Avian flu is nothing new. The difference is that in the past, the disease belonged to the timid type. It only attacked members of the poultry family, never plaguing the human race. Only in 1997 was it discovered that even men could be affected. This first case occurred in Hong Kong, where a 3-year-old caught it. The poor toddler eventually died.

Actually, the primary mode of bird flu virus transmission only involves poultry and men. So, if any of