Residents Urged to Prepare for Disasters
RESOLVE TO BE READY IN 2008 2008 Preparedness Article Series - Three

In the last article, we talked about disease outbreaks, such as pandemic influenza and some things to do to prepare. Now let's take a closer look at pandemic influenza and why we should be concerned about it.

In simple terms, a pandemic is a single disease that spreads rapidly around the world and affects a large number of people. Influenza is a virus that has the ability to become a pandemic. A change in an influenza virus could cause a pandemic because people would have no immunity and there would not be a vaccine for the new strain of flu. It is important to note that there is NO pandemic influenza at this time, but scientists around the world are concerned that it could occur.

One way that an influenza pandemic could occur is if a current strain of flu were to change to a different strain. This type of change is called a drift of shift in the virus. A drift is when a slight change occurs in one of the proteins of the virus. This is normally less severe than a shift when a change in one of the proteins creates an almost entirely new virus.

Another way that an influenza virus could change is by mixing with an avian (bird) flu virus. Scientists are concerned that this could happen because of the prevalence of the current strain of avian influenza, H5N1. Scientists and health officials have been monitoring infections of H5N1 for several years. So far there is no H5N1 in the United States.

In any scenario, current vaccines would probably not be effective against the new strain, nor would people have immunities built up against the new virus.

More than 60 countries have reported cases of H5N1 in wild birds and poultry. Much of Asia, Europe, Indonesia and the Middle East have reported cases in birds. Thirteen countries have reported cases of H5N1 that has been transmitted from birds to humans. In reported human cases of H5N1, it has been people who were around infected birds for a long period of time, involved in processing birds for consumption, or have been responsible for destroying infected flocks. Right now, the virus does not transmit easily to humans. But, if the virus were to change and become easily passed from human to human, a pandemic could occur.

Here in the United States, poultry workers have been diligent to keep domestic birds healthy. The poultry industry has been conscientious in keeping wild birds away from domestic poultry, cleaning and disinfecting equipment and vehicles, and requiring employees wear protective clothing. So far, the deadly strain of H5N1 has not been found in the U.S.

More preparedness information is available at your local health department, Emergency Management Agency office or these websites:www.ready.gov, www.phdistrict2.org, www.health.state.ga.us, www.pandemicflu.gov, www.fema.gov, www.redcross. org