A UNITED Nations health expert has warned that a flu pandemic could strike at any time killing between five and 150 million people.
Dr David Nabarro, of the World Health Organisation, said it would be likely to be caused by a mutant of the virus that is causing bird flu in Asia and called on governments to take action.
Dr Nabarro was speaking to a conference to mark his appointment as the new UN co-ordinator for avian and human influenza.
But health experts in the north west said although it was a possibility, there were no signs of an imminent outbreak.
Professor Martin Regan, regional epidemiologist for the North West Health Protection Agency, said it was possible that flu carried by migrating birds could merge with human influenza to form a new virus, but the possibility of it hitting Britain was unlikely.
Bird flu
He said: "We are aware there is a potential risk of bird flu coming to the UK and mutating but we do not believe it is imminent. A global pandemic cannot be ruled out as a possibility, but at the moment there is no indication of it, so people need not worry."
Bird flu is a virus which is sweeping across poultry populations in Asia and has killed tens of millions of birds
Dr Nabarro said: "We expect the next influenza pandemic to come at any time now and it is likely to be caused by a mutant of the virus that is currently causing bird flu in Asia.
"The avian flu epidemic has to be controlled if we are to prevent a human influenza pandemic, the range of deaths could be anything between five and 150m.
"I believe the work we're doing over the next few months on prevention and preparedness will make the difference between, for example, whether the next pandemic leads us in the direction of 150m or in the direction of 5m."
Are we prepared enough for a flu pandemic? Have your say.
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ya right, of course it may hit anytime. what a smart man.
It's going to happen eventually. The world can't support 1897387945879 people
Fear mongering should be considered for what it is and those that practice it should be summarily ignored by the media.
How do I know this?
The statement: ... killing between five and 150 million people. This means he doesn't know and hasn't taken the time to even attempt at building a model of his nightmare scenario.
I hope the person knows what he is saying. These kinds of comments will confuse people more than help. At least give a time frame this can happen instead of saying any time.
Please tell me FEMA is not involved! I don't think we're doing enough about the bird flu. We have no real useful vaccine to help combat it. We don't really know how it spreads or really very much about it. We're too busy in Iraq to be bothered with real problems.
Caww Caww. I am coming for you. Cawwww Cawwww. Be afraid.
This is all just the evil Empire's plot to destroy China and India when they get too big. We are just waiting for the right time to release the special virus to kill all but the upper class.
Cawww Cawww.
Bird Flu H5N1 is most likely to enter the UK by migratory birds and members of the public may well find the birds totally unaware of the dangers.
On speaking to other wild bird rehabilitators it appears that DEFRA have made no guidelines for Vets and have not even considered that many wild bird sanctuaries will most likely be the first contacted. It is sanctuaries that handle most of the UK`s injured wild birds ( we handle three times as many as the RSPCA in our area alone ) and will be the front line in some cases. As per usual the Government cannot see the wood for the trees.
It can't hit here????? We have no birds??? We have no people??? 5-150 Million people should increase our odds of getting struck but hey I'm no methematician.
well, if our governments past actions reflects its future actions, then i would imagine there is to be a lot of dieing, and suffereing on its way.
In a country where senior citizens have to choose between medication and food and people without health insurence are treated like second hand citizens, i would have to say no we're are by no means prepared for the possible pandemic we may be facing.
The work of Dr John Rappaport, and the continual disregard for safety at bio hazzard, and bio warfare facilities, are the keys to understanding how a pandemic threat is real.
What about the work of Pharmaceutical comanies in the 60's and 70's-----MERK---Physer?
IN the Congo-
will it reach ireland