The most effective contribution that
we in the UK can make now to
stopping both avian flu and
pandemic flu is to help individual
developing countries, especially in
Asia and Africa, to improve their
public health networks. If the
pandemic flu virus does reach the
UK, then we will need to behave as
we do when we want to avoid
ordinary flu:
* Try to keep in good health.
* Practice good hygiene.
* Stay home if we are unwell.
* Avoid public gatherings.
we in the UK can make now to
stopping both avian flu and
pandemic flu is to help individual
developing countries, especially in
Asia and Africa, to improve their
public health networks. If the
pandemic flu virus does reach the
UK, then we will need to behave as
we do when we want to avoid
ordinary flu:
* Try to keep in good health.
* Practice good hygiene.
* Stay home if we are unwell.
* Avoid public gatherings.
An oft-quoted phrase about pandemic flu
is: "The clock is ticking, but we don't
know what time it is."
is: "The clock is ticking, but we don't
know what time it is."
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Educating ourselves and others about the
possibility of pandemic flu requires time and
reflection. If we do nothing, we remain ignorant.
However, if we become too frightened about a risk
whose probability is unknown, our fears will be
debilitating. See the "Pandemic Flu Take the Lead"
website.
We need to move beyond both ignorance and fear
into an understanding of both the dangers of
pandemic flu and how best to avoid those dangers.
possibility of pandemic flu requires time and
reflection. If we do nothing, we remain ignorant.
However, if we become too frightened about a risk
whose probability is unknown, our fears will be
debilitating. See the "Pandemic Flu Take the Lead"
website.
We need to move beyond both ignorance and fear
into an understanding of both the dangers of
pandemic flu and how best to avoid those dangers.
Before trying to help others prepare for pandemic flu, it is
important to become informed ourselves. WE NEED TO
BECOME INFORMED OBSERVERS BEFORE WE CAN
BECOME EFFECTIVE, ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS,
seeking to lessen the impact of pandemic flu, so take time to
understand the kinds of problems that might arise if
pandemic flu does come to the United Kingdom.
important to become informed ourselves. WE NEED TO
BECOME INFORMED OBSERVERS BEFORE WE CAN
BECOME EFFECTIVE, ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS,
seeking to lessen the impact of pandemic flu, so take time to
understand the kinds of problems that might arise if
pandemic flu does come to the United Kingdom.
As long as avian flu does not pass
"efficiently" from birds to people, it
is primarily poultry and wild birds
and ducks rather than people that are
in danger. The vast majority of the
241 people who have died from
H5N1 influenza in the nations of
Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle
East and Turkey had close contact
with diseased poultry.
"efficiently" from birds to people, it
is primarily poultry and wild birds
and ducks rather than people that are
in danger. The vast majority of the
241 people who have died from
H5N1 influenza in the nations of
Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle
East and Turkey had close contact
with diseased poultry.
If avian flu does start to pass readily
from person to person, then there is real
danger. Antiviral drugs are being
stockpiled, but no fully effective vaccine
can be produced until the precise nature
of the virus has been analysed. The
creation and production of an effective
vaccine would take six months to one
year, although there is much new research
from person to person, then there is real
danger. Antiviral drugs are being
stockpiled, but no fully effective vaccine
can be produced until the precise nature
of the virus has been analysed. The
creation and production of an effective
vaccine would take six months to one
year, although there is much new research
A crucial issue is that with international air travel and the global economy, a
disease that emerges in one country can easily spread to another. The transfer
would be sudden; it would be local; and it would come in waves. So one town
or city or rural area might be impacted, while another would not. Therefore, it
is important to build up local awareness of what can be done, to prepare for any
possible pandemic by listening and discussing with local health professionals
what can be done. Practicing good hygiene (such as washing hands and cleaning
taps, doorknobs,etc.) is very important.
disease that emerges in one country can easily spread to another. The transfer
would be sudden; it would be local; and it would come in waves. So one town
or city or rural area might be impacted, while another would not. Therefore, it
is important to build up local awareness of what can be done, to prepare for any
possible pandemic by listening and discussing with local health professionals
what can be done. Practicing good hygiene (such as washing hands and cleaning
taps, doorknobs,etc.) is very important.
Gathering people together in small and
large meetings is one way of becoming
better informed about avian flu and
pandemic flu. However, it is also
possible to become better informed
through personal reading and
reflection. We each need to make our
own decisions about how best to
become better informed.
large meetings is one way of becoming
better informed about avian flu and
pandemic flu. However, it is also
possible to become better informed
through personal reading and
reflection. We each need to make our
own decisions about how best to
become better informed.
Go to next page.
Local Campaigns
AN EXCELLENT SITE FOR IMPROVING COMMUNITY ACTION IN THE FACE OF
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA IS "SAVING LIVES IN THE NEXT PANDEMIC" at: Social
Innovation and Enterprise Program, Stanford University
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA IS "SAVING LIVES IN THE NEXT PANDEMIC" at: Social
Innovation and Enterprise Program, Stanford University