March 12 2006

Los Alamos Lab is working on the bird flu pandemic, supposedly with 40 people. Judging from the perspective of those of us just a few miles from the dateline and the nexus of ICBMs (intercontinental bird messes), there might be 40 LANL people working 1 hour a week on the problem.

More seriously, the Alaska efforts have focussed on the birds and almost nothing on the human factors. The research and monitoring of the former is important. However, locally, people are scaring themselves either ineffectively or unneccessarily. During the emerging hantavirus outbreak in NM, we in the northern Pueblos had to do our own public health research and response planning. We were fairly successful because we had local expertise. But it certainly would have been easier if “those in charge” had actually considered locals as part of the technical team.

Is bird flu even a relevant concern?

Bird hunters are concerned about contracting the H5N1 flu, but there are simple steps to protect oneself. What about the mass roundups of birds later in the spring and summer when far more people will be handling hundreds of birds and eggs in the wetlands?

But there is currently doubt that wildbirds are effective transmitters.

There are no current public emergency preparedness plans for anything. If one person has symptoms, whether confirmed or not–what happens next? Keep in mind we have only limited hospital care. Our only evacuation mode is 3 times daily jet, if the weather is clear. A major reason the 1918 pandemic was so dangerous (and a human H5N1 pandemic will be dangerous) is because there aren’t enough healthy people to care for the sick.

Since no one asked me, I think the real concern is tourism (the current state slogan–”See Alaska before you die“). The only way our small population of 20,000 (density of 1/2 person per square mile) can sustain our existing respiratory diseases such as TB, various pneumonias, bronchitis, etc is by travelling to Anchorage, one of the busiest intercontinental airports in the world. One of us will bring the flu home, sneeze on the cranes, and next fall they will poop over Otowi Crossing.

PS–so how come we don’t yet have west nile virus? we certainly have the mosquitos ready. And there are US robins (thrushes) in summer. Speaking of mosquitoes/os , check the map section.

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