Public health - Pandemic flu jitters grip Washington

The threat of a pandemic influenza outbreak has caused much political activityin the USA recently, prompted by a number of factors. The avian influenza strain H5N1 transmitted by birds, has proven that it can transfer to humans, leading to increased surveillance of outbreaks among birds. The production of flu vaccine, as well as antiviral drugs, has been stepped up. This comes after reports that the 1918 pandemic flu may have originated in birds.