“I’m not afraid.”
“You will be.”
That classic exchange between Yoda and Luke Skywalker reminds me of the approach
often taken by media in covering worldwide disasters. Global warming, earthquakes, nuclear weapons—the greater the fear factor in a story, the more exposure it gets. In particular, the warnings about the next flu
pandemic are becoming increasingly dire. They’re so relentless by times that even if I state, “I’m not afraid of
influenza,” each new report seems to be saying, “You will be.”
This fear is one of the challenges that Drs. Lam and Lee address in this handbook, which gives a balanced response to both the threat and the reality of a pandemic. In fact, the scariest thing about this book is the cover. With the words “Flu” and “You” in bright red letters seven centimeters high on a stark white background, it’s sure to catch your eye on the bookshelf.
However, once you approach this sensationalistic topic, you will find that the authors’ treatment is very reasonable. They tone down information on mortality statistics and warnings about viral contamination with constant reassurances that “most people will survive” in the event of a pandemic. After a while, the statement becomes almost a soothing refrain.
It’s also historically accurate. Even though an estimated 40-100 million people died in the 1918 pandemic, the worst in recorded history, at least 95% of the world’s population survived. And a death toll that severe may be the exception rather than the rule in a pandemic. In fact, if you are fifty years old or older, you’ve already survived two pandemics. In 1957 and again in 1968, influenza killed two million and one million people respectively, a relatively small percentage of the world’s population.
It is impossible to tell whether the next pandemic will be mild or severe, or even when it will come. Presently, we are in phase three of a six phase pandemic alert, which means that scientists have identified a new virus to which people have no immunity. This is the H5N1 virus, the avian flu which has terrorized several Asian countries. It has also led to the slaughter of millions of birds in an effort to contain the virus and give it fewer chances to mutate and become infectious among humans.
Drs. Lam and Lee give detailed information on what to expect during phases 4, 5, and 6 of a pandemic alert, as an influenza virus adapts to become more and more easily transmissible between humans. They talk about quarantine and closing borders, when this may be effective and when it will not be. They detail effective measures that everybody can take to lower the risk of transmission. They also discuss our two lines of defense in phase 6: flu shots (get one) and antivirals. The debate about whether or not to stockpile antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu is a delicate one. They offer both sides of the argument and leave the conclusion to the reader, although they do disclose at the end of this session that neither they nor members of their families are keeping antiviral medications on hand.
If the media have left you with big questions about an influenza pandemic, this is the book for you. Everything is spelled out, from the proper way to cough or sneeze (respiratory hygiene), to hand-washing techniques, to the list of supplies recommended to have on hand during a pandemic. The authors have even included at the beginning of each chapter a summary of the important points which will be covered, allowing you to find vital information quickly. In a climate of fear, information such as this book offers could very well be your best defense.