Pentagon: Bird Flu Could Kill 3 Million, Require Martial Law*

Added: May 11th, 2007 10:28 AM

The United States military has started to plan for a possible bird flu
pandemic that could kill as many as 3 million Americans.

The Pentagon's plan for dealing with a massive outbreak of avian flu has
been posted on its website.

It says a pandemic in the US could result in 20-35 per cent of the
population becoming ill, 3 per cent being hospitalised and 1 per cent,
that is 3 million people, dying.

The Pentagon says the bird flu outbreak would overwhelm civilian and
military health facilities and cripple the ability of authorities to
provide even basic commodities or services.

Possible scenarios include US troops being called in to put down riots,
guard pharmaceutical plants and shipments, and help restrict the
movement of people.

Reuters