OP-ED- The Next Contagion: Closer Than You Think

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/10/op...anted=all&_r=0

Op-Ed Contributor
The Next Contagion: Closer Than You Think
By MICHAEL T. OSTERHOLM
Published: May 9, 2013


MINNEAPOLIS

THERE has been a flurry of recent attention over two novel infectious agents: the first, a strain of avian influenza virus (H7N9) in China that is causing severe respiratory disease and other serious health complications in people; the second, a coronavirus, first reported last year in the Middle East, that has brought a crop of new infections. While the number of human cases from these two pathogens has so far been limited, the death rates for each are notably high.

Alarmingly, we face a third, and far more widespread, ailment that has gotten little attention: call it ?contagion exhaustion.? News reports on a seemingly unending string of frightening microbes ? bird flu, flesh-eating strep, SARS, AIDS, Ebola, drug-resistant bugs in hospitals, the list goes on ? have led some people to ho-hum the latest reports...

[Laidback Al]

Re: OP-ED- The Next Contagion: Closer Than You Think

Osterholm presents the big picture about the potential for pandemics with an emphasis on two current diseases, influenza A(H7N9) and the novel coronavirus (nCoV). It is worth reading the entire article.

link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/10/op...anted=all&_r=0
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[Giuseppe]

Re: OP-ED- The Next Contagion: Closer Than You Think

The basic issue with these alarming opinions is that despite almost sixteen years after the first H5N1 outbreak in HK, a longer awaited broad-spectrum influenza vaccine has not been designed and - worst thing - entered in production.

Further, influenza remains a disease with little medical countermeasures available, and drugs are of limited effectiveness as well as clinical management protocols.

Why does the scientific world continue to be unable to cope with influenza disease prevention and control?

Why does the policy makers continue to be unprepared and unwillingly in designing surge health care capacity and targeted research funding in critical sectors such as antivirals drugs?

Because, at the end of the show, the vast majority of humans would remain without protection in front of the above mentioned scary scenarios.