Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/19968459.html
St. Joseph County preparing for bird flu pandemic
by Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY ? Avian flu is a deadly virus found in birds and has also transmitted to some people. The St. Joseph County Health Department and other local groups are preparing for the possibility of a bird flu outbreak here. They say a bird flu pandemic COULD happen very soon.
Health experts estimate local schools and public places like the mall could be closed up to three months. They would also limit social gatherings because human interaction would only spread the virus.
That's why local health leaders say they're preparing for the worst.
"It's just a matter of when," said Kelly Joliff, St. Joseph County Health Department Epidemiologist.
WSBT recently obtained a copy of the County Guide for Managing Dead Bodies During a Flu Pandemic. it describes planning for storage of dead bodies, embalming procedures, even the possibility of mass burials.
"These are difficult things to discuss and come up with plans," explained Joliff. "But the reality is any kind of disaster could hit us that could overwhelm our capacity."
Local coroners, hospital staff, and emergency personnel began meeting with the St. Joseph County Health Department to talk about a bird flu pandemic in 2005.
"We're taking it very seriously," said memorial Hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Marie Fabrizio. "People think sometimes too it won't happen like it did back in 1918 because of all the progress we've made in medical care."
The local bird flu planning group is also prepared to field calls from the public in the event of a pandemic.
"We would tell people what it's about, what to do with dead birds, what not to do with dead birds" said David Sisk with the United Way/211.
A flu pandemic occurs when a new flu virus emerges among humans and spreads easily from person to person. And because the virus is new, there's little or no immunity to it, according to www.pandemicflu.gov.
"We're not going to have enough medical supplies or medication for everyone who's sick during a pandemic."
No one knows exactly when the Avian Flu could come here, but out of the 373 reported human cases, the death rate is 63%, according to the World Health Organization.
The 2008 Olympics will draw many Americans to China this summer ? a country where the bird flu already exists.
St. Joseph County epidemiologist Kelly Joliff says any international event is always a concern for public health officials.
The Health Department also says it does not want to create panic, it just wants to educate the public. Right now there are very few reported cases of human to human transmission of the bird flu, but scientists say a mutated version could affect billions of people world-wide.
Our federal government is already stock-piling a vaccine for the bird flu. It's designed to fight the current strain of the virus, but most counties in Indiana would only receive enough to vaccinate 15-20% percent of the population.
The reason they're not producing any more than that right now is because they're not sure what strain of the virus they'll be dealing with.
St. Joseph County preparing for bird flu pandemic
by Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY ? Avian flu is a deadly virus found in birds and has also transmitted to some people. The St. Joseph County Health Department and other local groups are preparing for the possibility of a bird flu outbreak here. They say a bird flu pandemic COULD happen very soon.
Health experts estimate local schools and public places like the mall could be closed up to three months. They would also limit social gatherings because human interaction would only spread the virus.
That's why local health leaders say they're preparing for the worst.
"It's just a matter of when," said Kelly Joliff, St. Joseph County Health Department Epidemiologist.
WSBT recently obtained a copy of the County Guide for Managing Dead Bodies During a Flu Pandemic. it describes planning for storage of dead bodies, embalming procedures, even the possibility of mass burials.
"These are difficult things to discuss and come up with plans," explained Joliff. "But the reality is any kind of disaster could hit us that could overwhelm our capacity."
Local coroners, hospital staff, and emergency personnel began meeting with the St. Joseph County Health Department to talk about a bird flu pandemic in 2005.
"We're taking it very seriously," said memorial Hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Marie Fabrizio. "People think sometimes too it won't happen like it did back in 1918 because of all the progress we've made in medical care."
The local bird flu planning group is also prepared to field calls from the public in the event of a pandemic.
"We would tell people what it's about, what to do with dead birds, what not to do with dead birds" said David Sisk with the United Way/211.
A flu pandemic occurs when a new flu virus emerges among humans and spreads easily from person to person. And because the virus is new, there's little or no immunity to it, according to www.pandemicflu.gov.
"We're not going to have enough medical supplies or medication for everyone who's sick during a pandemic."
No one knows exactly when the Avian Flu could come here, but out of the 373 reported human cases, the death rate is 63%, according to the World Health Organization.
The 2008 Olympics will draw many Americans to China this summer ? a country where the bird flu already exists.
St. Joseph County epidemiologist Kelly Joliff says any international event is always a concern for public health officials.
The Health Department also says it does not want to create panic, it just wants to educate the public. Right now there are very few reported cases of human to human transmission of the bird flu, but scientists say a mutated version could affect billions of people world-wide.
Our federal government is already stock-piling a vaccine for the bird flu. It's designed to fight the current strain of the virus, but most counties in Indiana would only receive enough to vaccinate 15-20% percent of the population.
The reason they're not producing any more than that right now is because they're not sure what strain of the virus they'll be dealing with.