Avian Influenza or Bird Flu is a contagious disease of birds. Migratory waterfowl especially wild ducks are a natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses. Domestic poultry (chickens, ducks, turkeys) are susceptible to the infection. Avian influenza rarely affects human but the recent outbreak in Viet Nam and Thailand and also the outbreak in Hong Kong [...]

A flu pandemic occurs when a new subtype of flu virus emerges that has not previously circulated in humans. The present concern is that the current avian flu will change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person. This will mark the start of a global outbreak [...]