Bird Flu

To the list of tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes, add avian flu pandemic as the next disaster for which we are unprepared.

Similar to the 1918 flu, the virus is airborne and
transmitted through bird droppings and uncooked
meat. The H5N1 strain is in the bird excrement.

Currently the flu can be transmitted from bird to bird or bird to human. The concern is that the virus will mutate to a form easily transmitted from human to human.

The best response is "containment" through vaccine and quarantine. Questions are raised about stockpiles and speeded up production of vaccines, and whether troops should be used to enforce quarantines.

Meanwhile, birds are being slaughtered by the thousands in Asia, imports are banned, and the virus has reached Europe.

Sadly it isn't a question of if, but when.
--LynZee