A group of eco-terrorists trash fields of GM crops and break into the laboratory of the biotech company who are conducting the trials. Several miles from the site of the field trial, an organic farmer, his family and his animals fall victim to a mutant form of 'flu.

Karl Housman, consultant virologist, realises that this new strain of influenza has the potential to kill more people than the 1918 epidemic, but no-one in authority will take his fears seriously, even when the first few victims die. Meanwhile, Madeleine West, the defence solicitor for one of the people caught breaking into the biotech company's lab, becomes aware that the company is able to call on the services of Special Branch to protect their property. When she and Dr Housman pool their knowledge they realise that a government sponsored cover-up is going on and that the likely outcome is the death of a fifth of the UK's population ... unless they can find enough evidence to expose the conspiracy.