Bird Flu and U.S. Preparedness

Dr. Fauci was interviewed about avian flu and his recent multination trip with Secretary Leavitt. Among the topics he discussed were Tamiflu treatment, the possibility of influenza pandemics, vaccination, and the connection to Southeast Asian open poultry markets. Dr. Fauci said that unsanitary conditions with the butchering and selling of fowls have led to small outbreaks of the disease. He also discussed the 1918 flu pandemic virus and said that avian flu would need to evolve into a virus capable of being transmitted through the air. The guest told the interviewers that the mutation of the virus was unpredictable, but unlikely that it would happen suddenly.

Dr. Fauci spoke about the development and effectiveness of the vaccine for the avian flu virus. He said that the vaccine, which was developed from a strain taken from an infected Vietnamese patient, was in limited supply. After Dr. Fauci left, Mr. Hutcheson and Mr. Sternberg discussed his answers with the host. They also discus close