Bird flu is continuing to cause concern in the west as the spread of the virus increases. The H5N1 virus has been seen in more than a dozen countries. A recent case in Vietnam has raised issues of how virulent the virus may be after a 14 year old girl and a 26 year old man died after eating duck and an egg. Most of the bird flu death has occurred in Vietnam with over 40 deaths there. Today George Bush today put forward an initiative to tackle the possible threat putting aside $7.1 billion. “A pandemic is unlike any other natural disaster” he said. “To respond, we must have plans in place in all 50 states.” [CNN] But with few hospitals having more than three or four isolation units, it is clear that should such a pandemic occur the health system in many counties would be overwhelmed. The virus was first detected in Hong Kong in 1997 and has so far killed some 60 of 120 people identified with the virus. The problem for many scientists is that a vaccine cannot be developed until the virus jumps the species barrier. There is also concern that some countries may be secretive in identifying outbreaks. China has been particularly singled out following cover ups during the SARS outbreak in 2002. In another development, another hospital worker who has been in contact with an infected bird was today identified. Mrs Joy Savage, the wife of another employee at Pegasus birds was revealed in radio and newspaper reports on Tuesday [BBC]. But health service officials say there was no risk to patients and that she, along with her husband Howard Savage, had been inoculated with anti-viral drugs.
[16:16 GMT 01/11/2005]
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