I watched the wide angle documentary the other night as well, and
I found it informative - I dont necessarily worry about it every day but I would discount the possibility of a pandemic.

A couple of years ago just before the SARS outbreak, there was an article in Scientific American a fairly respected publication, about the possibility of H5N1 mutating into a contagious virus that could spread world wide. The scientists in the article in fact took the view that it was a matter of 'when' not 'if'.

other influenza viri change and adapt all the time I wouldnt discount the possibility of H5N1 mutating to a human to human virus. And with
modern air travel allowing continental flight within a few hours it could in fact spread very rapidly. Its also easy to see how a virus could mutate.

so mted, even though you might not really worry about it we have plenty of evidence from the past - look at what happened to 25% of Europe with the black death, or when European diseases decimated the North American indigenous populations. Of the spanish flu outbreak of 1918 that killed between 20 and 50 million worldwide. The mortality
of which was 1-2% (which by my calculations means at least a Billion? people were affected - is that possible?) The Asian flu so far has killed about 27 of the 60 people infected in Vietnam which is around a 50% mortality rate.

A CDC scientist that Bill Moyers interviewed after the program
wasnt alarmist but did mention that although the cost of developing a vaccine and stockpiling it would cost several billion, the best outcome would be that it would be unnecessary. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

from an economic standpoint - SARS did a number on the Canadian economy especially Toronto - not to mention Hong Kong. So while I wouldnt spend my time worrying about it it might not be a bad idea to
be prepared - ie. stock up on food/water medical supplies and keep a hand powered solar radio.