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Bird Flu Pandemic H5N1

The impact of the H5N1 Avian Flu Pandemic will be more catastrophic in the region of South East Asia. History has proven that if we do not learn from our mistakes they will surely reappear to haunt us again. It has been said that approximately every 25 years an influenza pandemic killing large numbers of the population emerges. We are overdue for that pandemic. "A pandemic is a disease that affects a significant portion of the population at any given time" (National Geographic, 2005). According to Clark & Wallace 32 major pandemics have occurred in the past 400 years (Global Connections). The last recorded influenza pandemic occurred during the period of 1968-69, in which a hybrid bird virus emerged in China. This was the cause for the "Hong Kong flu" pandemic, which killed an estimated one million people worldwide (The Fourth Horseman, 1996). China, located in Asia, is a perfect breeding ground for such viruses. However, China is not the only culprit in this situation. Overpopulated, developing, and ill-prepared countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and other South East Asian countries seem to be the best formula for the emergence of these pandemics. Without quick action against such viruses in these regions, this world will fall victim to another pandemic that has potential to kill more than any genocide or any war. In this paper I will discuss how and why the H5N1 flu pandemic will be more catastrophic in regions that are overpopulated, developing and are ill-prepared for such events.

It's commonsense; the more people living closer together will bring about more infected people. Overpopulation is a big concern for South East Asian Countries. With little amounts of land and large numbers of people something is bound to happen. Education, food, healthcare, housing and proper sewage treatment have become big problems which the governments of overpopulated nations face regularly. Out of those big problems stated, proper sewage treatment is possibly...