Are we prepared for influenza pandemic?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an outbreak of Avian Influenza in birds in several countries in Asia. Avian influenza is a contagious viral infection with a potential to affect all species of birds, and rare transfer to humans. Avian influenza virus has 15 known types that infect wild bird populations (mainly water birds). In wild birds this infection is without symptoms, therefore the infected birds carry on with their normal life. The bird feces and contaminated water or dust spreads avian influenza to domestic ducks and to the other poultry. In domestic birds the disease is severe. This very contagious virus then spreads rapidly in poultry flocks killing whole population of domestic birds in some areas.