In 1997, 18 people were infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, H5N1. Six died, and since then a further 245 deaths have been reported. The virus has spread across most of Asia and Europe, with regular outbreaks in poultry. In some countries – Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Egypt – the disease has become endemic. A global human pandemic has not occurred, but most believe it will at some time.

This briefing accompanies the working paper The International Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: Science, Policy and Politics.