The Issue

Infectious Diseases cause over 33% of all deaths in the world.

For the past seven years a serious bird flu (avian flu) has been making its way around the world through the wild and domestic bird flocks. This new bird flu virus known as H5N1 is extremely virulent and causes illness and death to birds infected.

When a human comes in contact with a bird that is infected with H5N1 and the human contracts the virus there is an over 50% chance of death for the individual. As of February 27, 2007 the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 275 cases and 167 people have died.

The concern is that the avian flu will move to human populations and cause great sickness and death. For the past 1000 year a pandemic has occurred every 10-50 years. In the last century there were three pandemics.

The Problem

We're not ready.

There will be no vaccine available at the start of the pandemic. A vaccine can only be produced once a new virus exists and people have been exposed. The production of a vaccine in mass quantities will take 6-9 months or longer

The health care system will not be able to adequately manage the great numbers of sick and infected people. Businesses and families need to look after themselves. They must prepare with plans, training, protective products and antiviral medication to lessen the effects of the virus and the impact on our economy

Significant Transmission Routes of Pandemic Flu

• Bird to Bird
  One bird infects another bird with avian or bird flu.
• Bird to Human
  A contagious bird transmits the bird flu to a human.
• Human to Human
  Within the sick human the virus now morphs and becomes a new human flu, this new strain of virus is transmitted to other humans and the spread of the disease within human populations begin.