Defenses weak in face of new avian flu migration

The popular old saying that translates as “better to prevent than to lament” certainly applies to the threat of avian flu. Authorities need to bring themselves up to speed on the issue and take even more protection steps than environmentalists are demanding.

The current concern is over the so-called H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus. It is highly infectious in a wide variety of birds and even has been transmitted to humans who handled them, killing 60 of 100 people infected in Asia. Direct contact with the live birds, their eggs or their waste is what spreads it. Wildfowl can carry it far and wide. It can make them sick, ruintheir eggs, and kill them.

The United Nations and World Health Organization put out an alert on Sept. 30 that a pandemic, or global epidemic, could result in 5 million to 150 million human deaths. When The New York Times on Oct. 6 exposed the United States' lack of preparedness based on the federal administration's Pandemic Influenza Strategic Plan, H5N1 was already in four Asian countries: China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

VIRUS ON THE MOVE

By now it has crossed the seas to infect flocks in Colombia, Croatia,Greece, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Kingdom. It was Oct. 25 when the European Union responded by banning commercial imports of wild birds and the United States banned imports of all, live birds, parts and products from the countries where the disease was detected.

The United States would seem Mexico's best line of defense against the menace. In fact, the U.S. Department of Defense already takes part in a 15-year-old migratory bird program initiated by the non-profit National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The D.O.D.'s maps show its installations set up in strategic locations not only for deploying troops but also for monitoring wildfowl and mitigating its movement throughout the hemisphere.

Unfortunately, the military has made no public acknowledgement of any plans to help hold the line against avian flu. What's more, the administration's report, originated by the Health and Human Services Department, includes only civilian planning and no articulation whatsoever with the armed forces, unquestionably one of the strongest U.S. resources.

Mexico should seize this opportunity for diplomacy and insist that the United States dedicate more of its considerable reserves to the cause of protecting against the spread of avian flu. This appears to be one foreign policy initiative that can feasibly be attained to the satisfaction of constituencies both at home and abroad.

The Mexican federal government has a number of other paths to pursue in the effort to hold avian flu at bay, as domestic environmental activists have pointed out in recent weeks.

It can join the countries closing their doors to commercial imports of live birds. Inspection for contraband could be boosted. Aviaries could isolate their flocks. Education could be provided so that people avoid handling potentially contagious birds and so that killing birds is not seen as a solution to the problem.

HANDLE WITH CARE

Control of this disease is especially sensitive in Mexico, where any numberof cottage industries are based on the legitimate sale of wild birds.

Indifference to bird-catchers and related small businesses could be as potentially damaging as apathy toward traffickers of exotic species, in this scenario.

An integrated approach should be taken, involving participation of various agencies as well as representatives of productive sectors involved. If this is accomplished, it could help combat other longstanding afflictions, such as imports of unsavory, contraband poultry. It could also promote utilization of public health services' flu vaccine programs, strengthening peoples' immune systems.

Who knows what other positive by-products a concerted effort to detain just this one peril might have.

Talli Nauman is a founder and co-director of Journalism to RaiseEnvironmental Awareness, a project initiated with support from the John D.and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. She is the Americas Program Associate at the International Relations Center. (talli@direcway.com)

source: eluniversal