Like a Wolf on the Fold

It may be hard to take the threat of a chicken seriously, especially with the tale of Chicken Little in mind, but Mike Davis' The Monster at Our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu (2005) gives a chilling perspective on the spreading H5N1 virus. There is no doubt in my mind that the virus is coming to North America, and soon. The big question is whether it will mutate and become the deadliest pandemic since the 1918-1919 Influenza killed approximately 50 million people worldwide, including my great grandfather -- in the prime of his life. Governments and scientists were completely unprepared for that one, so it's refreshing that the Avian Flu is being taken seriously, and at least to some extent being prepared for. Coordinating efforts by the U.S. Government can be explored at the official website: www.pandemicflu.gov

Or, go directly to the World Health Organization's website: http://www.who.int/en/

In 1918 as now, the U.S. was committed to an overseas war, and most extra medical and planning resources were directed to supporting the military effort "over there." The Influenza was, in fact, spread very efficiently among soldiers via troop ships, trains, military bases and training camps. Today we can add commercial airplanes for faster diffusion. Lucky us.

Draft government plans include provisions for mass quarantines, National Guard deployment, and a massive surge in internet use. Judging from everything I've read, infected birds are expected to arrive in North America within weeks or months, and plans are already in place to kill off large populations of chickens, should the food supply become contaminated.

We are evidently in for a lot of massive changes. It will certainly be an interesting summer, to start with. Good luck to us!