Pandemic Predictions? hits & misses

On december the 30th 2004 There was a newscast "FOX News Live with Alan Colmes" where they predicted "In 2008-2009, something even more profoundly changing will happen that will affect about 4 out of 6 people. Something like a pandemic."

As reported on Newshound.us "Predictions for the Future Reported by Ellen - December 31, 2004"

Also on December the 31st 2008 on the Listowel Banner there was a column A toast to 2009 and all the potential it holds that predicted a Flu Pandemic

Furthermore EEtimes.com in a column from November 23rd 2007 reported on a survey called "Strategic Business Risk: 2008 — The Top Ten Risks for Global Business" documented the potential risk of a "disease pandemic"

On the other side The Independent predicted that you should "Ignore all those scare stories: flu is in steady decline" and that the number of cases for the UK in 2009 would be around 81.

Also, The Independent in another article cited "A spokeswoman for the (Royal) college (of GP's) said it was unlikely flu would hit a nine-year high as predicted"

On OFB.BIZ you can find a January 7, 2009 article by Dennis E Powell citing a skilled biologist saying that “I don’t think the environment will get us,” I said. “I think it will be a bug.” and that "Each year we worry lest a newly mutated influenza virus result in a pandemic"

Well, as you can see, predicting events it's not easy, it just can't be. And by searching a big enough source, like the internet, there is always a chance you'll find somthing like a confirmed prediction the trouble is how to identify a true prediction when the fact has not happened.