In the world of bird flu, last year marked a sharp rise in concern over a future human pandemic. This year is likely to see that awareness begin to be translated into serious action.
There has been no shortage of dire warnings of the risks of the spread of the H5N1 virus. In its list of questions for the year released this month, Eurasia Group, the geopolitical risk consultancy, put at the top of its list: “Will the risk of a human pandemic of H5N1 avian influence decline in 2006?” The answer was a blunt “no”.
