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October 5, 2005
Bird Flu.... Another "Chicken Little" Moment?
There's a lot of talk about Avian Flu these days, I've been mostly ignoring it, thinking it was just the latest media hype. But, since this is technically "Pandemic Flu Awareness Week" I decided to find out what it's all about. First, I'll just say I'm not convinced that I need to worry about this, I seem to manage through flu season without a flu shot by staying out of places where the chance of being exposed is great (medical facilities top my list), and keeping up with regular hand washing, good advice any time of the year.
So, I pulled up Wikipedia, and started boning up on Avian Influenza. As I was reading, I found myself wondering how many of the regions where Bird Flu has made the leap from birds to humans are also regions where humans live in close quarters with their animals (sometimes in the same house). So I was slightly impressed to see that someone else has considered this, and that one of the long term strategies is aimed at that demographic.
"Altering farming practices in regions where animals live in close, often unsanitary quarters with people, and changing the practices of open-air "wet markets" where birds are slaughtered in unsanitary conditions near fruits and vegetables. Cock fighting also has played a role in spreading the disease by bringing humans into contact with fowl, and this practice will also continue to contribute to infection if it is not curbed. A challenge to implementing these measures is widespread poverty, frequently in rural areas, coupled with a reliance upon raising fowl for purposes of subsistence farming or income without measures to prevent propagation of the disease." (From Wikipedia)
Does it not seem more logical that instead of throwing resources at responding to a global pandemic after the fact, we should invest them into treating the poverty that lays the groundwork for disaster? I think Paul Farmer, author of "Pathologies of Power" would agree with me.
Posted by Anna at October 5, 2005 1:25 PM