Avian Influenza - is the World on the Verge of a Pandemic? . . . And Can it Be Stopped?

With more than 100 million birds either dead from infection or culled, the present outbreak of avian influenza in Asia is unprecedented in size. The virus is capable of transmitting to man, causing lethal infections, but as yet the virus does not easily transmit from human to human. However, there is a substantial risk of either re-assortment of virus (combination of avian and human influenza), or adaptation of the influenza virus to humans. If this happens we may be on the verge of a new influenza pandemic with grave consequences both for human health and the world economy. The present situation stresses the importance of good surveillance and updated pandemic plans in all countries