Here is a little analysis of the current bird flu stats, timeframe and geography.

258 cases, 153 deaths.

111 cases in 2006, 43% of the total. 75 fatalities, 49% of the total.

Vietnam has the most cases, 93, but two thirds of them occurred in 2005. The mortality rate is 45%.

Indonesia has had 50% of the cases in 2006, and 74 in total. Their mortality rate has been 76%.

65% of the cases of bird flu were in just two countries, Vietnam and Indonesia. The death rate varied greatly in these two nation.

If we were to try to draw conclusions from such a tiny data set, we would probably be incorrect. However, to date, I can state that this disease in humans has been geographicly isolated. I can also state that the death rate may vary and that it may be dependent upon the medical care provided as much as the virulance of the disease.

As of this moment, there are no signs that the disease is breaking out of the few areas where it has been found. Nor is there any indication that human to human transmission has become the norm. As I have pointed out repeatedly, the people who catch this illness have had close contact with diseased poultry through care, slaughter, food preparation and cleanup.

Time to obtain your annual flu shot and, if you have not already done so, the pneumonia vaccine.