Lately, there has been word going around of an Avian Flu pandemic. What is Avian Flu, you may be asking yourself. Well, Avian Flu is a disease carried by birds. Once it has infected one bird it can be spread to millions of others. Although cases have not been reported since 1997, Avian Flu has little potential threat to humans.
In fact, in Hong Kong, 1997, 18 people were infected by the disease, six of whom died. Health officials say that after close contact with diseased birds, the virus may be able to jump from birds to humans.
During late 2003 and early 2004 there was an outbreak of Avian Flu among poultry in eight Asian countries.
Currently, President Bush has outlined a $7.1 billion strategy to fight the bird flu. This strategy says the country should stock up on reserves of medicine, and spend lots of time and money developing a vaccine.
Well, some experts say the threat is not if but when a pandemic occurs. So we should be ready.
Comments are no longer available on this story