The World Health Organization (WHO) began on Wednesday to build a first line of defense against a feared global bird flu pandemic with a major drug donation from a leading Swiss firm.
The United Nations agency said a donation by Swiss drug maker Roche of enough of its Tamiflu antiviral to treat 3 million people could slow the spread of the outbreak among humans, especially in countries too poor to afford their own stockpile.
The Reuters story is encouraging, but the much more needs to be done if the drugs are to be effective as a "blanket" to slow the virus within an initial outbreak area. Early detection is essential.