Be Prepared, Not Scared
Amidst all the fears of an impending bird-flu Armageddon, it's easy to lose sight of the real risks to human health. It's time to take the panic out of the debate.
We must first draw a clear distinction between the present form of the H5NI avian flu virus that is killing birds worldwide, particularly in Asia, and the much-dreaded human-to-human strain that could wreak havoc in human populations. The H5N1 virus would have to mutate in order for a human flu pandemic to occur. A few people have been infected in Vietnam, Turkey, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and China, but that wasn't human- to-human transmission. Not only has the virus not mutated sufficiently, but we can reduce the chance that it will.
For a start, the avian flu virus must be prevented from being exposed to humans and other animals such as pigs. This can best be done by immediately killing, and burning or burying sick birds; and keeping domesticated birds away from wild birds and pigs, most easily by building cages or other enclosures for domesticated birds, rather than letting them roam freely. Confining and stopping avian flu in its tracks is the best way to reduce the probability of it mutating into a human influenza.
Asia may be the frontline for such a mutation, but there are resources available to help. The global response to avian flu has been encouraging. The International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Influenza conference in Beijing in January was attended by officials from half the nations of the world, and generated $1.9 billion in pledges for a first-ever global war chest to fight the killer virus. Pledges came from poor countries as well as rich, and countries that could not afford to offer funding promised to commit their people and governments to fighting the virus. It was an impressive show of solidarity.
Most of the money raised at the conference will be spent on launching public-awareness programs (mainly in Southeast Asia and Africa), strengthening the ability to detect and respond to outbreaks, helping with the slaughter and vaccination of poultry, and compensating farmers for losses in their livestock. Funds will also be used to stockpile drugs to treat victims, as well as to develop a human vaccine.
Since the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the world has become better prepared to deal with health epidemics. Drugs are being stockpiled world-wide, and once we know the specific character of the virus, an appropriate vaccine can hopefully be developed to respond to it. Even in a worse-case scenario, there is better general knowledge and sophisticated health-education programs to improve hygiene during illness.
For the time being, the scaremongers should get the facts straight. The human form of the flu virus does not presently exist. Furthermore, any human virus may not even be as virulent as the avian counterpart. Politicians, health experts and the media need to use accurate language when discussing the disease so that people understand how to respond to actual, not imagined, health risks. Be prepared, not scared.
Dr. Haikerwal is president of the Australian Medical Association.
无需谈“禽”色变 有备自可无患
如果我们总是担心禽流感爆发会不会导致世界末日，那么就很容易忽视人类健康面临的真正威胁。这种让人惊恐万分的讨论如今可以休矣！
我们必须首先清楚区分正在全球（特别是亚洲）范围内导致大量病禽死亡的H5NI型禽流感病毒与可能引发人间灾难的、让人谈之色变的、可人际间传播的病毒。H5N1型病毒可能发生变异，引发人际流感大爆发。在越南、土耳其、缅甸、印尼、泰国和中国已有一些人感染禽流感病例，但这种感染并非人际传播。病毒并没有有效变异，而且我们也能降低其变异几率。
更多信息
? 禽流感专题报导首先，我们必须阻断禽流感病毒向人类和其他动物（如猪）的传播。最好的办法就是立即扑杀、焚毁和掩埋病禽；避免家禽与野生鸟类的接触，最简单的办法就是笼养家禽等，而不是放养。限制和阻断禽流感传播是降低病毒变异成可人际传播病毒的最佳办法。
亚洲可能成为病毒变异的前沿，但也有资源可以提供帮助。全球范围内对禽流感采取的应急机制，是比较让人满意的。今年1月份在北京召开的禽流感防控国际筹资大会(International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Influenza)，全球一半的国家都派出了官员出席，并筹得了高达19亿美元的捐资承诺，用于防控禽流感。与会国家不论贫富都作出了承诺，无法提供资金帮助的国家承诺将投入人力防控禽流感。大会展现了令人惊异的团结合作。
这次大会筹集的资金大部分将用于启动普及宣传项目（主要是在东南亚和非洲）、加强发现和应对疫情的能力、为扑杀病禽和家禽接种疫苗提供帮助、向遭受损失的农民进行补偿等。这些资金还将用于储备药物，为感染者提供治疗以及开发人用疫苗。
自从2003年非典型肺炎(SARS)爆发以来，全世界对应对突发大流行疫情有了更好的准备。全球各地都在储备药物，一旦我们知道了病毒的特性，就有可能开发出相应的疫苗。即使不能研发出疫苗，公众也已积累了较好的常识，并有完善的健康教育项目可以在疫情发生期间改善卫生水平。
目前，传播恐慌的人们应该搞清楚事实。目前根本就不存在可人际间传播的禽流感病毒。而且，如果出现此类病毒，也不会像现有的禽流感病毒那样具有高治病性。政客、卫生专家和媒体在讨论禽流感时，应使用准确的语言，让公众了解应如何应对真实（而非想像的）健康威胁。
有备自可无患。
（编者按：本文作者Mukesh Haikerwal是澳大利亚医学会(Australian Medical Association)的会长。）
