Avian Bird Flu

Like SARS that appeared in South China in 2002 and rapidly spread through the provinces, there is concern that avian bird flu may follow the same pattern. But SARS was combated and controlled by June, 2003 and the World Health Organization called off its travel band to China and other Asian countries. Should the avian bird flu outbreak become severe, WHO may again call for a travel band to China.

Can A Pandemic Happen Again?

Maybe. U.S. health officials have estimated that up to 1.9 million Americans could be killed and nearly 10 million hospitalized by an avian bird flu pandemic. But it may be too early to begin comparisons to 1918, when a flu pandemic killed 50 million people.

Part of this comparison fallacy ignores the facts. We have advanced some 87 years in technology and medical breakthroughs since 1918. Worldwide communication has become instant with the Internet and email, cell phones and a web of cables that allow instant telephone communications to any area of the world, state-controlled or not. Jet travel has put the entire world within reach in a matter of hours, not weeks. We have experienced several epidemics and learned a great deal about how to combat the spread of disease.

Elderly And chronically Ill May Suffer

According to Bruce Gellin, director of the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) national vaccine program, an HHS report indicates that the new avian bird flu could lead to a more serious and faster spread of illness than we have experienced in the past. What this means is that the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions that affect their immune systems could be the first to suffer, especially in larger, crowded cities.

This is always true for any flu outbreak--the elderly and those with chronic conditions do suffer. Their physical bodies simply do not have the needed energy to fend off invasions and combat the effects. Sometimes there is little to be done.

International Travel Restricted with Avian Bird Flu?

The HHS report assumes that international travel can more quickly spread the disease. President Bush has indicated that some controls would be implemented that may retract travel, but it isn’t yet clear what these plans entail. Researchers don't expect the virus to mutate into any form that can be transmitted among humans in the next 1-2 years, if at all. Health officials said preparation for an avian bird flu pandemic may help boost U.S. efforts against the annual flu outbreak and help save lives. President Bush agrees and is being proactive, since he knows that it may take up to two years or more before any evidence appears concerning a massive avian bird flu outbreak, or for any restrictions to be put into place. He’s preparing, not panicking. We should do the same.

Prevention And Awareness Are Best

The best method of controlling the spread of avian bird flu disease remains inoculation. If you’re a frequent flyer by all means get your flu shot. While international travel could be the first to be restricted, it’s possible that domestic travel could also be affected.

Time will tell. Like President Bush, we travelers should initiate our own plan of preparation. Get your flu shots early. Keep a wary eye on areas of the world where avian bird flu outbreaks are documented. That’s “documented,” not merely reported. Like anything else, the media is first in business to sell newspapers and increase ratings. Rumors will continue to fly about avian bird flu. But until the event actually comes to pass, continue to fly the friendly skies, do business and have a plan in place just in case.