The effects of H5N1 bird flu have been severe with 50 per cent of those who have caught the disease dying of it. Fortunately, it has not easily spread between infected birds and humans but scientists fear a pandemic with tens of millions if it does spread. According to the World Health Organisation, as at 20 February 2006, there had been 170 cases confirmed cases of H5N1 bird flu with 92 deaths.
The Spanish influenza of 1918-19 an earlier form of bird flu was a pandemic killing more people than World War I.
Clinical trials into a vaccine are underway having commenced in April 2005.
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