A World Health Organization expert is ominously warning there's no question the global population will face another flu pandemic, it's just a matter of when.
Klaus Stohr, who works in the WHO's Global Influenza Program said, "There is no doubt there will be another pandemic."
He adds that this time, the deadly bird flu virus, blamed for 32 deaths in Thailand and Vietnam so far this year, "is certainly the most likely one that will cause the next pandemic."
Pandemics usually happen every 20 or 30 years when a flu strain changes dramatically and people have little immunity built up from previous bouts of the illness.
"During the last 36 years, there has been no pandemic, and there is a conclusion now that we are closer to the next pandemic than we have ever been before," Stohr said.
"There is no reason to believe that we are going to be spared."
In an effort to eradicate the bird flu virus in Asia, millions of chickens have been slaughtered. But Stohr says the continent is also the likely starting point for the next pandemic.
He also said such a health crisis would spare no one.
"Every country will be affected," he said. As a result, Stohr said many countries would be facing public health emergencies.
He estimated two to seven million people would die, and billions more would get sick.
During the 20th century, there have been three pandemics. The worst one was the Spanish flu in 1918-19. As many as 50 million people died of the Spanish flu worldwide.
As a precautionary measure, Stohr says countries should take stock of their antiviral drugs to make sure they have enough once a possible pandemic strikes.
