This are just my observations - your opinions and mileage may vary:

1. From 2002 to date, there have been something around 200 confirmed human cases of bird (H5N1) flu worlwide and something less than 100 fatalities.

2. The H5N1 influenza strain was isolated in geese in Scotland in the 1950's and other places around the world, including the U.S. since then.

3. On average, about 20,000 people die annually in the U.S. from the (non-avain) flu.

4. Most of the human victims seem to have been in "intimate contact" with infected birds - that is raising free-ranging birds around (and sometimes in) the home.

5. Western "factory" poltury farms try to do as much as they can to prevent contact between their livestock and wild birds and take other precautions (washing shoes and wearing "clean suite") toi prevent the introduction of infectious deases within their flocks.

6. In short, I believe we have less to worry about the H5N1 virus than we do the guy in the car next to us on the express way.


Stay safe,

JimJr.