Reply #24: Texas not ready for bird flu outbreak ("quarantine a last resort") [View All]

We are so screwed if this outbreak hits the US..."distributing not just medicine but also food and water – would fall to states and localities."


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-texasflu_07tex.ART.State.Edition2.1dfbdce7.html

If a deadly bird flu spreads fast and wide among humans, Texas may be one of the more vulnerable places in the U.S. because of its size, poverty and tightfisted spending on public health, experts said Thursday.

Many duties required to contain a feared flu outbreak – such as keeping large numbers of people homebound for extended periods and distributing not just medicine but also food and water – would fall to states and localities.

Emily Palmer, spokeswoman for the Department of State Health Services, said state planners have considered "surge capacity" at hospitals – the ability of institutions to handle a sudden influx of panicked patients and those seeking vaccinations. Also under consideration are the instructions that would be given to the public and the availability of anti-viral drugs.

Dr. John Carlo, chief epidemiologist with Dallas County Health and Human Services, said the department does not stockpile the main anti-viral flu drug, Tamiflu. But if sufficient supplies are available, the federal government is supposed to supply doses within 12 to 18 hours, he said. In any case, he said, it's unclear how much Tamiflu might help against the avian flu. Dr. Carlo has said that quarantines would be a last resort.