The world in under threat
Governments across
the world are clamouring to secure their boundaries from
the deadly avian flu virus. There has been an
unprecedented increase in the demand for tamifllu,the anti-
viral drug which can help in treating people in the event
of an outbreak. Can this reactin be termed excessive? All
the evidence points to the fact that the panic that has set
in is justified. A historyof the flu shows that eachtime
there has been a pandemic large populations have got
affected. In the great influenza pandemic of 1918-1919.,it
is estimated that as manyas 40million to 50 million people
died worldwide. This was followed by pandemics in1957 and
1968. And the world is readyfor another fly pandemic. But
it’s nt just the statistical probability that is giving
experts sleepless nights. Birds are carriers of this flyu
and it is difficult to stop their movements across the
globe. Domestic birds are even more susceptible as ws seen
recently when an infected parrotreached british shores.
According to experts,the virus could also exchange genes
with a human flu virus if a person had both at the same
time. This could lea to the possibility of a new virus
which would then be passed easily from one personto
another. It is ow being estimated that twhen the pandemic
breaks out anywhere form twomillin to 50million people are
likely to die. And the worl is ill-
prepared for this flu
the European Union
countries along with Iceland. Norwayand
Liechtenstein have only 10million doses for almost 500
millin people. India is even less prepared for the avian
fly eventhough asian countries like china,Thailand,Vietnam
and hong kong have already seen the spread of the flu,with
as manyas 61 deaths so far. The panic in the light of
suchcompelling evidence is just what the doctor ordered,as
it will propel natins to take appropriate preventive
measures.