It's the end of an era.
The Disease Outbreaks board at the Agonist has been archived.
An increasingly useful reference during the SARS experience, and providing snippets of information on Ebola and other diseases around the globe it attracted much attention from medical professionals, scientists and amateur googlists and yahooists.

In late 2004 and early 2005 it was the main clearing house for a deepening understanding of the interaction of the H5N1 virus within domestic and wildbirds. A careful scrutiny of translations of Boxun reports and the use of proMed and traditional media reporting ensured the agonist rode the wave of best practice reporting. Eventually we saw the MSM jump aboard and create an almost hysterical reporting of the inexorable spread of the disease westwards, feeding posters on various other bulletin boards with fear, doubt and uncertainty.

H5N1 remains a problem predominantly for birds. Humans that maintain ultra-close contact with birds, ie sucking snot out of their beaks or playing with chicken heads can succumb to the disease. My 'informed' prognostication is that the chance of a human pandemic remains below 8%.

Adieu, the Disease Outbreaks board!