A small bird dies and within hours a concerned resident has called the authorities, which quickly set up a cordon around the dead creature as if dealing with the scene of a violent crime. Soon, health workers in protective garb remove the carcass for testing at a remote lab and set about disinfecting the site.

If, or when, the bird tests positive for H5N1, the flu virus that has prompted global fears of a looming pandemic, aviaries within a 3km radius are quickly closed to the public. Anyone who has had contact with the bird is tested by health officials.