In 1918, an influenza pandemic swept the world. Exact death counts are not known, but an estimated 50 to 100 million people died in only eight weeks. With recent outbreaks of swine flue, bird flu, SARS, and hantavirus, many people are wondering if 1918 could repeat itself. The world has learned a lot in the last ninety years. Have we learned enough? How likely is it that that an outbreak of such a disease could occur again? This book provides the solid, scientific, and sound answers to these urgent questions, while also showing how to avoid infection and prevent its spread.