H5N1, aka avian flu, you have the honor of being the only virus I know by a name other than “bug”. The papers have added a new word to my vocabulary: “pandemic”. I assume it’s something like panic-epidemic.

Advice abounds as to how to avoid the flu: get your flu shot (it won’t help, but the authorities are still advising it). Stay away from chickens. And my favorite, from a flu expert at the UK Health Protection Agency: “Avoid being in touching distance of [birds that could be affected]. Don’t kiss chickens.”

Will keep that in mind.