# 731
Al-Ahram, the weekly newspaper out of Cairo, has a long article on the potential for an avian flu pandemic. The title is `Worst-Case Scenario', and it appears that is what the government wants people to prepare for.
I've just snagged some snippets from the article. You really need to read the whole thing.
Reem Leila reports on preparations to contain the impact of an Avian Flu pandemic
Preparations for a possible pandemic are underway
- Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif has approved the allocation of LE240 million ($42 million) to combat bird flu. The money is to be shared between the ministries of agriculture and health and will be used, says Ayman Al-Qaffas, spokesman for the Supreme Committee for Combating Bird Flu (SCCBF), to help the Health Ministry produce vaccines.
- Many scientists believe it is only a matter of time before the H5N1 virus mutates into a strain capable of human-to-human transmission. It is the timing and severity of the ensuing pandemic that cannot be predicted.
- "Accordingly different governments, including the US, are focussing on comprehensive public health efforts -- increasing surveillance, monitoring outbreaks in order to be alert to any slight change in the virus, international cooperation, increasing anti-viral stockpiles, and building more robust capacity for vaccine production -- that will help protect different nations no matter what pandemic strain emerges or where."
- The Egyptian government, says Shaheen, has prepared a detailed national plan to be implemented in case of a pandemic under which half of Egypt's 150,000 hospitals beds will be reserved for Avian Flu patients.
- "Patients with minor ailments will not be admitted to hospitals," says Shaheen. "Egypt has also considered medicating people in their homes and providing them with the necessary health and medical care since thousands are expected to contract the virus."
- Any pandemic, says Shaheen, is expected to last between six and eight weeks. Egypt's national plan to face an outbreak, therefore, is not limited to the Health Ministry but includes the ministries of communication, environment, education, electricity and interior.
- "The threat of an influenza pandemic is, at present, one of the most significant public health issues our nation and the world are facing. Marshall warns, however, that the influenza vaccine production process is long and complicated, the production technology labour-intensive, taking up to nine months from start to finish.
- "Sterilised masks, of which Egypt has stockpiled nearly 20 million, will be distributed first among health workers, children and teachers, and then the remaining population," said Shaheen.
- Egyptian and US health officials are currently advising people to stock at least three weeks supply of food and water as well as essential drugs since "many pharmacies could be subject to limited working hours during the pandemic," according to Shaheen.
This would appear to be the strongest warning to the public to date in Egypt. Many countries have been reluctant to openly discuss the potential outfall from a pandemic, worried that it would induce unwarranted public fear.
Obviously, Egyptian officials believe it is now time to alert the public.
