The bird flu scourge continues, terrorizing new nations and making its intent that it is here to stay, known. Despite well concerted efforts of nations in quelling its spread, it remains free to roam the surface of Earth. Are we at the brink of a deadly influenza pandemic similar to the 1918 Spanish flu crisis that wiped out 50-100 million people worldwide?

If the influenza virus that causes bird flu successfully mutates to enable human to human transmission, I fear the crisis this time will be magnified. With air travel being so common, there is hardly much physical barriers to stop its spread. It could potentially wipe out generations of Mankind spelling the end of Man’s dominion over Earth as we lay defenseless and completely at the mercy of these tiny assassins. There is no escape.

The only strategy now is to stop the jump from poultry to Mankind. However, a tiny Earth segregated by imaginary physical borders, inept Governments, unnecessary wars and a lack of urgency appear to doom Mankind to a losing battle. As our tiny adversaries develop its venomous fangs, Mankind remain toothless. Is Mankind’s reign as the superior being on Earth about to end? The clock is indeed ticking.