A clear and present danger to international security: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

An analysis of the highly pathogenic avian influenza and its clear and present threat to international security is attempted. Focus is on the United States, its level of preparedness and the Bush administration's policies on how to contain the disease should it arrive, possibly via the Alaska "flyway". Valuable statistics of the incidences of the avian flu virus around the world and the number of cases where it has to date affected human beings are outlined. Evidence is given that the number of cases of birds dying of the virus has probably been underestimated for lack of adequate monitoring or reporting in the remoter regions of Asia and the Middle East.