Current Situation

 The H5N1 virus has been causing major concerns since it was detected in 2003. H5N1 is a bird flu virus that has already caused millions of poultry to be culled in an effort to contain the spread of the disease. Although H5N1 is predominately an avian (bird) virus it can be passed to humans with devastating results.

The World Health Organisation report that to date, 390 people have contracted the H5N1 virus from birds or infected humans resulting in 246 deaths (WHO, December 2008). Doctors and Scientists believe these deaths may have been prevented if early intervention with antiviral medication had taken place.

Concerns about a possible pandemic have recently increased as a result of the spread of avian (bird) flu in Asia. A strain of flu that usually only affects birds has infected people and caused serious illness and deaths. If this virus mixes with a human flu virus, a new flu virus may be created, which could potentially cause a pandemic.

To find out more about how you can protect your organisation from a flu pandemic click here.