Since 2003, a devastating epidemic of avian-or bird-influenza caused by the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, has predominately affected poultry flocks in East Asia-particularly in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and China. It has now spread throughout the world and has already had severe consequences on the economies of affected countries and on poor farmers' livelihoods.

This avian influenza virus has already infected 394 people (killing 248 or 63% of those infected, as of 14 January 2009) but so far, has not yet developed the ability to transmit easily from person to person. In many respects, however, conditions are ripe for a pandemic of human influenza. Read More.