Fears of Global Bird Flu Outbreak Increase
Fears of Global Bird Flu Outbreak Increase
Human Pandemic Would Kill Many Millions, But Crucial Facts Still Missing
It's also likely that human-to-human bird flu infections would spread slowly, at least at first. That would buy time. And since the bird flu bug is sensitive to Tamiflu, an oral flu drug, public health officials could buy even more time by giving the drug to all contacts of infected people.
"With good surveillance, with antivirals, and easy-to-implement public health methods -- strategies such as closing schools and public places and limiting movement -- we should be able to contain the pandemic at the source, wherever that may be," Longini says. "That would buy time to make vaccine to deal with it if it should spread. Emphasis should be on good surveillance everywhere, especially in Southeast Asia, and quick response with targeted use of antivirals."
Fears of Global Bird Flu Outbreak Increase
Human Pandemic Would Kill Many Millions, But Crucial Facts Still Missing
Public Health Response Slow continued...
It's also likely that human-to-human bird flu infections would spread slowly, at least at first. That would buy time. And since the bird flu bug is sensitive to Tamiflu, an oral flu drug, public health officials could buy even more time by giving the drug to all contacts of infected people.
"With good surveillance, with antivirals, and easy-to-implement public health methods -- strategies such as closing schools and public places and limiting movement -- we should be able to contain the pandemic at the source, wherever that may be," Longini says. "That would buy time to make vaccine to deal with it if it should spread. Emphasis should be on good surveillance everywhere, especially in Southeast Asia, and quick response with targeted use of antivirals."
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