H5N2-type bird flu virus detected in chickens

at Japan farm. This is not good. While the bird flu virus was found in Vietnam, China and other asian countries, this is the first that I heard of Japan finding the virus in fowl. And remember, the avian virus did transfer to some people. Fortunately, the virus hasn't mutated enough to allow for efficient transfer between humans. Sadly, the warnings are coming more frequently. The Reuter's headline for the second link reads: Flu pandemic could kill half million in U.S.-report. And Reuter's reports: The U.S. has not adequately planned for the disruption a flu pandemic could cause to the economy, daily life, food and supply distributions, or homeland security," the Trust's report reads.

"The U.S. lags in pandemic preparations compared to Great Britain and Canada based on an examination of leadership, vaccine development, vaccine and antiviral planning, health care system surge capacity planning, coordination between public and private sectors, and emergency communications planning."

Health officials are aware of the warnings and say they are developing a plan. The heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and Health and Human Services Department are regularly called to hearings before Congress on the issue.

The Trust said more could be done to prepare now, including setting up plans to track an outbreak, stockpile antiviral drugs and other medical supplies and set up communications.

The study found that the United States has stockpiled 2.3 million courses of the best anti-influenza drug, oseltamivir, marketed by Gilead Sciences and Roche under the brand name Tamiflu.

It has placed orders for 3 million more courses of the drug, which does not cure influenza but can prevent infection if taken early enough and can reduce its severity.

Some thoughts: 1) Do you believe that this administration will handle this very important health crisis properly? 2) If, as the report suggests, the potential economic, food delivery, homeland security disruptions will be serious, why aren't some homeland security funds being used to coordinate a plan to deal with the potential pandemic? Isn't the health and well-being of the American people a homeland security issue? 3) Where can I score some Tamiflu?