington.

"Central bankers must reinforce their credibility and validate the
confidence of market participants by actively leaning against the
inflationary pressures long before inflation itself builds," he added.

The Fed announced its 12th quarter-percentage-point rate increase
since June last year on Tuesday, bringing its key lending rate up to 4
percent from a starting low of 1 percent.

Financial markets expect even tighter credit as the Fed warned of the
"cumulative" impact of energy price increases.

Earlier in Frankfurt, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude
Trichet also signaled the ECB was closer to raising its key short-term
rates from 2 percent, where they have been for more than two years.

"We can move at any time, and we have warned the market very clearly
of this," Trichet said. "Strong vigilance is of the essence in our
eyes, and we clearly see increased risks to price stability."

"As regards to a pre-emptive strike, any central bank would not
consider it advisable to wait for inflation to materialize," Trichet
added.

Financial futures markets are betting there is a 60 percent chance of
an ECB rate rise as soon as next month.

www.financialexpress.com

Workbrain Named One of North America's Fastest Growing Technology Companies

Workbrain today announced that it ranked 24th on the 2005 Deloitte
Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology
companies in North America. Rankings are based on percentage revenue
growth over five years, from 2000-2004. Workbrain grew 13,570 percent
during this period.

Workbrain's President and CEO, David Ossip, credits the company's
growth to its product leadership and ongoing commitment to customer
satisfaction. "We are honored that Deloitte has recognized Workbrain
as one of the fastest growing technologies in North America," Ossip
said. "Our goal is to solidify our position as the recognized leader
in enterprise workforce management solutions and I feel confident that
we have what it takes to continue our tremendous success."

"Making the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 is commendable in today's
highly competitive technology industry," said Tony Kern, deputy
national managing principal of Deloitte's Technology, Media &
Telecommunications industry practice. "Attracting enough customers to
attain such fast growth over five years makes a strong statement about
the quality of a company's product and its leadership. Workbrain has
shown the right stuff for growth."

In addition to ranking on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, Workbrain
also placed second on the 2005 Canadian Technology Fast 50, which is a
ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology firms in Canada.

Overall, companies that ranked on the 2005 Technology Fast 500
experienced an average growth rate of 2,408 percent.

Fast 500 Selection and Qualifications

The Fast 500 list is compiled from Deloitte's 15 regional North
American Fast 50 lists, nominations submitted directly to the Fast
500, and public company database research. To qualify for the Fast
500, entrants must have had 2000 operating revenues of at least
$50,000 USD or $75,000 CD for the United States and Canada,
respectively, and 2004 operating revenues of at least $1 million USD
or CD.

Entrants must be headquartered in North America and must be a
"technology company," defined as a company that owns proprietary
technology that contributes to a significant portion of the company's
operating revenues; or devotes a significant proportion of revenues to
the research and development of technology. Using other companies'
technology in a unique way does not qualify.

About Workbrain

Workbrain develops, markets, implements and supports software that
helps large organizations optimally deploy and manage their
workforces. Customers such as British Airways, J.B. Hunt, Lowe's and
Weyerhaeuser have chosen Workbrain's industry-focused workforce
management solutions to automate workforce planning, labor
forecasting, employee schedule optimization, time and attendance, and
workforce analytics. For more information, please visit
www.workbrain.com.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss
Verein, its member firms and their respective subsidiaries and
affiliates. As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each
other's acts or omissions.

Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity
operating under the names "Deloitte", "Deloitte & Touche", "Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu" or other related names. Services are provided by the
member firms or their subsidiaries or affiliates and not by the
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein.

Deloitte & Touche USA LLP is the US member firm of Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu. In the US, services are provided by the subsidiaries of
Deloitte & Touche USA LLP (Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting
LLP, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, Deloitte Tax LLP and
their subsidiaries), and not by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements which are not
historical facts, but are based on certain assumptions and reflect
Workbrain's current expectations.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ
materially from current expectations. Workbrain disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of
actual results.

Workbrain is a trademark of Workbrain, Inc. All other product or
company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

(c) Copyright 2005 Workbrain, Inc. All rights reserved.

www.biz.yahoo.com