During the past 100 years, life expectancy more than doubled in developed countries. In the last few decades, however, 40 new infectious diseases have emerged and one of them – AIDS – is becoming perhaps the most devastating epidemic in history. New diseases travel the globe with unprecedented rapidity, and older killers, such as the avian flu in the 1918 influenza epidemic, that once seemed controllable are roaring back with a vengeance. Bird Flu: How Safe Are We? examines the most critical threats we face today – including avian flu – and the pressing need to strengthen global public health systems.