WHO, FAO Call for Global Fight to Halt Bird Flu

In Vietnam, another case of the bird flu has been found in a human. More worrying is that the flu has spread all across Southeast Asia as well as into Pakistan. Should the virus jump species, as did SARS, another major epidemic may be at hand. The World Health Organization has asked for an unspecified amount of money, saying that a vaccine may take up to six months to develop. Farmers are urged to slaughter exposed animals, but will require compensation. If SARS is any lesson, international cooperation sooner – rather than later – will stave an imminent epidemic. – YaleGlobal