1) In 2005-2006 there was widespread fear that the H5N1 avian influenza virus would mutate to allow human-to-human transmission and cause a global pandemic. 2) While the virus killed over 100 million birds in Vietnam and over 50% of the 117 humans infected there, it did not achieve human-to-human transmission. 3) Countries took precautions like culling domestic birds, spraying disinfectants, stockpiling antiviral drugs and developing vaccines in case the virus mutated as feared.