I don't want to scare anyone, and this may be a bit off topic for the blog, but I thought I would post some links to articles about the H5N1 flu virus. It is transferred to humans from ducks and has already killed a number of people in Southeast Asia. So far it is not made the mutation to be able to transfer from human to human, but as most viruses do mutate constantly, many people think that time may not be far off.
This virus has a high death rate (over 50%) and the symptoms are similar to pneumonia. Scientists have been studying the virus and have been unable to create a vaccine for it. They have, however, identified a medicine which has a high success rate at treating the symptoms. The drug is called Tamiflu and is manufactured by only one company in the world: Rosche.
A number of news sites have posted articles about the potential economic and physical devastation a human outbreak could cause. ABC news ran a report on Primetime about the virus. Prudent people will prepare accordingly, possibly acquiring a Tamiflu regimen and preparing for possible social unrest and disruption of daily life.
Here are some articles:
CDC website
AP News article about U.S. potential response (not enough, in my opinion)
Council on Foreign Affairs article
Asian Times article
CNN website
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