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Bird flu training takes flight in the U.S. Union health professionals prepare March 16, 2006 Avian flu — often known as bird flu — already has killed close to 100 people in Asia and Europe, and speculation continues about whether it will make landfall in the United States in a form that can be easily transmitted among humans. Should that occur, health professionals of New York State United Teachers expect to be ready. NYSUT's Health Care Professionals Council gathered earlier this month in New York City for issues that included training on the avian flu risk. With influenza pandemics occurring once every 30 to 50 years, the United States is overdue, according to Darryl Alexander, a health and safety specialist with the American Federation of Teachers, NYSUT's national affiliate. Even though avian flu is not yet easily transmitted from human to human and may never be, health experts worry that it could develop this capability through mutation, and infect millions. Avian flu spreads quickly among birds. People who have caught the potentially fatal disease tend to have direct contact with infected poultry. In the event of an avian flu outbreak, America's health care resources would be taxed beyond their current capabilities, Alexander pointed out. Nurses, for example, would need respirators and other protective equipment — which many hospitals and schools don't have — to avoid exposure themselves. "Unfortunately, the Bush administration has invested just about no money in preparedness," Alexander said. "They really have kicked the problem back to the state and local levels." New York's Department of Health released its draft pandemic plan on Feb. 7 and HCPC members and various NYSUT staff are reviewing this issue closely. A key priority for NYSUT and HCPC members is protecting health care workers. During the SARS outbreak of 2003, according to Alexander, 1 out of 5 victims was a health care worker. If an avian flu outbreak were to occur, a worst-case scenario could involve as many as 10 million hospitalizations — a burden that will be nearly impossible if many health care workers are also infected. Alexander encouraged meeting attendees to go back to their local communities and stress developing a flu preparedness plan. Even if avian flu does not materialize as a threat, a preparedness plan will still be useful for the next time a pandemic flu develops. "I don't want to gamble on this," Alexander said. "I'd rather educate people and devote the resources." Anne Goldman, a New York City nurse who chairs NYSUT's Health Care Professionals Council, urged council members to be the driving forces behind making sure their communities were educated and prepared. "It's always better to lead the way on these things," she said. The HCPC meeting, hosted by the United Federation of Teachers, NYSUT's affiliate in New York City, also included training on mental health problems and discussions on state budget issues. — Kevin Hart |
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