| Everyone seems to be talking about the Avian Flu, | | | | dollars. Investors are assuming these companies will |
| otherwise known as the H5N1 virus. We believe the | | | | generate large profits. |
| virus and danger is real, but are the investment | | | | Well, what if investors are wrong? What if the fancy |
| opportunities for real? | | | | solutions being touted by many of the bird flu stocks |
| Watching the public market clamor for "Bird Flu | | | | are not as important as we are led to believe? |
| Stocks" reminds us of the "Internet Stock" bubble. | | | | Recently, a company in England announced that initial |
| We challenge investors to carefully think about | | | | tests prove that a simple hand spray (which is |
| whether the bird flu is a great threat or just a great | | | | already sold in major department stores) is more |
| media story. With all the media coverage, would you | | | | than 99.8% efficient in killing H5N1. The product was |
| be surprised to learn that in the entire world, the | | | | originally developed several years ago to prevent the |
| virus has only infected a total of 194 people and killed | | | | spread of certain germs and is entirely safe for use |
| a total of 110 people? | | | | by humans. |
| The current strain of the virus is not spread among | | | | According to the Center for Disease Control and |
| humans. Every person previously infected with the | | | | Prevention, avoiding close contact with others, |
| virus had direct contact with sick birds (mainly | | | | covering your mouth and nose, cleaning your hands |
| chickens). However, experts seem to agree that if | | | | and avoiding to touch your eyes, nose or mouth - |
| the virus mutates into a contagious form, it is | | | | are the primary ways to prevent getting germs. |
| possible that it will kill millions of people. | | | | When you take a step back from all the hype, the |
| Big problems always present tremendous investment | | | | reality is that simply wearing a medical mask and |
| opportunities. Investors in companies who develop | | | | washing hands frequently, will virtually assure that a |
| the products and services that truly solve any large | | | | person will not get infected. |
| problem can make millions. In anticipation of large | | | | Sometimes, the simple answers provide the best |
| profits, it should come as no surprise that many | | | | solutions. If medical masks and soap are the most |
| investors have driven the market value of "bird flu | | | | effective defense, what becomes of all these "bird |
| stocks" to very high levels. The combined market | | | | flu stocks"? |
| value of these stocks now exceeds several billion | | | | |