When watching the news in recent weeks and months, you might think that the world has become inordinately fascinated with sick chickens. Our concern is not of potential Thanksgiving turkey shortages, but instead one of human health. Although many people have died from avian influenza, these deaths are not in and of themselves responsible for the widespread fear and international attention. Rather, we fear that these deaths are the harbingers of the world-wide influenza pandemic that is apparently long overdue. Is this fear justified, or are scientists just crying wolf? Is there actually fire behind the pandemic smoke? Does the…