Since 2003, the WHO reports that there have been 241 deaths in 12 countries from
laboratory-confirmed cases of Avian Influenza A (H5N1), with 108 of these deaths in
Indonesia. However, there is much disagreement about what should happen to H5N1
virus samples from Indonesia, as set out on 26 November by Reuters.
laboratory-confirmed cases of Avian Influenza A (H5N1), with 108 of these deaths in
Indonesia. However, there is much disagreement about what should happen to H5N1
virus samples from Indonesia, as set out on 26 November by Reuters.
Improving Business Continuity Planning for Pandemic Flu
International Report: May 2008
For local news, from within Indonesia see: www.thejakartapost.com/
On 7 February, again in The Guardian, Professor Mike Davis pointed out that "The plague
of bird flu will erupt out of Java, not Suffolk."
of bird flu will erupt out of Java, not Suffolk."
Further research, outlined by Debora MacKenzie in New Scientist magazine of 27
January 2007 quotes Albert Osterhaus of Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands:
"We know that the 1918 pandemic was a bird flu virus that adapted to mammals in some
intermediate mammalian host, possibly pigs. Maybe for H5N1 the intermediate host is
cats." Find this article by going to the New Scientist website at: www.newscientist.com
January 2007 quotes Albert Osterhaus of Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands:
"We know that the 1918 pandemic was a bird flu virus that adapted to mammals in some
intermediate mammalian host, possibly pigs. Maybe for H5N1 the intermediate host is
cats." Find this article by going to the New Scientist website at: www.newscientist.com
A major reason for the increasing concern among journalists, scientists and the public is
the awareness that pandemic influenza might occur in many different places at the same
time, as outlined in the June 2006 issue of the Public Library of Science, "Pandemic
Influenza: Risk of Multiple Introductions and the Need to Prepare for Them," available
with numerous other articles by searching for "bird flu" in the Public Library of Science
the awareness that pandemic influenza might occur in many different places at the same
time, as outlined in the June 2006 issue of the Public Library of Science, "Pandemic
Influenza: Risk of Multiple Introductions and the Need to Prepare for Them," available
with numerous other articles by searching for "bird flu" in the Public Library of Science
United Kingdom
For those willing to spend the time to understand the basic science, the peer-
reviewed, open-access, free journals of the Public Library of Science (PLoS) are
quite worthwhile. See initially PLoS Biology Volume 4(2) February 2006:
"Pandemic Influenza: The Inside Story" by Henry Nicholls (then search in the box in
the top right-hand corner for "pandemic influenza"). Of equal importance is the article
on "The Scientific Response to a Pandemic" in PLoS Pathogens, Vol 2 Issue 2,
February 2006
reviewed, open-access, free journals of the Public Library of Science (PLoS) are
quite worthwhile. See initially PLoS Biology Volume 4(2) February 2006:
"Pandemic Influenza: The Inside Story" by Henry Nicholls (then search in the box in
the top right-hand corner for "pandemic influenza"). Of equal importance is the article
on "The Scientific Response to a Pandemic" in PLoS Pathogens, Vol 2 Issue 2,
February 2006
Understanding the Role of Journalists
For an excellent summary of the significance of an influenza pandemic, see the WHO
Handbook for Journalists: Influenza Pandemic
For an excellent summary of the significance of an influenza pandemic, see the WHO
Handbook for Journalists: Influenza Pandemic
On 8 February, in letters to The Guardian, Peter Dunnill (University College, London),
Ross Minett (Director, Advocates for Animals) and Avian Flu Action replied under the
heading, "How we can keep the world safe from avian influenza" with three interesting
letters."
Ross Minett (Director, Advocates for Animals) and Avian Flu Action replied under the
heading, "How we can keep the world safe from avian influenza" with three interesting
letters."
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The British Medical Journal also offered a balanced leader on 12 February 2007, "Bird
Flu and Transparency" with a Rapid Response from Avian Flu Action
Flu and Transparency" with a Rapid Response from Avian Flu Action
(The "Weekly Roundup" link at the bottom of that newspaper provides any
stories on bird flu during the week.) Much of the difficulty is that, according
to The Washington Post, during 2003 and 2004 Indonesian officials covered
up the spread of bird flu in poultry and then failed to fund the necessary
containment measures, says Alan Sipress
stories on bird flu during the week.) Much of the difficulty is that, according
to The Washington Post, during 2003 and 2004 Indonesian officials covered
up the spread of bird flu in poultry and then failed to fund the necessary
containment measures, says Alan Sipress
The February 2007 outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza on the Bernard Matthews turkey
farm in Suffolk led to much interest. An important leader in The Guardian of 5 February
stressed that "the balance between risk and uncertainty is not easy to judge in a situation
where known dangers can be transformed by biological change"
farm in Suffolk led to much interest. An important leader in The Guardian of 5 February
stressed that "the balance between risk and uncertainty is not easy to judge in a situation
where known dangers can be transformed by biological change"
Understanding the Role of Science
Unfortunately, there is increasing scientific evidence that cats can receive the virus
after contact with dead birds with H5N1, as reported in the 6 April 2006 issue of the
journal Nature and outlined on the SciDev website.
after contact with dead birds with H5N1, as reported in the 6 April 2006 issue of the
journal Nature and outlined on the SciDev website.
We hope you have found this British-based website
helpful and welcome your comments by e-mail to:
admin@avianfluaction.org
helpful and welcome your comments by e-mail to:
admin@avianfluaction.org
Go back to Home Page.
Breaking News
Noam Chomsky and his colleagues also pointed out in a letter to the same paper on the
same day that the "global poor [are] most at risk from bird flu"
same day that the "global poor [are] most at risk from bird flu"
Although sustained human-to-human transmission of pandemic flu is most likely
to begin somewhere in Asia, the country where pandemic flu would spread the
quickest is the United Kingdom, because of its high population density and high
number of international visitors, as The Times reported on 12 January 2006,
based on a study from Maplecroft. a risk consultancy.
to begin somewhere in Asia, the country where pandemic flu would spread the
quickest is the United Kingdom, because of its high population density and high
number of international visitors, as The Times reported on 12 January 2006,
based on a study from Maplecroft. a risk consultancy.
Because of the Canadian experience with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome),
the Canadians have done a great deal of pandemic flu planning. Of particular interest for
businesses anywhere is the 20-page January 2007 Ontario's Pandemic Planning Tool Kit.
the Canadians have done a great deal of pandemic flu planning. Of particular interest for
businesses anywhere is the 20-page January 2007 Ontario's Pandemic Planning Tool Kit.
In February 2007, the US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health
Administration published a comprehensive 21-page guidance on Preparing Workplaces
for an Influenza Pandemic
Administration published a comprehensive 21-page guidance on Preparing Workplaces
for an Influenza Pandemic
For a concise 2-page summary of how to sustain business continuity during an avian flu
pandemic, see the article from Leslie Whittet that quotes Dwight D Eisenhower: "Plans
are nothing; planning is everything," available from Continuity Central.
pandemic, see the article from Leslie Whittet that quotes Dwight D Eisenhower: "Plans
are nothing; planning is everything," available from Continuity Central.
An article in PLoS Pathogens March 2007 issue (Vol 3 Issue 3) has set out the current
situation in trying to develop appropriate vaccines, under the title, "H5N1 Viruses and
Vaccines."
situation in trying to develop appropriate vaccines, under the title, "H5N1 Viruses and
Vaccines."
The extent of the international economic depression that would be caused by
pandemic flu has been set out in "Global Macroeconomic Consequences of Pandemic
Influenza" by the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia in their recent publication.
pandemic flu has been set out in "Global Macroeconomic Consequences of Pandemic
Influenza" by the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia in their recent publication.
and typing "pandemic flu" into their search box and seeing all relevant articles, or go
directly to "Deadly N5N1 may be brewing in cats."
directly to "Deadly N5N1 may be brewing in cats."
A 12 May 2007 leader in the British Medical Journal offers a critique of United
Kingdom Government planning, followed by several rapid responses. See
www.bmj.com
Kingdom Government planning, followed by several rapid responses. See
www.bmj.com
The 20 November 2007 issue of PLoS Medicine sets
out the key issues on "Sharing H5N1 Viruses to Stop a
Global Influenza Pandemic" in an article by Laurie
Garrett and David P. Fidler
out the key issues on "Sharing H5N1 Viruses to Stop a
Global Influenza Pandemic" in an article by Laurie
Garrett and David P. Fidler
With the theme, "MOST DISASTERS ARE UNPLANNED, BUT THE RESPONSE
SHOULDN'T BE," the American Medical Association reported in July 2007 on two
years of work with 18 health organizations to improve disaster response
SHOULDN'T BE," the American Medical Association reported in July 2007 on two
years of work with 18 health organizations to improve disaster response
The Lowy Institute Report predicts that a mild pandemic would probably kill 1.4
million people world-wide with an economic losss of US$330 billion, while a severe
pandemic could kill 142 million, with a loss of US$4.4 trillion. Some 95% of deaths
would probably be in developing countries.
million people world-wide with an economic losss of US$330 billion, while a severe
pandemic could kill 142 million, with a loss of US$4.4 trillion. Some 95% of deaths
would probably be in developing countries.
A response from Avian Flu Action follows the article.
Major grants have been made to accelerate innovative
vaccine technologies by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation
vaccine technologies by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation
and to enable rapid responses to emerging
diseases by www.google.org
For an update on Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infections in Humans, see the
17 January 2008 review article in The New England Journal of Medicine
17 January 2008 review article in The New England Journal of Medicine
A new technique from Replikins Ltd which gives the virus replikin count in the
H5N1 virus has correctly predicted the hot spots for the virus for several
years, including Indonesia in 2007; and now predicts it will be China in 2008,
according to News-Medical.Net
H5N1 virus has correctly predicted the hot spots for the virus for several
years, including Indonesia in 2007; and now predicts it will be China in 2008,
according to News-Medical.Net