The Coming Influenza Pandemic?

1 Comments:

At 6:45 PM,  Wulfgang said...

Orange;

Interesting public relations type message in your Medical News Today article about the role Veterinary Pathologist play in emerging diseases – very informative and well written. I will make a Revere political flavored comment and say that the current Administration in Washington is so bogged down on the infamous “War of Terrorism”, that it will take many years for us to spin out of the money, lives and time that has been wasted.

I am not nearly as optimistic as the author of the article, in one regard: if any emerging disease at the present time became pandemic, out nation is ill prepared for anything other than a moderate epidemic – including avian influenza – as a result of having very little national supplies stockpiled and available (most of the emergency hard core reserve supplies we would need in an emergency are currently being consumed or destroyed in the rat hole called Iraq). Couple this with the confused roles and responsibilities still prevalent across government agencies and states, and a complacent dazed public, then what results is we have the makings for the “perfect infectious disease storm”.

FAO’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Joseph Domenech, can pat himself and the UN on the back with his proclamations of victory “detecting, eliminating or controlling” bird flu around the globe, until the cows come home – but, as you say, the disease is winning. To anyone watching the H5N1 virus spreading progressively and methodically around the world, it’s unlikely to be eradicated in our lifetime, and quite possible that it could turn into one of the deadliest diseases to hit humanity in centuries. I see little in the way of real “achievement” so far, but lots of mixed messages and confusion about differing “immunological characteristics” and strain “instability”.

I have one comment concerning your Jasper, AB, article: I’ve probably read hundreds and hundreds of these type pandemic preparedness articles about little remote towns and area’s in North America. My conclusion is they will fare the best when the chaos and panic hits, because they know they have to be self reliant and independent. The large metropolitan areas will fair the worst, because they will expect the most assistance.

There are simply too many wild birds, domestic poultry and other unknown hosts, to be endlessly vaccinated (hundreds of billions); the viruses are rapidly and constantly mutating (unrecognizable by scientist until after-the-fact); the world is becoming over populated with humans (billions concentrated in some individual countries alone); we are wrecking our natural environment with unpredictable consequences; and worst of all……people are pretty apathetic and complacent about everything when it comes down to it – they’re more concerned about Paris Hilton getting out of jail.

The H5N1 virus (or a suitable alternate) will win in the long run. It’s been here before and it’s going to be back for a return visit. It’s on its own storm schedule.

“When clouds are seen, wise men put on their cloaks; When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand” ( William Shakespeare)

Wulfgang

 

Post a Comment

<< Home