May. 04, 2006 - 18:26 MDT

CAN THEY ?

There is an article in Wednesday's Rocky Mountain News by Nedra Pickler of the Associated Press that at least indicates there is some thought being focused on a possible problem. Quoted in full here:

U.S. TO UNVEIL DRASTIC FLU STEPS

Pandemic guidelines cover work, travel, up to 2 million dead

WASHINGTON -- "Employers should have plans to keep workers at least three feet apart, colleges should consider which dormitories could be used to quarantine the sick, and flight crews should have surgical masks to put on coughing travelers under a draft of the governments pandemic flu plan obtained by The Associated Press."

"The Bush administration forecasts massive disruptions if bird flu or some other super-strain of influenza arises in the United States. A response plan to be released at the White House today warns employers that as much as 40 percent of the work force could be off the job and says every segment of society must prepare."

"The collective response of 300 million Americans will significantly influence the shape of the pandemic and its medical, social and economic outcomes," says an undated 228-page draft version of the report that had not been finalilzed. "Institutions in danger of becoming overwhelmed will rely on the voluntarism and sense of civic and humanitarian duty of ordinary Americans."

"An outbreak could lead to a variety of restrictions on movement in and around the country, including limiting the number of international flights and quarantining exposed travelers. But the government does not forsee closing U.S. borders to fight the spread of flu, in part because it would only slow the pandemic's spread by a few weeks and because it would have such significant consequences for the economy and foreign affairs."

"It's impossible to predict when the next pandemic will strike, or how great its toll might be. but concern is rising that the Asian bird flu, the H5N1 strain, might lead to one if it eventually starts spreading easily from person to person."

"So far, H5N1 has struck more than 200 people since 2003, killing about half of them. Virtually all the victims caught it from close contact with infected poultry or droppings."

"The government is preparing for a worst-case scenario of up to 2 million deaths in the United States."

"With no border restrictions, pandemic influenza would arrive in the United States within two months of an outbreak abroad, the document estimates. But models of influenza's spread suggest t ht sealing the U.S. would not only be be impractical -- 1.1 million people cross the nation's 317 official ports of entry daily -- but it would only delay the inevitable by a few weeks, it says."

"Ship and plane captains already are required to report certain on-board illnesses upon arrival, but crews would be trained to take such steps as putting a surgical mask on a traveler who is coughing."

"The new document calls mandatory quarantine a last resort, and urges planners to consider, for example, that closing a community would sever it from the delivery of groceries and other essential goods."

++++++

Thing missing from this article to me, is there is no information on vaccine for inoculation against the flu. Has production been ramped up ? Could inoculation be administered in time to prevent mass deaths from the flu ? From what I have read, many companies who used to make vaccine have got out of the business and the government apparently has done nothing to insure that some company is making enough to inoculate our country and neighboring countries, in time to do some good.

Otherwise, at least the administration seems to be thinking deeply and the problem of a closed, quarantined community being severed from delivery of groceries and essentials, to me is an important consideration.

I do pray that things will be done intelligently when and if the flu pandemic comes upon us. Looks as if precautions are being taken, will they be religiously be observed ? CAN THEY ? . . . . . . . .

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