Is a bird flu pandemic inevitable?

Delegates from 100 nations recently met at the World Health Organization headquarters in San Francisco and were urged to prepare against the avian flu or risk a human pandemic that scientists fear could kill millions and cause up to $800 billion in economic damage worldwide.

Migratory wildfowl are carrying the so-called H5N1 strain of avian influenza allowing it to spread from Asia to Eastern Europe and appears to be heading towards Africa.

Half of those that have so far contracted Avian Flu have died and although so far there have been no recorded cases scientist believe that it is only a matter of time before an avian influenza, most likely the H5N1 strain, acquires the ability to be transmitted human-to-human.

Existing vaccines for seasonal influenza are regarded as ineffective against any new strain.

With international travel now being common place when this happens scientist warn that the next pandemic will cause incalculable human misery.

How informed do you feel and how concerned are you that the predictions of untold deaths and economical consequences could become a reality?

Register your views by participating in our survey Is a bird flu pandemic inevitable?.