This is a way to drive home to all the people in China how dangerous bird flu is. We are certainly very encouraged that they are raising the alarm.

This is a psychologically telling moment for a country that has never had bird flu cases in the past in humans.

They have taken the situation very seriously indeed -- including the high profile visit by the prime minister, observation of thousands of people, enforcing bird culls and vaccinating poultry.

It is very possible that people will catch the bird flu virus.

It's not a surprise. It shows that China like other countries that have bird flu in poultry can have human cases.