International Responses to A Bird Flu Pandemic

The initial response of governments across the world to the outbreaks of Avian Influenza A is inadequate and confused to say the least.

This applies to developed countries like the US and UK as well, as the disease and its virility took both officials and scientists from these countries by surprise.

However, as the disease has progressed to epidemic proportions, the nations have fallen into line and a semblance of coordination begins to show.

Still, much needs to be done especially in close surveillance and research and mass production of cheap and effective vaccines and drugs.

The disease has already started a trail of destruction on four of the six continents. Only the lack of intensity and the lack of spreading of the virus among humans and the confinement of its virility to these countries have not yet made it a pandemic problem.

As the disease enlarges its footprint or lethality, spin doctoring obscures the facts. Nations cover up their inefficiency and alleged malpractices, scientists and ornithologists fight over migratory birds’ spreading of the disease only to leave more questions than answers.

Of late, things have begun to change. With China’s huge blunder when using anti viral drugs and the flu's global impact now more evident; nations have some common guidelines in treatment and immunization programs. In this regard, the efforts of world bodies like FAO, WHO, OIE are commendable.

Particularly the WHO is keeping a constant surveillance on the disease.

The WHO has arranged a global plan and guidelines for a pandemic outbreak to help countries prepare for the worst.

They give five strategic actions, to countries as summarized below:

Phase Strategic Action

Pre-pandemic 

1. Reduce the opportunities for human infection
2. Strengthen the early warning system

Emergence of pandemic virus 

3. Contain and/or delay the spread at source
Pandemic declared 

4. Reduce morbidity, mortality and social disruption

5. Conduct research to guide response measures

It is now clear to one and all that no single nation developed or poor can control and treat the disease in isolation. Nor can governments alone cope with the challenge of bird flu without the cooperation of public and industry.

Despite such coordinated efforts, stress must also be laid on country specific, regions and their specific and sector specific plans of response to be quick and responsive.

As the virus is feared to acquire human spread capacity any time, anywhere, the need for close surveillance on a global scale is appreciated very much.

Also, any and every finding related to bird flu must pass on to the international scientific community. These measures are necessary, as there is not a single vaccine for any avian virus strain infecting humans let alone a common vaccine to all Influenza Type A viruses.

Global pandemic responses must also involve the direct and indirect economic implications of the pandemic problem. Air Travel, international trade would severely be affected.

Much as the A(H5N1) strain of virus nor any other lethal avian influenza virus have not acquired the ability to spread among humans, there is scope for making most of the time and to delay the onset of a pandemic outbreak.

It might be noted here that in recent history, pandemic outbreaks are repeated around every 20 years. There has not been one for the last 40 or so years.

One might be in the offing but still there is no need to panic yet. Only care and coordination is needed to offset the problems.