What Is Our Government Doing To Help Us Survive Bird Flu?

"Wherever in the world a flu pandemic starts, perhaps with its epicentre in the Far East, we must assume we will be unable to prevent it reaching the UK. When it does, its impact will be severe in the number of illnesses and the disruption to everyday life. The steps we are setting out today will help us to reduce the disease's impact on our population."
Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, 1 March 2005 (See Quotes)

For me, this is the really depressing page.
Although there is nothing that can be done to stop Bird Flu spreading around the world and causing a lot of illness, there is much that could be done to mitigate its effects - and our Governments aren't doing that.
Despite the brave words from Sir Liam, it is difficult to see what they have done that will actually "reduce the impact". The chance is there. and they have spurned it in favour of reports and recommendations.

The government strategies in the UK, US, throughout Europe (or in any of the other wealthy "Westernised" countries) follow a sad pattern of avoiding the truth, avoiding informed public debate, and offering us platitudes about a safety net that really isn't there...

In the UK, the policy of central government revolves around just one document...
From the UK Department of Health comes: The Pandemic Flu Plan. Just click on those blue words to download your very own PDF copy of the 177 page guide to the thinking of those in power.

For me, it is a shining example of how modern governments hide behind euphemisms.
It is full of lists of Action Plans, Focus Groups, Leaflet Campaigns and similar garbage.
It ticks boxes, and provides guidance for other subsidiary groups who will have to tick boxes.
If ticking boxes could save lives we would all be safe.
But it doesn't contain one jot of useful practical information.

And in October 2006 we got the contribution from the UK Department for Education and Skills "Planning for a human influenza pandemic"
A summary guidance for schools. (Download one for yourself as a PDF or Word document. )
At least now the authorities are putting it into print now that "50,000 - 700,000 more people than usual may die".

SO IS THERE NOTHING ELSE TO BE DONE?

Well, to start with it would help to have a well-informed public debate on the subject.

Scare stories about sick birds have no relevance at all.
We need a debate about how we can cope when it becomes stories about sick people.
And we can't delay the debate until then because the speed at which it might spread will overtake any efforts that are delayed that long…
There is next to no planning to develop and manufacture new drugs or vaccines at the speed that will be necessary – or in the quantities that will be necessary.
It could be possible, but would require the sort of efficient planning usually only seen in war time.
That can only be co-ordinated by central government, yet the research and manufacturing facilities are all owned by industry (the pharmaceutical giants).
The pharmaceutical industry will not take the risk of starting up production of vaccines or drugs that might not be purchased because of the cost to them.
Only central government has got the responsibility to take that gamble, to place advance orders, but because none of them plan beyond the next budget that shows no signs of happening.

But, it is possible to think of some things that could be done...
What is really sad is that we have been able to sit down and think of some things that might be helpful - but our elected representatives haven't! The one thing we ask them to do for us is to look ahead, get expert advice, foresee difficulties, and plan ahead. And they haven't.

To get our ideas on what the government could and should be doing look at
What Is Our Government Not Doing To Help Us Survive Bird Flu?
It isn't just a negative, critical list of our government's failings, it is also a constructive contribution towards answering the question of "Well, what can be done?"

Then, while you are waiting to find out whether our governments might actually do some planning before a pandemic arrives, maybe you can take some time out to decide what you can do for yourselves.. Look at
What Can I Do For Myself To Protect Against Bird Flu?
The longer we have thought about it, the more we have realised that each of us can do some easy things to help ourselves. We are adding to the list all the time - if you can think of extra things to add, please let us know...

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