A Tourism Mecca, Hawaii Braces for Flu
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press Writer
Full Article
April 14,2006 | HONOLULU -- Hawaii, both tourist mecca and western gateway to the nation, is ahead of many states in preparing for a possible global flu epidemic.
With thousands of tourists arriving daily, many from Asia, officials here were first to start an airport flu monitoring program. Experts say the state is "in the vanguard" when it comes to preparedness.
And no wonder. Hawaii's early history is filled with the ravages of disease after Captain James Cook arrived in 1778. Cook's crew and the Europeans who followed brought smallpox, measles and syphilis -- devastating to the islanders.
Today the fear is over the potential for a deadly flu epidemic if the bird flu in Asia mutates into a form that is more dangerous to people
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press Writer
Full Article
April 14,2006 | HONOLULU -- Hawaii, both tourist mecca and western gateway to the nation, is ahead of many states in preparing for a possible global flu epidemic.
With thousands of tourists arriving daily, many from Asia, officials here were first to start an airport flu monitoring program. Experts say the state is "in the vanguard" when it comes to preparedness.
And no wonder. Hawaii's early history is filled with the ravages of disease after Captain James Cook arrived in 1778. Cook's crew and the Europeans who followed brought smallpox, measles and syphilis -- devastating to the islanders.
Today the fear is over the potential for a deadly flu epidemic if the bird flu in Asia mutates into a form that is more dangerous to people