The World Health Organization issued an informative and measured statement, yesterday: "Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response". It is well worth reading. Two observations: young and robust immune systems get hit hardest with a new virus like H1N1. Second, here is the paragraph chosen by the WHO to end its statement: "The fact that the H5N1 avian influenza virus is firmly established in poultry in some parts of the world is another cause for concern. No one can predict how the H5N1 virus will behave under the pressure of a pandemic. At present, H5N1 is an animal virus that does not spread easily to humans and only very rarely transmits directly from one person to another." Read: flu experts are very concerned this new virus, H1N1, could recombine with bird flu and form a new, more dangerous version that is easily transmittable. Watch what happens when H1N1 hits Indonesia, Vietnam, and Egypt: countries where bird flu is established.
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