Today’s news is that Hong Kong fear they will be unable to cope with the virus, so it must be nearing epidemic proportions there. The news from Iraq has overshadowed this issue somewhat, but as it is of international importance, more time should be dedicated to it in news bulletins. I thought that these type of outbreaks were more common in the winter, it seems very unseasonal. In Thailand people are being checked by nursing and medical professionals when they land, if they show any signs of ill health consistant with flu, they are denied entry to the country. I hope that the spread can be contained soon, the virus has no antidote and obviously antibiotics are of no use.