| In 2005 a number of books on bird flu came out, | | | | worst. Especially since the mortality rate of those |
| thanks to the fear that the avian or bird flu would | | | | infected was around 60% -- much worse even than |
| become a killer virus killing millions of people around the | | | | the 1918 flu pandemic. |
| world as the so-called Spanish Flu did in 1918. | | | | Fortunately, however, the virus has never (yet) |
| That never happened (yet -- it still could), but now that | | | | mutated into a form that infected people easily. |
| novel H1N1 (or swine flu) in a WHO-declared pandemic | | | | Dr. Woodson covers the history and stages of |
| and U.S.-declared state of emergency, there's a | | | | influenza pandemics in general and avian (H5N1) in |
| renewed interest in influenza. | | | | particular. Then he gives a lot of good advice on |
| During the bird flu panic we heard repeatedly from | | | | preparing for a pandemic, in case the worst happened. |
| many influenza and public health experts that we were | | | | One chapter is pretty much standard disaster |
| long overdue for another flu pandemic, since the last | | | | preparation advice on keeping stocks of food, water |
| one was in 1968. | | | | and other supplies. |
| Bird flu viruses were infecting pigs, mixing genetic | | | | Other chapters are medical in nature and give good |
| material with swine flu viruses and human flu viruses in | | | | information on how to care for family members or |
| massive numbers, we were told -- especially in China | | | | members who have the flu when professional medical |
| and other parts of Southeast Asia. That's because | | | | care is not available. Since this advice is general, it's |
| many people raise free-ranging chickens and pigs eat | | | | good for everyone to know even when they're caring |
| their droppings, and there are too many people, | | | | for someone with seasonal flu. Professional medical |
| chickens and pigs. Not to mention too mention influenza | | | | care is available, and the death rate is not so high, but |
| viruses. | | | | you still want to know what you can do to help them. |
| When the killer of a three year old Hong Kong boy in | | | | One chapter gives extremely detailed advice on |
| 1997 turned out to be an avian virus (H5N1) which | | | | recording vital signs, measuring urine and other |
| experts believed could not cross over from birds to | | | | advanced topics more suitable for nurses. I couldn't |
| people, the alarm began to spread. Hong Kong killed | | | | help but think that in a worst-case pandemic, most |
| the millions of chickens and ducks in its "wet markets," | | | | caregivers would be lucky just to keep their infected |
| and everybody hoped that would end the problem. | | | | family members hydrated according to his earlier |
| However, H5N1 began surfacing in dead wild fowl and | | | | chapter. |
| domestic chickens in 2003, and soon was infecting | | | | The book ends with an interesting historical document |
| people again. In 2004 another fear was realized -- a | | | | -- a letter written by an American Army doctor caring |
| Thai woman contracted and died from bird flu | | | | for Spanish flu patients in 1918. |
| because of caring for her eleven year old daughter. | | | | In summary, this book is short but will remain valuable |
| This was the first known case of human to human | | | | until we wipe out all influenza viruses. |
| transmission of bird flu, and experts began fearing the | | | | |