Psyche, Science, and Society

Los Angeles Times proclaims “Bird Flu Defies Control Efforts”

March 29th, 2006

At one point, not so very long ago, it may have been possible to prevent avian flu. But no longer. With the worldwide spread, the virus can no longer be contained, says the Los Angeles Times. The virus will, or won’t, mutate to allow human to human transmission. We will have little say about that.

he speed of its migration, and the vast area it has infected, has forced scientists to concede there is little that can be done to stop its spread across the globe.

“We expected it to move, but not any of us thought it would move quite like this,” said Dr. David Nabarro, the United Nations’ coordinator on bird flu efforts.

The hope was once that culling millions of chickens and ducks would contain or even eradicate the virus. Now, the strategy has shifted toward managing a disease that will probably be everywhere. Officials are hoping to buy a little more time to produce human vaccines and limit the potential economic damage.

“We cannot contain this thing anymore. Nature is in control,” said Robert G. Webster, a virologist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., who has been studying the virus since it emerged in 1997.

All the world can do is slow the process a bit, and prepare in case the worst, or something near the worst, happens. Their perspective is that of many other experts. Preparation for a possible pandemic is where the attention should go at this point. Ignoring the warnings in 2003 and 2004 means its now too late for prevention. Lets move on to the next stage of response.

Entry Filed under: Avian flu, Public Health