NATCHEZ &8212; If an unexpected death is bad enough, the possibility of 90 million deaths is just scary.

Monday morning at Copiah-Lincoln Community College a pandemic influenza presentation warned of the possibility of the avian bird flu emerging in the United States. The two presenters worked out of Starkville with Mississippi State University and have given the presentation to colleges around the state.

Martin Padilla, manager of O&8217;Brien Consulting Services, and McComb emergency management Director Richard Coghlan delivered the presentation in hopes of preparation.

Padilla and Coghlan work with Mississippi State University in presenting the information at colleges around the state.

The avian bird flu, H5N1, has two known strains, a low and high version. If not properly prepared for, an outbreak could kill as many as 90 million people in the United States, Padilla said.

&8220;This is not if it will happen, but when it will happen,&8221; Adams County Civil Defense Director George Souderes said. &8220;This presentation gives some good knowledge and insight on the pandemic influenza.&8221;

The avian flu has not been reported in humans in the United States, but with the rapid spreading ability of the disease the possibility is very real, Coghlan said.

&8220;All state and local governments need to be prepared to detect the earliest cases of pandemic influenza,&8221; Coghlan said. &8220;We are starting these teaching programs around the state as sort of an insurance possibility.&8221;

A worldwide, outbreak of a disease like the bird flu, is highly possible for several reasons, Padilla said.

&8220;You have people, like myself, who travel all over the world in a day,&8221; Padilla said. &8220;The first signs of the bird flu take 24 to 48 hours to show themselves, allowing people on planes to get the disease and not even know it.&8221;

The flu is transmissible through respiratory fluids and feces and is not yet a threatening concern to officials for several reasons, Coghlan said.

&8220;We are not a third-world country. Our practices are a little cleaner,&8221; Coghlan said. &8220;You cannot get it through eating cooked meat. You have to come in contact with an infected bird.&8221;

The concern doesn&8217;t stop there for Padilla.

Flying patterns for ducks, geese and other birds around the world are also a concern.

&8220;We believe that the disease will show itself in the migratory bird population this year,&8221; Padilla said. &8220;The disease has over a 50-percent fatality rate and in six months has almost spread worldwide.&8221;

Treating the disease was in the sights of scientists, but then the unexpected happened.

&8220;There is a vaccine for the first variant, but we can&8217;t use that vaccine because the virus has already mutated,&8221; Padilla said. &8220;The migratory birds will carry the virus to the United States at some point.&8221;

The flu, first seen in Asia, has now been reported in 50 countries, nine of which reported in humans, Padilla said.

The participants of the presentation went through exercises in preparation for an outbreak. Topics covered by the simulated events including focusing on the rules and responsibilities of officials involved, coordination of events and integration of the plan.

Capabilities of those involved and problem identification and resolution were also a part of the afternoon.

The flu has some of the same symptoms of the common flu, only including a fatality rate of over 50 percent.

&8220;We are just trying to get people to understand this is for real and to get them thinking about it,&8221; Coghlan said.

&8220;We wanted to raise awareness so officials can look at their plans and ask, &8216;will my plans work or not.&8217;&8221;