The History of Bird Flu in the U.S.

With the threat of a possible bird flu pandemic, many Americans are wondering how it will affect the United States, how and where it has already affected the country, and what they can do to protect themselves. At the moment, however, the bird flu has not become the problem that it has the potential to be.

So far, no Americans have been infected with the bird flu, including those who live and/or travel overseas. The risk to Americans in Asia, Europe, and Africa, where the bird flu has been seen in human hosts, is low. Medical and public health authorities have been watching closely for any potential outbreak here in the United States.

Besides keeping an eye on the situation, some states are making preparations should a pandemic situation occur. Should the bird flu make the jump to being transmittable from person to person, the community will need to try to contain or limit the spread of infection as quickly as possible. These plans may include the treatment with antivirals to those who are sick or who have been exposed to the bird flu; enforcing quarantines of sick and exposed people to their homes, hospitals, or specific facilities; closing schools, business, and public events as needed to contain and outbreak; and restricting travel to and from infected areas. People will also be encouraged to follow basic health standards such as washing their hands with soap and water, staying away from those who have been infected, and staying at home if they become sick themselves.

Another concern that people have is the number of migratory birds that pass through the United States each year. So far, however, the bird flu has not been detected in any such birds. As a general rule, the public is cautioned to observe all wildlife, including wild birds, from a distance. This would offer the most protection to you should an outbreak occur, and also minimizes the disturbance to the environment and the animal. If you find a sick or dead bird you should avoid all contact and inform the local authorities in charge of its disposal.

With the amount of chicken, turkey, and other poultry consumed in the United States, the food supply is obviously a concern with some people. However, new import restrictions, bird flu testing programs, and federal inspection programs that have been put into place helps to ensure that the poultry being sold is safe to eat. The United States now bans poultry and poultry products from being imported from countries where the bird flu has been identified. All live birds, including those used for food and those to be sold as pets, are kept under quarantine and tested before being sent out.

Another thing that has changed in the United States since the outbreak of the bird flu is that there are some influenza vaccine manufacturers currently producing in the country. Sanofi Pasteur has its entire production process based in the United States, and MedImmune has a portion of theirs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has made the expansion and establishment of manufacturing facilities inside the United States on of its top priorities.

One of the biggest impacts that the bird flu has had on U.S. history is that it has opened our eyes to how at risk we really are to something that at first seems totally harmless. Despite all of the advances made in medicine and science, there is still so much that we do not know. The bird flu has opened our eyes to the need for continued research in those areas. It had a dramatic effect on how we look at world commerce, and will leave a lasting impression on the way goods are imported and exported.