Thinking Ahead: Recent Advances in Mapping the Evolution and Spread of H5N1

One somewhat unexpected benefit of continued global concern regarding the threat posed by H5N1 avian influenza, is the emergence of many new technologies for managing the H5N1 threat, and responding to H5N1 disease outbreaks. Some of these technologies are the direct result of government investment in the research and development for specific countermeasures. We probably would not, for example, have viable H5N1 vaccine had the US government not been willing to commit in advance to a substantial purchase of H5N1 vaccine, thus in effect, funding the required R&D effort.