Politicians bury their heads in the sand while global avian flu threat mounts

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 06 May 2005 - 16:00 PDT

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Governments around the world must stop burying their heads in the sand over the growing threat of a global epidemic of avian flu, argues a GP in this week's BMJ.

Disasters like the Asian Tsunami "pale into insignificance" compared to the human cost of an influenza pandemic, says Dr Higson, which will wipe out "hundreds of millions" of lives if it is not prevented.

A recent report in the BMJ showed that avian flu (called H5N1) is beginning to jump from human to human - as opposed to transmission from bird to human only, as happened initially. This vastly increases the potential for spreading the virus across the population, as infection no longer depends on direct contact with diseased birds.

Governments must fund the rapid development of vaccines against H5N1, and build up sufficient stocks of anti-viral drugs such as zanamivir or olsetamivir, the best treatment for anyone infected, says Dr Higson.

Pharmaceutical companies should also expand the manufacture and supply of relevant drugs, he argues, and GPs and other prescribing practitioners must prepare for the practicalities of dealing with an epidemic or pandemic of influenza.

Avian flu is now a true threat to the world's population, Dr Higson concludes. Planning from world leaders to prevent it and deal with its consequences is now vital.

Letter - Sit up and take notice about avian flu BMJ Volume 330, pp 1087

Click here to view full letter (p4 of pdf):
press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/may/ltr1084.pdf

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