What are the health authorities doing to protect us?
Health experts from the World Health Organization and individual countries have been intensively preparing for pandemic influenza. Cases of bird flu are being closely tracked, infected bird flocks are being destroyed and infected people are being promptly treated and quarantined to prevent the spread to others. The United States has banned the importation of birds and bird products from countries with bird flu. Scientists are following the strains of bird flu to detect any mutations that could cause an influenza pandemic. New vaccines are being developed to try to prevent bird flu. Although the virus has become resistant to two antiviral medicines, there are still two other medicines that are thought to be effective. These treatments are being stockpiled nationally to ensure that sufficient medicine will be available. In addition, new treatments are being developed. Local governments, health agencies, businesses and communities are developing plans to respond to an influenza pandemic,
