Dr. David Nabarro, bird flu coordinator of the U.N., says, "It is certainly within the next six to 12 months. And who knows, we've been wrong on other things, it could be earlier."
Reuters reports that bird flu has already been found in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It has resulted in the deaths of millions of birds in more than 30 countries. Since 2003, the virus has infected 175 people and killed 96 of them.
Nabarro predicts the introduction of the deadly H5N1 virus to the U.S. will occur in two stages. Wild birds flying from West Africa to the Arctic region will carry the virus over the next few months. It will then travel south to North and South America six months later.
He says, "I just think that every country in the world now needs to have its veterinary services on high alert for H5N1, to try to make sure that they don't get caught unawares and find that it gets into their poultry populations without knowing."
He adds, "And I will bet you that many countries in the Western Hemisphere are doing just that."
