Avian Flu Update

The Wall Street Journal has put out a great table about the victims so far of H5N1 avian flu, 130 to date, across nine countries. Thus far it clearly indicates that the virus has not mutated to permit human to human transition. However, it is clearly centered thus far in nations where the healthcare infrastructure is insufficient to permit any real quarantine and bird destruction should a serious outbreak occur; further, many of these countries lack even the ability to really keep track of cases. Of even greater significance is the fact that many of these countries have alerady shown resistance to WHO inspectors when it's suggested they destroy birds because of the economic impact.

Foreign Affairs devoted several articles in an issue last year to the topic, they can be found here.

UPDATE
New York Times ran this article today, I meant to include it - obviously didn't. In essence, the Ag Department has failed to put in place sufficient mechanisms to allow proper identification of the virus among poultry and wild birds. While I'm not generally in favor of government intrusion, and I suspect that it may be right to say that poultry-producers have their livelihood invested in making sure there are no infections, on something like this I almost feel better safe than sorry is the way to go.