A simple virus brewed in the belly of a dead bird is set to embark
on a global killing spree. The likely culprit is H5N1 - a bird flu
virus with the dangerous potential to mutate into the next pandemic flu virus.
In a feature-length special, we tell the story of what could happen
if a flu pandemic hits. Experts predict the next pandemic will be more
disruptive than any disease we've seen before. And they're particularly
worried that it will be most deadly for the young and otherwise healthy.
The last flu pandemic in 1918 killed an estimated 50 million
people worldwide. Nowadays, with extensive global travel and movement,
the virus will be able to spread even more easily. The estimates are
that hundreds of millions could be infected and potentially die.
