[…] A highly pathogenic form of avian influenza has stricken wild and domestic birds in more than 30 nations. Health experts have concluded that this virus – H5N1 – might mutate into a form of flu that could be easily passed among humans, setting off a pandemic with the potential to kill millions worldwide.

[…] The dangerous H5N1 avian influenza virus has become endemic in birds in Asia and has been moving steadily westward. It also can infect humans, and the World Health Organization has documented 174 cases over the last two years, resulting in 94 deaths. Direct contact between humans and ailing poultry has been determined to be the cause of all but one of those cases.

[…] The virus first was identified in 1997 during an outbreak among fowl in Hong Kong. Since 2003, it has infected 170 people who had close contact with poultry, 92 of whom have died of the disease. Scientists fear the virus could mutate into a form that could be transmitted easily between humans -- an even more pressing concern now that H5N1 has been detected in birds in 30 nations in East Asia and Central Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

[…] U.S. funds earmarked for bird flu are being used to strengthen animal and human disease surveillance, train and equip the people who would be the first responders to a national flu crisis and teach farmers and bird sellers about what they can do to identify flu symptoms and reduce the spread of the disease, said Dennis Carroll, USAID senior infectious disease adviser.

[…] The deadly bird flu virus continues to spread in poultry in Nigeria and could cause a regional disaster despite strong control efforts taken by Nigerian authorities, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned in a February 22 press release.

[…] The World Health Organization (WHO) lists the nations in the order of their reports of bird flu: Iraq, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Iran, Austria, Germany, Egypt, India and France.

[…] Six months ago when the disease made its first steps on this cross continental odyssey, wildlife scientists cautioned against assumptions that the virus was carried by migrating flocks.

[…] H5N1 does not transmit to humans with ease, but health officials warn that it could mutate to develop that capability, setting in motion the conditions for pandemic influenza. The World Health Organization issued two updates February 13 on the occurrence of avian influenza in humans.