AHP warns employees: Dont get worried sick about next flu outbreak

Health experts at AHP (Active Health Partners) are moving to control the latest panic: the fear-and confusion-inducing hype about the next influenza pandemic.

Some reporters and many of the employees calling AHPsí nurse contact centre are confused about the differences between seasonal influenza in humans and the current outbreak of influenza among birds in Asia and Eastern Europe.

According to Dr. Robin Cox, Chief Medical Officer at AHP, there is no need for a flap. ìAvian flu may be an imminent threat to health and well-being, for birds in Asia and Eastern Europe,î says Dr. Cox ìbut, at present, it is not present in Britain and people should not panic about a possible epidemic of avian flu. In any case such an epidemic will not occur unless the virus changes its character and becomes transmissible between human beings which it is not at present.î

Despite increasing public nervousness, Dr. Cox insists there is considerable media over-reaction and the general population should remember that the only cases of avian flu so far reported have been confined to persons working in close contact with domestic poultry

ìThere are clear differences between avian flu, seasonal flu and a pandemic that could kill millions - such as the 1918 Spanish flu that killed an estimated 20 to 40 million people worldwide,î explained Dr. Cox at the recent emergency training session held for AHPsí nurses handling the high volume of calls from employees experiencing unnecessary anxiety over bird flu.

Clarifying the current misconception over flu epidemics, Dr Cox warned that a pandemic of conventional flu is likely either this year or next. However the flu vaccine is effective against conventional flu, unless a new strain arises which is always possible.

ìAvian flu and a pandemic of conventional flu are completely different issues but I would advise everyone to have the vaccine which is currently available,î commented Dr. Cox ìitís not just effective for the elderly, but for younger people too. In companies, the vaccine is highly effective in reducing sickness absence in an epidemic of conventional flu as long as it is taken up by 70-75% of the staff. It would not be effective against avian flu, should that become transmissible to humans.î

Despite his scepticism about the near-term threat of bird flu, Dr Cox applauds the efforts being made to enhance vaccine production, ìThereís pressure everywhere to be prepared and the medical efforts towards developing a vaccine and suitable anti-viral agents are important, even if the bird flu never materialises which we all hope.î

Commenting on the hype over bird flu and his companyís response, Ingolv Urnes, CEO at AHP said, In todayís political climate, almost every threat is exaggerated, but legislators and companies alike have to try to do all that is possible in case something does happen.