Challenge Biomedical Science – Immunology Member of the public You have been reading the different newspapers telling you about bird flu, but you want the facts about the real risks. You think people should be told the truth about Bird Flu and then be allowed to make their own decision. You want to know if it is safe to eat chicken and how likely it is that you could catch Bird Flu. There have been some cases were Bird Flu has been transmitted from human- to- human and if the virus changes so that this can happen all the time, then it will be extremely dangerous. More than half of humans infected by Bird Flu actually die! Recovered Chinese Bird Flu Patient You were very lucky and your symptoms were treated early and you survived. You worked in a slaughter house where poultry were killed, gutted and plucked. You were given the antiviral drug, Tamilflu but the doctors were unsure if it would work as some resistant strains of the virus have formed. You think more information is needed to help those working with poultry so they can protect themselves. You think that many people could be saved by a vaccine. Poultry Farmer You only earn money through selling your chickens and eggs to Farm Feds, (a local chicken factory.) You have four children and a wife to support and you are the only earner in the family. You are very worried that bird flu will come to Northern Ireland and your 10,000 birds will have to be killed, burned and your farm disinfected. It goes beyond the government just giving money for losses incurred. The appropriate thing to do is also to ensure that we control the spread as a country. Government/poultry farmers’ collaboration is vital! Infectious Disease Expert All the fundamental events have happened for the start of a pandemic except the move of the virus from human-to-human transmission. Each new human case gives the virus an opportunity to change towards this. You are worried that if the spread is not stopped the world will have a pandemic on their hands and Northern Ireland will not be prepared.

Challenge Biomedical Science – Immunology Owner of a Chicken Factory Your business is based solely on consumer habits and the Bird Flu scare could make the public very frightened of eating any chicken. This will seriously affect your business and you are greatly concerned with the information which will be given to public about the outbreak. You want the government to put in place measures which ensure consumers are given accurate information about the safety of the food they eat. Vet You have been a vet in Donegal for 15 years working with all types of farmers. You know that thousands of birds may have to be killed or put into quarantine if bird flu comes to Northern Ireland. You think that, in order to stop the spread of the disease, birds would need to be killed or vaccinated. Otherwise more and more birds will become infected leaving more chance for it being transmitted to other animals or to humans. Wild birds are carrying the disease without showing signs of symptoms proving them to be very dangerous. Experienced Doctor You worked in Vietnam in 2004 for 6 months during the H5N1 outbreak. You are quite aware of the dangers of this virus and you think that Doctors in Northern Ireland are not prepared, as decisions must be made based on the first patient assessment on admission to hospital, There is no time to wait 12 hours on lab results. Peoples lives are in danger. Pharmaceutical Company Owner Your company produce the antiviral drugs which could be used to fight a bird Flu epidemic. The government have purchased 14.6million courses so far and if a vaccine is developed once the strain has been identified you will benefit greatly.