At least such a pandemic should reduce the impact of global warming....and signify the end of the House of Lords unless they didn't join other pensioners at the end of the queue! So much for banning age discrimination across the population.

How much isTamiflu? Now, where's that piggy bank...

Geum, Minehead, UK

The estimates for the United States are that 84 million Americans could be affected by this pandemic. If that number was accurate, then wouldn't we be looking at more than 42 million deaths with the current mortality rate at 60 percent?

Elizabeth Book, Ormond Beach, FL USA

Might bird flu be a fantastic way to remove congestion?

Mike, Spalding, England

The Govt. has prepared for the forthcoming pandemic by stocking antiviral drugs ONLY for Labour voting public sector workers who owe both the existence of their jobs and generous pension schemes to the last ten years of Blair's rule.

fox, Newcastle,

In the 1970s I did a paper for the ideal home exhibition, while studying architecture. "In a time of energy crisis" only those who will survive can be given treatment. You start with the most important people. Doctors, the armed forces, the police etc. Sadly at the bottom of the list come the old and last of all those in the cosmetic professions (those who don't produce aything we actually need to live). Needless to say the report was binned because it was seriously politically incorrect. However the truth is that somebody has to paint red crosses on those who can be treated when there is not enough medicine for all. That means that a doctor or a civil servant will have to play god when the time comesand the rest of us will just have to accept that.. Embarrasingly enough top of the <must save> list are politicians! So there. I wonder who wrote the lists for this one.

P Santamaria Grant, Granada, Spain

I am 69. If there are not enough drugs to treat everyone then of course I should NOT be treated. Age Concern is wrong- people who have lived their lives should be way down the list for treatment.Give those who are at the start of their lives a chance. To do anything else is totally selfish.Dying is not the worse thing that can happen-

Janet Ames, coventry, england

Perhaps bottom of the list should be those who can't spell 'ridiculous' or 'immune'. As for 'age should never be used as a criteria' - of course it should. Who in their right mind would save an 80 year old in poor health instead of a 2 year old?

Flapjack, England, UK

Once again the governing bodies want to turn to force and the use of the gun rather than innovative solution seeking.

adrian, LICHFIELD,

This is rediculose as the elderly are the most likely to survive s their imune systems are less likely to overreact to the h5n1 virus.

paz, glossop,