Flu Airborne Pandemic Likely

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2016/02/gloomy-assessment-underpins-un-panels-health-crisis-advice


The world underestimates the risk of a health threat worse than Ebola, and its capacity to prepare and respond is "woefully insufficient," according to a high-level panel appointed by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to look at improvements based on lessons learned during the recent outbreak.

Based on what it learned during its fact-finding, the panel said the emergence of a highly pathogenic flu strain that could kill millions isn't an unlikely scenario. It noted that because Ebola is transmitted by infected body fluids, though devastating, it would be easier to contain than an airborne disease such as pandemic flu."

comment: As I noted on another thread with all the hype about Zika we are not paying a lot of attention to what could be a much more serious and deadly Pandemic Scenario.

"The greatest concern is the emergence of a virulent strain of a highly communicable pathogen—such as influenza virus—that could result in millions of deaths," the report says, noting that the impact could far outweigh the 1918 flu pandemic.

comment: Question is... are we being distracted by Zika when behind the scenes people are aware of something far worse on the horizon? Possibly.
We are not ready for a highly virulent Flu. Of all bio-weapons including nuclear bombs, an airborne Flu would be one of the worst.

Medclinician

Albert wrote: A pandemic flu is always on the horizon.  Not a matter of if but when.  They usually appear fast in a matter of a couple days, so you always have to stay on guard.  No time to prepare when they begin. other than a few days.

This is very true. With the turn of 2016 many groups and countries have begun analyzing the response to Ebola and how poor it was. And while Zika may not be the Flu and airborne - we are not seeing much better. Imagine if we had weeks not until the Spring or Summer to worry about massive spread? 

Not sure if all the head-banging is  really helping versus some actual constructive problems to improve our health care centers which are certified to handle such a Pandemic or the social and economic problems that would come with it.  Yes, I do always say "not if, but when" and I still see us having several Pandemics at once. We saw the spread of many nasty diseases during the Bubonic Plague and as health care and sanitation break down, we will see that in the U.S. 

Medclinician