Why Not to Be Scared of the Avian Flu

Arguing a Position Essay (ARP) Word Count: 1,196
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Engl 1121-32

Why not to be Scared of the Avian Flu

Today, many people find it necessary to worry about every potential danger, but this is clearly unreasonable and only raises more tension, especially when the topic of an Avian influenza epidemic comes up. In the past, deadly outbreaks of influenza and other fatal diseases have been a major concern not only in the United States, but around the world. In 1918 the Spanish influenza killed between forty million and fifty million people world-wide. In 1957 and 1968, there were less deadly global outbreaks of the Spanish flu, but one million people still died in each (“World Health Agency…,” par. 9). Even in remote areas of Africa, epidemics have been a reoccurring problem. One disease, Ebola, has been known to wipe out entire villages with in months (Formenty et al.). As a result, scientists believe that the world is due for another pandemic soon, but experts cannot predict exactly when one will occur (World Health Agency). However, technology has helped make advances in disease research and the likeliness of dying in a flu pandemic has decreased greatly, but people still continually worry about diseases taking their lives. With the current crisis concerning the Avian influenza, people are even more nervous than usual. This virus is being spread by poultry through out Asia and quickly spreading to Europe, but there have been few human cases. Even though the public should be concerned with the bird flu, they should not take their fears to extremes because many nations and organizations have plans to deal with outbreaks, scientists are developing vaccines, and it would be hard to contract the virus through person to person contact.

Many believe that the world is not prepared for a pandemic influenza outbreak. For example, The Lancet, an English journal, states that in Ireland, leaders are having difficulty developing a plan to deal with an Avian flu outbreak. As a result, the third version of their proposal remains unwritten (Bedford et al.). However, it has been found that sixty percent of nations and world-wide organizations have plans to deal with an outbreak. The United States has recently completed a plan of action to deal with flu outbreaks, if one were to ever occur, which has been written in a 396-paged document (Brown, par. 11). States like West Virginia have plans to deal with a potential epidemic as well and their state government will be using the same plans as they would in a terrorist attack (Kasey). Even organizations like GOARN (Global Outbreak and Response Network) have plans of action. This organization consists of 400 people from 200 government agencies, charitable groups, and academic institutions and they are currently investigating the Avian flu crisis in order to develop a plan to deal with outbreaks as well (Brown). As a result, even nations that do not have completed plans would be covered by a world-wide plan. Clearly, there are many different plans and options being developed and implemented in order to protect everyone and many of these plans include newly researched vaccines.

Many people are also fearful of the bird flu because they do not know that there are vaccines and that there is research continually being conducted. For example, many have only heard of the research on a traditional egg-based vaccine for the Avian influenza. Through this research, the United States has discovered a vaccine for humans that can be developed for a bird flu pandemic, but it would take three to six months to fully develop and put to use (“Avian Influenza Vaccine…,” par. 1). As a result, many experts worry that a major flu pandemic could occur before the vaccine is completed. Some even believe that the vaccine could turn out to be a failure. In response, the public continually worries about a vaccine being developed and overlooks the fact that one has already been discovered. American scientists have developed another vaccine for the strain H5N1 of Avian influenza. Scientists were able to develop this through a process known as reverse genetics and by studying a chicken’s antibodies. This vaccine would be given to poultry, not humans, but it would stop the strain of bird flu that is currently affecting Asia from spreading. As a result, fewer numbers of humans would contract the virus. Many other nations, including the United States, and organizations are still trying to develop more vaccines and ways of preventing the flu (“Influenza; New Research…”). The public should feel reassured that everything possible is being done to keep the flu from spreading.

The public also thinks that the Aavian influenza virus can be easily passed from person to person, which would contribute to a deadly outbreak. However, many health organizations have researched the bird flu and they have said that it would be extremely difficult to pass the flu from person to person because of the genetic make-up of the virus. The WHO (World Health Organization) recently reported that many poultry have died throughout ASIA since 2003, but only 65 humans, mostly Vietnamese, have died from this disease (“World Health Agency…,” par. 11) and almost every human case has been traced back to a sick bird, not a fellow human being. Many people assume that diseases such as the Avian flu are passed from human to human, but in reality this is false. The Avian flu is a virus that is usually passed through human to bird contact. As a result, most people who are infected with this virus are farm workers that handle poultry on a regular basis. If a chicken is sick with the virus and a person is in direct contact with it, then it is very likely that the person will become ill as well (“World Health Agency…,” par. 11-12). However, many organizations, including the WHO, have reported that it is extremely difficult for viruses such as the Avian flu and SARS to be transmitted from human to human unless the virus mutates, which would take time (World Health Agency…). The H5N1 avian influenza virus could potentially mutate and infect two million people in one American state; however, the virus has shown no signs of changing, and nations are prepared for an outbreak and looking for vaccines that would protect against other strains of the bird flu (Johnson). People should definitely be concerned with the Avian flu, but it would be extremely difficult for the virus to cause a world pandemic with out being able to be transmitted from human to human.

Clearly, people need to be informed about the Avian flu and how it could affect them, but their thoughts should not be consumed with unnecessary fears for several reasons. First of all, there are several plans of action to take if an outbreak would occur, there are many vaccines being developed, and currently, this strain of the virus can only be transferred from bird to human. Today, tension and stress consume almost every person’s life, why deal with more burdens than needed? People often feel the need to worry about many things, but the Avian flu is one that should not be occupying every thought. Instead, people should be more concerned with preventing the common cold and the flu rather than an unrealistic epidemic.

Works Cited:

“Avian Influenza Vaccine; Viral vaccine constructs have been engineered against bird flu and Newcastle disease.” Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA 30 July 2006: 18. Newspapers, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. ProQuest. 18 July 2006 <http://www.proquest.com>.

Bedford, Declan, Marta Luisa Ciofidegliatti, Caterina Rizzo, Maria Grazia Pompa. “How Prepared is Europe for pandemic influenza?” The Lancet 368 (2006): 24-25. Newspapers, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. ProQuest. 19 July 2006 <http://www.proquest.com>.

Brown, David. “WHO’s Flu Force Plans for the Worst Case.” The Washington Post 28 Nov. 2005: A08. ProQuest Newspapers, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. ProQuest. 18 July 2006 <http://www.proquest.com>.

Formenty, P., Whal-Jensen, and Victoria M. “Ebola; Studies from the United States and Germany describe new findings in ebola research.” Biotech Week. (2006): 1579. Newspapers, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. ProQuest. 27 July 2006 <http://www.proquest.com>.

“ Influenza; New Research from the United States and France in the area of influenza detailed.” Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA 21 June 2006: 123. ProQuest. 19 July 2006 <http://www.proquest.com>.

Johnson, Carolyn Y. “Flu Pandemic Plan to Stress All Must Help; [THIRD Edition].” Boston Globe 1 June 2006: 1. ProQuest. 19 July 2006 <http://www.proquest.com>.

Kasey, Pam. “Medical Community Preps for Flu.” The State Journal 22 (2006): 3. Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA 21 June 2006: 123. Newspapers, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. ProQuest. 19 July 2006 <http://www.proquest.com>.

“World Health Agency Tones Down Alarm on Possible Flu Pandemic.” New York Times 1 Oct. 2005: A5. ProQuest Newspapers, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. ProQuest. 18 July 2006 <http://www.proquest.com>.