I'm afraid I have to agree to some extent with Sinsull about the cross-mutating news stories, and also with the assessment that there's little useful that can be(?) done in preparation for the eventual development of a human-transmissible mutation of the bird flu.

One thing I have NOT seen being done:

The most likely scenario for appearance of a "bird flu" virulent in humans likely will happen when someone already infected with a common, transmissible flu becomes simultaneously infected with "bird flu." The ability of viruses, and even some bacteria, to undergo lateral inheritance of genetic change has been amply demonstrated. This is the expected route by which a species crossover probably will occur.

So why do we not have a massive campaign to vaccinate, for common/current/expected flu varieties, all who come in contact with birds that might be carrying bird flu, to reduce the likelihood of this cross exposure?

Our "disaster plans" seem to be concentrated on handling a lot of dead bodies, which might be really handy in almost any kind of disaster. If they're actually planning on some other kind of disaster, I suppose the flu thing is a good cover, but... ...

(There I go again, suspecting ulterior motives from honest politicians.)

John