Experts say flu pandemic is imminent
From Christy Feig
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Health experts warn that things are falling into place for a global flu pandemic like the one in 1918 that killed tens of millions of people worldwide. They say it might not be quite as extreme, but by all calculations, will be very dangerous.
"We're staring down the barrel of a loaded gun and that gun is ready to fire," said Rep. Michael Ferguson, R-New Jersey, at a congressional hearing Thursday.
Health officials at the hearing agreed. They believe a flu pandemic is inevitable and it will likely come from the bird flu that is spreading in Asia.
That flu is dangerous because it is a strain that most humans have never been exposed to, so there is no natural immunity and there is no vaccine.
But now it's infecting humans. The virus first spread from bird to bird; then some of the people who work with the birds became infected. Fifty-three people died.
So far, avian flu has only spread from person to person twice. But if that becomes more frequent, experts say, a pandemic could be imminent.
The health officials laid out for a congressional committee what they are doing to prepare treatments and a vaccine. The news wasn't good.
A vaccine is in development but since it has to be matched to the flu strain once it's spreading in the human population, it would take six months after the first cases to complete it.
"It isn't as if overnight we'd be able to get a vaccine for everyone who is going to need a vaccine," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Health.
Treatment isn't easy either. There is one drug available now that works against this type of flu, but it needs to be given within 48 hours of infection.
"When you start getting the flu it's hard to distinguish it from any other upper respiratory infections so most people don't realize they have flu until past the 48 hour window," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
