Northern Light Pediatrics-Newsletter

How to prepare your family
for bird flu

Anyone who reads newspapers or magazines, watches television or goes online knows that health officials and governments around the world are concerned about the spread of bird flu, also known as avian influenza or H5N1 influenza.

Concern has been heightened by spread of bird flu across Asia and into Europe. Further spread is likely because the virus is carried by migratory birds. More than 120 human cases have been identified in four countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia). About half have died from their illness. The major risk factor for infection has been close contact with infected poultry. To date, bird flu has not been transferred effectively from one person to another. Until this occurs, there will not be a flu pandemic.

Giving this alarming threat, families might be considering asking their pediatrician for a prescription for flu medicine to keep at home "just in case."

The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages personal stockpiling because:
It can limit supply of the medication needed for very sick patients who need it the most.
It could expose children or adults to unnecessary toxicity if used for an illness other than influenza and will not work on these other respiratory infections.
It can reduce the effectiveness and cause resistance of the virus to the drug in the future.

The U.S. Government has a national stockpile of antiviral drugs that treat people who need these medications. While the national stockpile still is being built up, personal and household stockpiling may actually decrease the amount of drug that can be obtained and lessen the nation's ability to combat a pandemic effectively.

To reduce the risk of becoming sick during a pandemic or even during flu season:
practice good hand hygiene and cough etiquette;
stay home from school or work when sick; and
avoid close contact with others in crowded settings.

-2005 American Academy of Pediatrics, December of 2005