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Published on April 19, 2005 - When the government announced 10 days ago it was preparing to declare Thailand free of birdflu, it caused widespread concern among experts who believe a pandemic is close at hand.
Although the announcement raised many eyebrows, it would appear that the country is gaining the upper hand – no birdflu outbreaks were reported since midMarch and no new human cases have been noted since October. As a result, public attention to the virus has declined considerably since the first major outbreak began to wane a year ago.But many public health experts are concerned that with the H5N1 virus now endemic to the region and able to thrive in wild birds and ducks with no visible signs of illness, a resurgence of the deadly disease could occur at any time. The greatest fear is that the virus could mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, causing a worldwide epidemic or pandemic, as has occurred in the past, killing tens of millions.Scientists have stressed that the public should be prepared for a major pandemic sooner or later. Pandemics are inevitable, and there is growing evidence that the next one is close at hand. Starting today, Parliament will host an Asean Bird Flu Summit at which pandemic preparedness will be a key component. Pandemic influenza represents the world’s greatest public health risk due to its potential to cause widespread death. along with extensive social and economic disruption in a very short period of time. The Nation will over the next three days take a close look at how Thailand is preparing to deal with such a pandemic. Nantiya Tangwisutijit The Nation |