May 5, 2006

 

Contact: Don Strick, Clark County Health Department - (360) 397-6012 ext. 8

Health Department anticipates possible public concern following TV movie about bird flu

Vancouver, WA—On Tuesday, May 9 at 8 p.m., the ABC television network will air a made-for-TV movie entitled “Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America.” The fictitious plot involves an outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu virus from its origins in a Hong Kong market through its mutation into a pandemic virus that becomes easily transmittable from human to human and spreads rapidly around the world.

The Clark County Health Department wishes to remind people that the movie is a work of fiction and that there is no influenza pandemic in the world at this time. Also, it is important to remember the H5N1 avian influenza is almost exclusively a disease of birds at this time. The H5N1 virus has not yet appeared in the US, but if it does, it does not mean the beginning of a human pandemic. Currently, the virus does not transmit easily from human to human.

“We hope this movie will inspire preparation, not panic,” said John Wiesman, director of the Clark County Health Department. “There are steps individuals, families, and communities can take to prepare. On an individual level, you can keep a supply of food and medicines on hand in case you have to stay home for an extended period. You can also practice good public health measures such as frequent hand-washing, covering your coughs and sneezes, and staying home when ill. These good hygiene practices also prevent the spread of common illnesses such as norovirus, hepatitis, colds, and seasonal flu.”

The film highlights the importance of individual and community planning and cooperation that will be vital to sustaining communities should a pandemic flu outbreak occur. The Clark County Health Department is currently working with emergency management, other agencies and community organizations on pandemic flu planning and preparedness. Planning documents, including planning checklists for businesses, schools, health care providers, community organizations and states as well as individual and family planning guides are available at www.pandemicflu.gov.