This epidemic -so says the media- is going to spread very quickly if it mutates. They also predicted something like 1.9 million U.S. citizens dead, dunno bout other countries, but I'm sure it'd spread fast there too. Anyone have any opinions?

hi nickel -Z,
As far as human mutation is concerned then thast rare because the symptoms are like any other flu but it needs to be checked as the H5N1 strain is deadly but there is sufficient time for the people to take the medications necessary for protecting them from the flu and these are relenza and amantadine . CDC says to keep stocks of these medications . One can find a lot of info on the bird flu and relenza at
http://reuters.myway.com/article/20...BIRDFLU-DC.html and
http://www.drugdelivery.ca/s33713-s-RELENZA.aspx
so its not a reason to worry for the human as much as it is for the birds.

Anybody notice how Bush finally says something about it in the midst of the the Scooter scandal?

Eh..in this case I think Bush just doesn't want a repeat of Katrina where he responded late and everybody thought he didn't care. He's talking about bird flu so people can't accuse him of not giving a crap later. (Heck, no matter when he responded, it'd be at the same time as *some* scandal. )

I tend to see the estimates as 'worst case scenario' estimates. How many people might die, if.

We all have to take death toll estimates with a grain of salt, as the news stations get more ratings when people are as scared shitless as possible.