BehindTheMedspeak: H5N1 — You'll want to get familiar with these letters and numbers because they're going to turn the world upside–down (maybe)

No — H5N1 is not a British or Canadian postal code but, rather, the bird–flu strain whose mention in all the major newspapers of the world more or less daily now heralds something very, very bad (maybe).

Some scientists say 20% or more of the world's population could die in a pandemic; others say no way.

For a historical perspective, consider the 1918 influenza pandemic: one–fourth of the U.S. population and one–fifth of the world's people became infected; 20–40 million around the world died.

Guess what?

You know as much about the likelihood of such a thing happening as any of the so–called experts.

Because when it comes to the future it's just like in Hollywood, in the legendary words of screenwriter William Goldman ("Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "All the President's Men," "The Princess Bride," et al): "Nobody knows anything."

But you will want to memorize that viral strain — H5N1 — because if/until and after a human pandemic strikes you're going to become as familiar with it as you are with your social security number.

A few good resources: here, here, here, here and here.

Let us pray — because science sure won't save us from this one.

Every day brings news of the virus in more countries.

Money and class cannot protect you.

Luck, be a lady tonight.