An ounce of prevention: Now is the time to take action on H5N1 avian flu, because the stakes are enormous

Bird flu poses a massive threat, and the potential for a catastrophic new pandemic is imminent. We still have a chance to stop a possible humanitarian disaster, but only if we get to work urgently, carefully and aggressively.

This will require a major collective shift in the way we approach infectious diseases management - one that embraces a "