What is the government doing to prepare for bird flu?
Governments around the world are taking steps to prepare for an avian flu outbreak. In the United States, preparing for a pandemic is a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local officials. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working with the World Health Organization and other nations to contain outbreaks, developing a national stockpile of antiviral medication, and supporting the manufacture of possible vaccines. In addition, they are working with other federal agencies to prepare for the impact that a pandemic may have on local and national infrastructure. The steps that other countries are taking to prepare for the Avian Flu range from little or no preparations to full pandemic response plans. Indonesia has promised free medication to victims; Australia has thermal imaging screeners ready to deploy to airports within hours should a pandemic outbreak occur; and Greece, having prepared for biological concerns during the 2004 Summer Olympics, has a set cont
