Bird Flu Center

During a press conference held in Singapore, David Nabarro, Senior System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza working for the UN, warned of the imminent danger that bird flu poses to world health and economy. He said a world animal and human flu pandemic is only a question of when, not if, and that world governments should take the warning seriously. A recent World Bank estimate concluded that such a severe pandemic could cost the global economy a percentage of 3.1 to 4.8 of the gross domestic product. This would translate in an amount of 1.25 to 2 trillion US dollars. In the last year, the disease has become a global concern, spreading rapidly from its origin in East Asia to countries from South Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa. It is believed some 200 million birds died or were culled as a direct result. The greatest fear is that a further spread of the virus will eventually cause a mutation that will enable it to be easily passed on from person to person.