Despite public ennui, the threat of a pandemic is again looming. Reports of human and animal H5N1 bird flu infections are picking up - mainly because
the flu is a cold weather virus.
"We expect a repeat of 2006, when the virus suddenly became very active," says Peter Cordingley, a spokesperson for the WHO's Manila-based Western
Pacific office.
Expect case numbers to rise, along with reported deaths.
However, the ratio of deaths to total cases likely will fall as more asymptomatic cases probably will now be reported.
