Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Area counties prepare for possible flu pandemic
One year ago, Hardin and Jefferson counties purchased thousands of doses of antiviral medication in preparation for a possible flu pandemic.
The drugs have gone unused, but experts say the threat of pandemic influenza has not diminished.
"We can't use them unless there is a declared flu pandemic," Dr. H.A. Hooks, director of the Hardin County Health Department, said of the antiviral drugs. "And even then, they are to be given to the health care workers and first responders."
Antivirals can make flu cases less severe and slow an epidemic's spread. But by definition, a pandemic flu is a global outbreak caused by a new, previously unencountered influenza virus, and it is unknown how effective antiviral drugs would be.
During the past 400 years, the human population has averaged three flu pandemics a century, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The last one was in 1968.
Some researchers have speculated the next human flu pandemic will arise from an avian flu, which has killed birds and people in Asia, Africa and Europe, mutating and becoming easily spread from one person to another.
Dr. Norbert Roberts, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, said the risk of such a mutation causing pandemic influenza in humans has not changed.
"I think we're in the same position," Roberts said. "The only difficulty is when it gets press and doesn't happen, people will begin to think it's a Chicken Little thing."
The Texas Department of State Health Services is preparing to move thousands more doses of the antiviral drugs to its regional offices.
"In the event of an emergency, our regional offices would share those doses with the local health departments," said Carrie Williams, spokeswoman for the state health department.
Williams said the drugs will be distributed to the regional offices by mid-December. The state health department regional office that services Southeast Texas is in Houston.
Antiviral drugs stockpiled by the Center for Disease Control would then be supplied via state and local health departments, Williams said.
Hooks said local health departments train with the state department for such a distribution operation.
"The question seems to be not if, but when the virus will change to be transmittable between humans," Hooks said. "We've had several meetings about pandemic flu. We do not know if the current antiviral drugs would be effective against bird flu.
"But at least this way, if we need the drugs, we have a supply to start with."
http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/s...9050573&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6
One year ago, Hardin and Jefferson counties purchased thousands of doses of antiviral medication in preparation for a possible flu pandemic.
The drugs have gone unused, but experts say the threat of pandemic influenza has not diminished.
"We can't use them unless there is a declared flu pandemic," Dr. H.A. Hooks, director of the Hardin County Health Department, said of the antiviral drugs. "And even then, they are to be given to the health care workers and first responders."
Antivirals can make flu cases less severe and slow an epidemic's spread. But by definition, a pandemic flu is a global outbreak caused by a new, previously unencountered influenza virus, and it is unknown how effective antiviral drugs would be.
During the past 400 years, the human population has averaged three flu pandemics a century, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The last one was in 1968.
Some researchers have speculated the next human flu pandemic will arise from an avian flu, which has killed birds and people in Asia, Africa and Europe, mutating and becoming easily spread from one person to another.
Dr. Norbert Roberts, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, said the risk of such a mutation causing pandemic influenza in humans has not changed.
"I think we're in the same position," Roberts said. "The only difficulty is when it gets press and doesn't happen, people will begin to think it's a Chicken Little thing."
The Texas Department of State Health Services is preparing to move thousands more doses of the antiviral drugs to its regional offices.
"In the event of an emergency, our regional offices would share those doses with the local health departments," said Carrie Williams, spokeswoman for the state health department.
Williams said the drugs will be distributed to the regional offices by mid-December. The state health department regional office that services Southeast Texas is in Houston.
Antiviral drugs stockpiled by the Center for Disease Control would then be supplied via state and local health departments, Williams said.
Hooks said local health departments train with the state department for such a distribution operation.
"The question seems to be not if, but when the virus will change to be transmittable between humans," Hooks said. "We've had several meetings about pandemic flu. We do not know if the current antiviral drugs would be effective against bird flu.
"But at least this way, if we need the drugs, we have a supply to start with."
http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/s...9050573&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6