Human Vector Carriers, that is, people who can carry the H5 Bird Influenza without actually suffering from the disease itsself, have been detected in Vietnam.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/03/09/news/flu.html
As I understand it, this means that
[ul]
[li]The virus can infect others, via human carriers[/li][li]The virus is adapting to humans quickly, thus greatly raising the threat posed.[/li][li]If the virus is adapting, it will become much more contageous.[/li][/ul]
Right? Wrong?
Well, yeah, I suppose.
And then:
[ul]
[li] Lots of people will get it.[/li][li] The virus will run through the population, becoming slightly weaker with every round.[/li][li] Soon it will become “just another virus”.[/li][li] At which point it will fall off the media’s radar, and you will stop hearing about it.[/li][/ul]
West Nile did this.
The virus may adapt, but that won’t necessarily make it more dangerous. The really big fear is of it mutating in conjunction with the regular influenza to make a superflu. that’s a serious situation waiting to happen.