The flu deaths were to trigger the second crisis in the recent history of virology. In contrast to the first crisis, when the virologists were taken by surprise, Osterhaus became the advocate of awareness of and preparation for influenza. From now on, a discursive strategy announcing the coming pandemic was aired in public media and in policymaking, using the pandemic warning as an instrument to create awareness and a policy forum (Parool 26 April 2001) . This led to the charge from politicians and colleagues of being a prophet of doom (Osterhaus 6 March 2008), which marks the role he had during this stage.