Written by Rupert Kircz| Tuesday, 10 January 2012| There is 1 comment
One of the problems that governments will face is dealing with mass panic
A man in Indonesia has died after contracting the H5N1 influenza virus. The governor of Jakarta Fauzi Bowo has initiated an investigation to find out where the bird flu virus came from and to hopefully stem its spread. The Indonesian Health Agency and the Maritime and Agriculture Agency will be conducting testing and monitoring programs around the area Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta.
One of the first things that they will do is sterilize all of the surrounding area and try and contact individuals who may have been in contact with him so that they can be monitored. It is unlikely that the virus is able to spread from person to person but the possibility that it has mutated should always be considered.
Puguh Dwi Yanto was a healthy young man who was only 23 when he died from this deadly virus. He was in the process of being taken from a regional hospital to a more advanced medical facility which specialized in treating individuals with bird flu. Unfortunately for this poor man he was not diagnosed immediately with bird flu and doctors previously suspected that he had a stomach infection. As a result he was not given Tamiflu or Relenza in time or any other medication which could have prevented his death.
The World Health Organization has issued guidelines with regard to the avian flu virus which recommend that all governments should create stockpiles of Tamiflu or Relenza in order to distribute around the nation should a full blown influenza pandemic start. In the event of a bird flu pandemic doctors and other health professionals will be given Tamiflu in order to carry on working and will distribute influenza medications as and when it is possible.
One of the biggest problems that governments will face is dealing with mass panic. There will also be a huge financial impact on the economy as people will not go to work. The UK government has Pandemic Preparedness Plans which should deal with most eventualities but there’s no harm in getting your own supply of Tamiflu just in case.
