Bird Flu Could Wreak Heavy Toll On Region
May 5th, 2006
Although influenza experts say the Caribbean is at relatively low risk for avian flu, officials have released a projection of how the region would be affected in the worst-case scenario.
One estimate from the Pan American Health Organization theorized that over 515 million workdays could be lost if a moderate pandemic were to hit the region.
A severe pandemic, it was reported, could increase that number to almost 730 million and the direct costs for this lost time could be $15 billion in the former case, or $21 billion in the latter.
Officials reported that the region is at low risk since birds flying south from the U.S. are not believed to be intermingling with birds heading to American from Siberia, where one of the latest outbreaks occurred.
To date, eight countries in the region—Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Chile, Ecuador and Mexico—either have completed NIPPPs or written drafts, plus the English-speaking Caribbean countries have drafted a subregional plan. Eleven others are currently developing their plans, including Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
In The Bahamas, Department of Public Health officials have already announced that they will begin a national campaign to increase influenza vaccinations.
The shots will be administered at all public health clinics, with the campaign designed to decrease the impact of seasonal influenza and any further complications from it.
Officials say the elderly and young children are mostly at risk for contracting influenza, including premature babies and children with sickle cell disease. Asthmatics, pregnant women and persons who suffer from chronic conditions like lung disease are also at a higher risk of contracting the flu.
The Bahamas Department of Agriculture has restricted poultry imports from countries where Bird Flu has been reported.
As the world takes prudent measures to prepare for a major human influenza pandemic, the Food and Agricultural Organization has urged “more decisive action by affected countries, civil society, the private sector and the international community to stop bird flu in animals.
More than 300 animal and human health experts, senior policy-makers, economists and industry representatives are gathering in Geneva last year to design a strategy to eliminate the virus in animals and prepare for a possible human influenza pandemic.