Rhonchi

SciDev.Net: Bird Flu Resources

CurEvents.com – A Global Current Events Discussion Forum – Avian influenza (H5N1): implications for intensive care.
Abstract
Background As influenza A/H5N1 spreads around the globe the risk of an epidemic increases.
Discussion Review of the cases of influenza A/H5N1 reported to date demonstrates that it causes a severe illness, with a high proportion of patients (63%) requiring advanced organ support. Of these approx. 68% develop multiorgan failure, at least 54% develop acute respiratory distress syndrome, and 90% die. Disease progression is rapid, with a median time from presentation to hospital to requirement for advanced organ support of only 2 days.
Conclusion
The infectious nature, severity and clinical manifestations of the disease and its potential for pandemic spread have considerable implications for intensive care in terms of infection control, patient management, staff morale and intensive care expansion.

Complete list of plans for the Avian Flu, by state:

State Pandemic Plans | PandemicFlu.gov
Listed below are pandemic plans that are currently available on state Web sites. We will update this page as additional plans become available.

This is all the talk of the AARC disaster preparedness mailing lists. Even I, so many years out of practice in the RT game feel like I could provide help with mechanical ventilation if bird flu hits in earnest. This is assuming of course, I myself am not put down by the flu!

Hospitals Short on Ventilators if Bird Flu Hits – New York Times
No one knows whether an avian flu virus that is racing around the world might mutate into a strain that could cause a human pandemic, or whether such a pandemic would cause widespread illness in the United States. But if it did, public health experts and officials agree on one thing: the nation’s hospitals would not have enough ventilators, the machines that pump oxygen into sick patients’ lungs.

Right now, there are 105,000 ventilators, and even during a regular flu season, about 100,000 are in use. In a worst-case human pandemic, according to the national preparedness plan issued by President Bush in November, the country would need as many as 742,500.

To some experts, the ventilator shortage is the most glaring example of the country’s lack of readiness for a pandemic.

Avian Influenza
The purpose of this web page is to provide links to on-line avian influenza information, particularly on strain H5N1, and related materials for use by veterinary students, veterinarians and other health professionals. I update this list irregularly as I happen onto good on-line resources and when I need to use it for teaching. I’ve bolded those resources that I consider more important or valuable or that I tend to use most often. Please let me know if you find mistakes or resources that I’ve overlooked.

NPR : Health Officials Consider Strategy for Possible Bird Flu Pandemic
Health experts worry that in the event of a bird-flu pandemic, there could be a severe shortage of ventilators and intensive care unit beds. Planning has begun to determine which cases would get treatment priority.

Avian Flu May Be the Next Pandemic (site also has video of this talk)

A deadly influenza outbreak may be on the horizon. Since 1997, a strain of avian flu known as H5N1 has spread rapidly among birds in East Asia, reaching as far north as Siberia. If this strain, which has killed 55 percent of its known human victims, mutates into a virus easily transmitted by people, the resulting pandemic could kill millions and would have staggering global social and economic impacts. “It is not if it is going to happen. It is when, and where, and how bad,” said Dr. Michael Osterholm at the first meeting sponsored by the Wilson Center’s new Global Health Initiative on September 19. “Welcome to my nightmare,” warned Helen Branswell, a Canadian medical reporter speaking at the conference. Read the complete event summary.

And on a lighter note: Avian Flu information for Kids!

Fun! Well, maybe not.