06 December 2005
China shows way to U.S. in facing up to bird flu
IF the United States wants to learn how to react quickly to a lethal outbreak of avian influenza among humans, it should look to China.
This was how a North Dakota newspaper editorial advised its home government on proper action to take to ward off avian flu outbreak or to contain one, if it happens.
“Last week, there was one person in China who died as a confirmed victim of the savage H5N1 virus, another who recovered and one more, a 12-year-old girl, who died and is suspected to have had the disease,: the Bismarck Tribune editorial started out.
“Since its first outbreaks, China has imposed quarantines in areas, is monitoring people’s travel in entire regions, has banned the sale of live poultry and – astoundingly – will vaccinate all poultry in China. China also has its own manufacturer of a human vaccine for avian flu.
“Well, Americans may say, it can happen over there,” the editorial read further, “because China has an authoritarian government. True in part, but is should be kept in mind that China is being forthright about telling the world what is being done there and the problems they have in containing this particular flu virus. China learned the necessity of openness when it tried to keep the outbreak of SARS quiet and almost caused an epidemic.
“The (U.S.)president and Congress are to be commended for getting a start on preparations to combat this viral foe. In this time of pressure to cut programs from the federal budget, President Bush is willing to put up $7.1 billion, and Congress a bit more, to prepare for an outbreak.
“The intent is good. The program developed so far is not as good on several levels, particularly in not providing for a rapid response.
“We thought the federal government and state bodies were prepared to respond quickly to critical events – but that was before Hurricane Katrina, when we learned how molasses-slow a response can be.
“According to the New York Times, “The (federal) plan sets lofty goals but largely passes the buck on practical problems. The real responsibilities wind up on the shoulders of state and local health agencies and individual hospitals, none of which were provided with adequate resources to do the job.”
“It’s good that there will be a meeting today of officials from several federal and North Dakota agencies in Bismarck. One federal official, explaining the need for the meeting, said, “We just want to establish roles and responsibilities, recognize that we all have different levels of expertise and coordination on any of these types of response plans.”
“That’s an encouraging attitude, that government recognizes that it’s time to get very serious about the threat of a pandemic,” the Bismarck Tribune concluded.
This was how a North Dakota newspaper editorial advised its home government on proper action to take to ward off avian flu outbreak or to contain one, if it happens.
“Last week, there was one person in China who died as a confirmed victim of the savage H5N1 virus, another who recovered and one more, a 12-year-old girl, who died and is suspected to have had the disease,: the Bismarck Tribune editorial started out.
“Since its first outbreaks, China has imposed quarantines in areas, is monitoring people’s travel in entire regions, has banned the sale of live poultry and – astoundingly – will vaccinate all poultry in China. China also has its own manufacturer of a human vaccine for avian flu.
“Well, Americans may say, it can happen over there,” the editorial read further, “because China has an authoritarian government. True in part, but is should be kept in mind that China is being forthright about telling the world what is being done there and the problems they have in containing this particular flu virus. China learned the necessity of openness when it tried to keep the outbreak of SARS quiet and almost caused an epidemic.
“The (U.S.)president and Congress are to be commended for getting a start on preparations to combat this viral foe. In this time of pressure to cut programs from the federal budget, President Bush is willing to put up $7.1 billion, and Congress a bit more, to prepare for an outbreak.
“The intent is good. The program developed so far is not as good on several levels, particularly in not providing for a rapid response.
“We thought the federal government and state bodies were prepared to respond quickly to critical events – but that was before Hurricane Katrina, when we learned how molasses-slow a response can be.
“According to the New York Times, “The (federal) plan sets lofty goals but largely passes the buck on practical problems. The real responsibilities wind up on the shoulders of state and local health agencies and individual hospitals, none of which were provided with adequate resources to do the job.”
“It’s good that there will be a meeting today of officials from several federal and North Dakota agencies in Bismarck. One federal official, explaining the need for the meeting, said, “We just want to establish roles and responsibilities, recognize that we all have different levels of expertise and coordination on any of these types of response plans.”
“That’s an encouraging attitude, that government recognizes that it’s time to get very serious about the threat of a pandemic,” the Bismarck Tribune concluded.
