Everyone has heard of the imminent "bird flu" epidemic, and how unprepared the global human community is.

Many take the notion of pandemic disease lightly, thinking it a relic of the dark ages. Nothing could be more misguided.

Today's teeming population, declining resource base, and quick transportation make a series of pandemics inevitable. Talk of quarantine and economic slowdown is everywhere.

Each year during the flu season, November through April, in the USA, up to 90 million people "catch" the flu.

How can we avoid being among them?

A likely place to encounter the next virus is in the workplace.

The virus spreads through tiny droplets of water. When infected people cough, sneeze, yell, sing, or talk, they are spreading the virus. People who are "hot" can be contagious up to 4 days before symptoms appear.

First, airborne viral particles can be inhaled, so cleaner office air is important. Second, the droplets can spread by contact between hands or objects frequently touched.

Washing your hands regularly during flu season is a first line of defense.

To begin, evaluate your environment. Are there germ vectors coming and going?

Traffic volume and the type of people present will affect airborne microorganism counts. Children, with their developing immune systems, carry the most germs.

Healthcare workers, teachers and daycare providers have high risks. Flu epidemics often start in schools.

Jobs with shared workspace are next riskiest, especially where people sit at the same desk or workstation in rotation.

High surface bacteria counts provide friendly environments for viruses, so you can begin at your desk. The more time you spend at your desk, the greater the risk of contamination. Wiping with a non-toxic antibacterial might be a good idea.

Flu viruses survive longest where many hands touch; telephone handsets, keyboards, mouse buttons, pencils and pens, elevator buttons, and doorknobs. Communal eating areas like break rooms are best avoided during flu season.

Installation of an air purifier in an office or cubicle is another flu avoidance tactic. Air cleaners work best in confined spaces like professional offices. Since many buildings have poor indoor air quality to begin with, an office air cleaner is a good idea even without the flu threat.

Flu viruses are too small to be retained by a HEPA air filter, which will trap most bacteria. This is why the "germicidal" HEPA air purifier, usually employing added ultraviolet light, is becoming popular. Antimicrobial filters are coming to market which will eliminate viruses, but the most common methods involve attacking the little buggers with energy of some kind.

Ionic plasmas, photocatalytic oxidation, and ultraviolet models are the best choices for flu protection. Since the office air cleaner must run full time on high speed to be effective, only the quietest makes will do.

Now is a good time to formulate a plan for future workplace health.