How to Track the Bird Flu

Avian flu, also known as H5N1 or more commonly as bird flu, is a disease that has its roots in bird population of southeast Asia. The disease was first brought to public attention in 2004, when it began to spread to the human population in Vietnam and in other countries of the region. The disease spread throughout much of Asia and into North Africa and Eastern Europe. Although the disease appears to have abated, tracking it is important for peace of mind.

Instructions

• 1

  Look at the history of the disease to see its rise from Southeast Asia. BBC News (see Resources) has a tool that allows you to chart the spread of bird flu in both humans and birds since 2004. Use this tool to track its spread throughout Asia, and into Africa and parts of Europe.

• 2

  Check with your state health department for advice on the spread of the disease. Although newspapers carry reports of pandemics and other diseases, these can be exaggerated. A health department website might be less sensational in providing information about the disease.

• 3

  Look on the Website of the World Health Organization (see Resources), which carries a weekly report on the number of bird flu cases. This will allow you to determine the spread of the disease, and compare the statistics with those of previous years.