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Department of Emergency Services
Flu Pandemic Preparedness
Avian Flu Pandemic Planning Committee Formed
The Director of the Caroline County Department of Emergency
Services, Mr. Bryan Ebling, and the Deputy Health Officer
for Caroline County, Ms. Becky Loukides, jointly announced the
formation of an Avian Flu Pandemic Planning Committee (AFPPC).
The AFPPC, formed from both government and public sector
officials, will address planning issues relevant to the
probability of avian flu pandemic striking the County, State,
and Nation.
Avian influenza or "bird flu" is currently causing worldwide
concern, moving from East to West rapidly throughout Asia and
Europe. Expectations are the virus will gradually circle the
globe, carried by migratory birds. It has caused the death of
thousands of domestic fowl and the culling of millions more, and
will almost certainly reach the United States in the relatively
near future. Between this spring and autumn, migratory birds
could bring the virus to the United States through any of four
major migratory routes; many scientists are focused on the one
through Alaska and Western states.
In other countries, avian flu has killed some people and pets,
but it has yet to manifest itself as highly transmissible from
person to person. Fewer than 200 cases in people have been
confirmed worldwide, but the fatality rate in humans is more than
50 percent. If the virus mutates in a way that makes it more
likely to spread from person to person, without losing strength,
scientists say it could become a pandemic and kill millions of
people worldwide. However, as of now, H5N1 remains predominantly
a problem for birds. "To date, no human cases have been linked
to exposure to wild birds," the World Health Organization
reported last month. "Close contact with infected poultry and
other domestic birds remains the most important source of human
infections."
Vaccines are produced each year for the seasonal flu, and some
antiviral prescription drugs can reduce seasonal flu symptoms.
These might provide some relief, but are not considered
sufficient for defeating the H5N1 flu virus. Vaccine for the
H5N1 virus is under development, but none is commercially
available.
The AFPPC will attempt to address issues of prevention,
tracking, containment, public education, economic impact,
vaccine stockpiling, medical surge capacity, and distribution
of vaccines, when they become available.
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