The virus died after a short time outside the body of its original host, no matter how carefully it was maintained.

Every virus not breathed in from the first strike died a few minutes later.

The virus is very fragile and dies quickly outside the body.

Nine out of 10 people who get the virus die, usually within a week.

Experts say at least 214 people have caught the virus and 194 have died.

Then the virus died, unless someone came too soon.

But first, scientists have to prove to themselves and to the Government that the altered virus will die quickly in the open.

The virus had died without apparently harming them in any way.

Personally, I can see only one hope - holding out till the virus dies on its own account, of old age.

After all, the birds from 1918 were long gone, and their viruses had died with them.