Bird Flu Spread To Date

MSNBC has a really nice flash animation showing the spread of Bird flu across the world from December 2003 to October 2, 2007.

I can't recommend the BBC program on Bird Flu I posted the other day highly enough. A couple of the key takeaways from that show:

1. It is only a question of when, not if, Bird Flu is coming.
2. Once H5N5 mutates so it can be transmitted human to human, it will take 3 months to spread across the entire country. Expect the pandemic to hit in waves that last for about 3 - 5 months.
3. There is very little the government is going to do - you are on your own.
4. Plan ahead - you need to be able to isolate yourself as much as possible from others. Prepare to teach your kids at home, chart family members’ blood types and allergies and find out in advance if you will be able to work from your house.
5. Be Prepared - when the pandemic hits, you need food, water and medicine. You'll have to have enought to last you at least 4 months (when the peak infection rate will begin to subside) or you'll have to have a way to get food at a time when many folks will not show up for work, schools and businesses will be closed and utilities may fail.

Be sure to check out the Flu Wiki for more information.