# 1303
The following five headlines are all essentially on the same story, arranged in order from the most alarming to the least. Depending on which news portal you trust, you are probably either nervously stuffing supplies under your bed or trying to stifle a yawn.
Bird flu pandemic risk still high: UN CTV.ca 02:55
World is unprepared for flu pandemic - UN IOL 00:43
Bird flu virus remains entrenched in six nations: Report The Times of India 08:12
Animal health seen crucial in bird flu battle (Reuters) Yahoo! US 18:33 29-Nov-07
U.N. urges vigilance in fight bird flu despite progress Xinhua Online 22:51 29-Nov-07
Interestingly, while these Marquee banners differ greatly in tone and message, they all are fairly accurate, based on the original story.
That story, by the way, is the release of a joint report by the United Nations and the World Bank, entitled Progress Report on the Global State of Influenza Pandemic Readiness and Capacity to Control Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: December 2007, along with some pithy comments by UN officials.
All of this comes in advance of an International Avian Flu Conference to be held in New Delhi on December 4th-6th.
For all of the sound and fury, there isn't a lot new in this report. It is more of a reminder (which most of the world needs) as to where we are, and where we might be going, in regards to avian influenza.
Avian (Bird) flu has spread to 60 nations, and is deeply entrenched in six (Indonesia, Egypt, Nigeria, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and parts of China). The risk of a pandemic has not abated, and it is imperative that nations work to control animal diseases (like H5N1) to prevent them from entering the human population.
As reported by CTV, the report's findings also include:
- 144 countries said they have prepared some kind of plan to deal with bird flu.
- Veterinarians have the least capacity to deal with the H5N1 strain in Africa, East Asia and Pacific countries.
- Some means of compensating poultry owners for isolating and killing infected animals is in place in 66 per cent of the countries that have a bird flu plan.
- Countries generally still have a long way to go to improve how animals are cared for to reduce the risks of transmission and to prepare for the broader social and economic impacts of a pandemic, such as absenteeism from work.
The UN Press release gives a pretty good overview. To obtain the full report, you must contact a UN Press officer (details in the press release).
As far as the headlines go, the one proffered in the UN press release is perhaps the most benign of the lot:
UNITED NATIONS REPORTS IMPROVED RESPONSES TO AVIAN INFLUENZA, SEES GLOBAL SOLIDARITY AS KEY TO BEING READY FOR FUTURE PANDEMICS
Despite this soporific heading, this press release contains quotes and statements such as:
- Although a massive global effort to control highly pathogenic avian influenza (or severe bird flu) has led to improved responses to outbreaks in poultry in many countries during the last year, there is a continuing risk of a virus mutation which results in severe and easily transmitted influenza in humans, potentially precipitating an influenza pandemic
- “Pathogens are becoming more mobile as a result of increases in international travel and trade as well as changes in ecosystems. They cause diseases that threaten the health and well being of the entire world population." - David Nabarro
- “But the most urgent need, now, is for the Governments of different countries to work together. First, they must contain avian influenza and other animal diseases that might affect humans. Second, they must prepare for influenza and other possible pandemics. " - David Nabarro
Which proves, I guess, the importance of reading beyond the headlines.
