Final answer:
The risk of future pandemics such as bird flu or swine flu remains due to factors like viral mutations and ecological changes, with experts concerned about global preparedness for such events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether pandemic influenza like bird flu or swine flu is in our future is a complex question that requires consideration of various factors, such as viral mutations, animal-human interactions, ecological changes, and global health preparedness. The H5N1 avian flu virus, which first affected humans in the 1990s, has a high fatality rate and could potentially mutate to a form that spreads easily between people, posing a risk for a new pandemic. Additionally, the H7N9 virus that emerged in 2013 illustrated the constant threat posed by influenza, as any new antigenic shift could make it highly transmissible among the human population with devastating consequences.
According to public health officials and experts like Luciana Borio, there is a significant concern regarding our readiness for a potential pandemic. Historical instances such as the H1N1 pandemic and the 1918 influenza pandemic remind us how rapidly influenza can spread and how critical it is to maintain vigilant surveillance and response plans. The emergence of new viruses and recent reductions in funding to key agencies like the CDC highlights that the threat of a pandemic is an ongoing health security concern.