Health Policy: Avian Flu

Influenza Influenza or the Flu- An acute contagious viral infection characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract and by fever, chills, muscular pain, and prostration. (dictionary.com)

Avian Flu is global Health threat originated from China Spread quickly across seas and oceans Looked upon as a possible big threat to the United States About120 people have been infected and 60 have died

Bubonic Plague Took place in the 14th century The single worst outbreak in Europe Brought to Europe from the East by the Mongols Spread by rats

1918 Influenza Pandemic An Avian Flu Spread all over the world Millions died Wiped out whole villages “It was a plague so deadly that if a similar virus were to strike today, it would kill more people in a single year than heart disease, cancers, strokes, chronic pulmonary disease, AIDS, and Alzheimer’s disease combined.” (Kolata 1) “…in a worst case extrapolation from the toll of the 1918 Spanish flu, could kill 150 million people—2.5 percent of the world’s population—in a matter of months.” (Adler 40)

Bush’s New Policy “First, we must detect outbreaks that occur anywhere in the world; second, we must protect the American people by stockpiling vaccines and antiviral drugs, and improve our ability to rapidly produce new vaccines against a pandemic strain; and, third, we must be ready to respond at the federal, state and local levels in the event that a pandemic reaches our shores.” President bushes Avian Flu speech

Bush’s New Policy Limited imports on goods to the East Testing of Birds Study for a better Vaccine Treating the sick Stock up on vaccines

Quarantine Shutout virus –Stop trade with certain countries Limit trade Surround the virus to kill it

Constant testing as the virus Virus Mutates Could become ineffective

Global Action "A flu pandemic would have global consequences," he said as he jabbed his lectern, "so no nation can afford to ignore this threat, and every nation has responsibilities to detect and stop its spread.” (Adler 42; quote from Leavitt)

Global Action Discuss the flu with group of nation Work together to exchange information about the flu Global action for a potential global problem

Imports and Exports Test all goods and foods imported This would be made ineffective if the black market is strongly active

The Black Market Stop import of anything that could be carrying a disease Animals smuggled in the black market could have diseases Basically anything smuggled could have bacteria on it that could cause deadly disease

Countries are not as serious There is a common threat Some are worried others not so much

Many countries aren’t prepared –There has been a max of vaccine for 20% of the population (Germany response) The people in countries in the west are Optimist or don’t know of the Avian Flu

“There will have more than five million people get flu even die!” Washington, USA –Bird movement spread disease –Stop the sale of bird meat –Extermination of infected birds

“The Avian Flu is dangerous but it has not arrived in our country, because the migrating birds don’t come here. However the scientists suspect that just one cock was infected by this flu. The government isn't even thinking about controlling this epidemic if enters in the country so there is no medicine to control it.” (Brazil)

Asian Warning

Sources Adler, Jerry. “The Fight Against the Flu”. News Week. October 31, Bush Jr., George. Avian Flu Policy. The White House. Nov. 01, 2005 Bethesda, Maryland. William Natcher Center. National Institutes of Health. November 01, Davies, Pete. The Devil’s Flu…. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2000 Garrettt, Laurie. The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Disease in a World Out of Balance. New York: Peguin Group, 1995 Harris, Gardiner. “The New York Times.” Bush Announce’s Plan to Prepare for Flu Epidemic New York Times. 07 Nov “KCOM Journal”. The Influenza Pandemic Will bw Arriving Soon Eid Mubarak. 06 Nov Kolata, Gina. Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999