Bangkok
A catastrophic global epidemic of avian flu is “very, very likely,” a top World Health Organization official said this week. Shigeru Omi, the WHO’s director for Asia and the Pacific, said that if the bird flu that has been killing chickens and ducks in Asia becomes transmittable from human to human, it could infect one-third of the world’s population and kill tens of millions of people. He said such a leap was increasingly probable because the virus has already proved to be quite adaptable, mutating with other viruses in birds. Every government should draw up plans now, the WHO said, for how to keep vital services staffed during an outbreak. The last big global pandemic was the 1918 outbreak of Spanish flu, which killed about 20 million.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What are the different types of nuclear weapons?The Explainer Speculation mounts that post-war taboo on nuclear weapons could soon be shattered by use of 'battlefield' missiles
-
Floral afternoon teas to enjoy during the Chelsea Flower ShowThe Week Recommends These are the prettiest spots in the city to savour a traditional treat
-
How to plan a trip along the Mississippi RiverThe Week Recommends See this vital waterway from the Great River Road
