Pandemic killing 5 million per year

A global pandemic is killing almost 5 million people each year, but it's not avian flu.

Smoking related illnesses are the cause of this pandemic.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), "tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide (about 5 million deaths each year). If current smoking patterns continue, it will cause some 10 million deaths each year by 2020. Half the people that smoke today -that is about 650 million people- will eventually be killed by tobacco."

The good news is that many countries are taking effective measures to curb tobacco use, including strong legislation, graphic warning labels and advertising bans. These positive changes reinforce the commitment made by the more than 110 countries who met between 6-17 February to decide on the detailed implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).