Possible Human to Human Bird Flu Transmission

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling the outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu in Pakistan a "mixed scenario" of both poultry to human and human to human transmission. Eight cases have been confirmed; and while the human to human transmission scenario has not yet been verified, investigators say the situation is similar to outbreaks observed in Thailand and Indonesia, in which family members caring for sick relatives were infected. Though experts still fear a possible H5N1 global pandemic, the WHO is not increasing its pandemic alert level and will continue to monitor H5N1 infections in Pakistan.