From an evolutionary perspective, should the US be concerned about bird flu? Why or why not?
In short, yes because the avian influenza has already been able to infect humans and it is relatively deadly with a death rate of about 1 in 5 people.
Microbial evolution
Microbes evolve by mutating and reproducing at a quick rate. When microbes develop a mutation that is resistant to certain drugs, natural selection will allow the microbes to reproduce the mutation more so it becomes common in the host organism. When scientists try to use antivirals on the host, the mutated microbes will spread and grow quicker.
Viral resistance to vaccines (antigenic drift & shift)
There are two changes that could occur to influenza viruses, antigenic drift and shift. Antigenic drift is when the virus has small changes to it thus producing a new strain that is not recognizable by the immune system. In this way, people can get reinfected by essentially the same virus since the antibodies can no longer recognize this new strain. “Antigenic shift is an abrupt, major change in the influenza A viruses, resulting in new hemagglutinin and/or new hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins in influenza viruses that infect humans” (How the Flu Virus Can Change). In addition, antigenic shift occurs only once and is more dangerous than antigenic drift since “most people have little or no protection against the new virus” (How the Flu Virus Can Change).
Are we worrying about the wrong flu? Should we be more concerned about the seasonal flu impact?
We are not worrying about the wrong flu because as far as the seasonal influenza goes, the avian influenza is far more dangerous and harder to control. Also, we have been able to deal with the seasonal influenza year after year whereas we have never dealt with the avian influenza.
Human responses to current flu antivirals & vaccines
Currently, the flu vaccines have been moderately effective other than the exception that they do not seem to work as effectively on people 65 years and older.
For more info on current human response to the flu vaccines, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pastseasons/1213season.htm
For more information on exactly how vaccines work, please visit http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/how-vaccines-work
Microbial evolution
Microbes evolve by mutating and reproducing at a quick rate. When microbes develop a mutation that is resistant to certain drugs, natural selection will allow the microbes to reproduce the mutation more so it becomes common in the host organism. When scientists try to use antivirals on the host, the mutated microbes will spread and grow quicker.
Viral resistance to vaccines (antigenic drift & shift)
There are two changes that could occur to influenza viruses, antigenic drift and shift. Antigenic drift is when the virus has small changes to it thus producing a new strain that is not recognizable by the immune system. In this way, people can get reinfected by essentially the same virus since the antibodies can no longer recognize this new strain. “Antigenic shift is an abrupt, major change in the influenza A viruses, resulting in new hemagglutinin and/or new hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins in influenza viruses that infect humans” (How the Flu Virus Can Change). In addition, antigenic shift occurs only once and is more dangerous than antigenic drift since “most people have little or no protection against the new virus” (How the Flu Virus Can Change).
Are we worrying about the wrong flu? Should we be more concerned about the seasonal flu impact?
We are not worrying about the wrong flu because as far as the seasonal influenza goes, the avian influenza is far more dangerous and harder to control. Also, we have been able to deal with the seasonal influenza year after year whereas we have never dealt with the avian influenza.
Human responses to current flu antivirals & vaccines
Currently, the flu vaccines have been moderately effective other than the exception that they do not seem to work as effectively on people 65 years and older.
For more info on current human response to the flu vaccines, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pastseasons/1213season.htm
For more information on exactly how vaccines work, please visit http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/how-vaccines-work
Given the state of the federal budget, do you think we should spend a lot of money to stockpile a vaccine? Which segment of the population should be accounted for in stockpiling the H5N1 vaccine?
We believe that we should not spend a LOT of money but we should spend some on stockpiling a vaccine in case an outbreak occurs. We feel this way due to the fact that the federal budget isn't large enough for us to be stockpiling large quantities of a vaccine on a disease that may not cause a pandemic.
Who are targeted individuals for current flu vaccines?
First responders are the targeted individuals for the current flu vaccines. First responders are the doctors, police, firefighters and other people necessary for infrastructure. Also targeted individuals for vaccines include “everyone who is at least six months of age. Especially people who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu as well as those who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications.”
Who should be vaccinated for avian flu if a pandemic were to occur?
People at high risk of infection and health care workers should be vaccinated.
What other types of measures could be taken in addition to vaccination?
Antivirals can also prevent viruses, but they are limited in supply and most likely will not be given to the public. Staying away from the sick will also prevent people from becoming sick. Healthy hygiene and constantly washing hands can help protect you against infection as well.
What are the most effective ways pandemics have been dealt with in the past?
The best response against a pandemic was the WHO’s reaction to smallpox. The WHO vaccinated the entire world population against smallpox and as of now, smallpox is the only eradicated disease in the world.
Where are the most current outbreaks of avian flu concentrated?
The most current outbreaks of avian flu are located in China as H7N9.
Where would the federal government’s money be best spent today, on a vaccine for the future or on other public health measures?
We find that the federal government’s money would be best spent by improving public health measures in America as well as creating vaccines. This is because improvements in public health can always be made and may eventually be able to stop the spread of viruses or destroy viruses in a cost effective manner. The US government should invest in vaccines as well in case an outbreak does occur.
Who are targeted individuals for current flu vaccines?
First responders are the targeted individuals for the current flu vaccines. First responders are the doctors, police, firefighters and other people necessary for infrastructure. Also targeted individuals for vaccines include “everyone who is at least six months of age. Especially people who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu as well as those who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications.”
Who should be vaccinated for avian flu if a pandemic were to occur?
People at high risk of infection and health care workers should be vaccinated.
What other types of measures could be taken in addition to vaccination?
Antivirals can also prevent viruses, but they are limited in supply and most likely will not be given to the public. Staying away from the sick will also prevent people from becoming sick. Healthy hygiene and constantly washing hands can help protect you against infection as well.
What are the most effective ways pandemics have been dealt with in the past?
The best response against a pandemic was the WHO’s reaction to smallpox. The WHO vaccinated the entire world population against smallpox and as of now, smallpox is the only eradicated disease in the world.
Where are the most current outbreaks of avian flu concentrated?
The most current outbreaks of avian flu are located in China as H7N9.
Where would the federal government’s money be best spent today, on a vaccine for the future or on other public health measures?
We find that the federal government’s money would be best spent by improving public health measures in America as well as creating vaccines. This is because improvements in public health can always be made and may eventually be able to stop the spread of viruses or destroy viruses in a cost effective manner. The US government should invest in vaccines as well in case an outbreak does occur.
According to the federal government's plan, money should be directed to training medical personnel, improving disease surveillance and testing, and developing preparedness plans. Do you agree that this is how the money should be spent?
Some of these things deserve proper funding from the US government, but others do not. Improving the surveillance of diseases and testing what they are resistant to are important to put a lot of funding into. Preparation plans as well are a good use of government spending, but there is no reason for them to fund medical training for the case of an epidemic. Many colleges offer medical degrees and many people go to college for those degrees. There are also tens of thousands of people already successful and trained in the medical field. Instead they could use the funding from that to fund the testing, or stockpiling of vaccines, to assure quicker removal of the epidemic instead.