This doctor wants the funds diverted to more common problems, like cancer:

A senior medical health officer from B.C. has issued a warning that too much money and resources are being poured into pandemic planning, when the real threat is low.

Speaking at a disaster forum in Banff, Dr. John Blatherwick said the $400 million set aside in last week’s federal budget for pandemic planning would be better spent on more immediate health issues like cancer.

Blatherwick noted that there’s been no continual pattern of bird flu jumping from animals to humans. And he said there has never been a case of avian flu being transmitted from human to human.