November 22, 2005
Avian Flu is Still Looming
Even though I haven't been beating you over the head with avian flu awareness facts for the past few days (though I have been known to brush lightly upon the subject ), I can no longer shirk my civic responsibility.
Let's just say the news isn't very good. Since a picture is worth a thousand words (ask Lindy) take a peek at the changing map of identified avian flu outbreaks in the world. The damn thing just develops more and more spots.
The situation in China is unclear, but I think it could be said that it's not exactly improving. And there are new versions of H5 showing up, considerably closer to home. The national pandemic plan has made it pretty clear that the problem will be handled at a state level, and my state pandemic plan is written in anticipation of vaccine and antivirals flowing from the federal government, like wine from a carafe..
Kate Walker of UPI quotes Michael Osterholm, Director of The Center for Disease Research and Policy in her article on broad stockpiliing
"'There would be major shortages in all countries of a wide range of commodities, including ... medicines, including vaccines unrelated to the pandemic. ... Aside from medication, many countries would not have the ability to meet the surge in demand for health-care supplies [like syringes] and services that are normally taken for granted,' he said.
'Virtually every piece of medical equipment or protective gear would be in short supply within days of the recognition of a pandemic. Throughout the crisis, many of these necessities would simply be unavailable for most health-care institutions.'
Osterholm's dire warnings about U.S. dependence on international trade -- including medical supplies -- also appeared in a recent issue of Nature magazine.
'Today, we have virtually no surge capacity for any consumer product or medical service that might be needed during the 12 to 36 months of a pandemic.'
These are sobering thoughts indeed. And in the face of a media storm surrounding the production of a H5N1 vaccine and global shortages of Tamiflu, it behooves us all to take a longer-term approach, aware of the duration of a pandemic, and ensure that governments and local health-care authorities are aware of the need to stockpile non-influenza related medicines, and to ensure the continuation of global supply chains in the face of a crisis that could last years."
Guess this is the wrong place to look for soothing reassurance. (click pre-made - "That thing you're going through")
Photo note: The American Eagle atop Grand Central Station. For those of you who are interested in metaphorophotography, notice the double triangles