Study warns U.S. of avian influenza perils

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Many Americans would have no one to care for them if they became ill during a bird flu pandemic, and a substantial number would suffer serious financial hardship, a Harvard University poll showed on Thursday.

But the study, billed as the first of its kind, said a large majority of Americans would abide by recommendations of public health officials and make big changes to how they live during a possible month-long avian influenza pandemic.

Led by the Harvard School of Public Health, the survey aims to help in the preparations of U.S. health authorities, who have already warned Americans to prepare for travel restrictions and school closures in a bird flu pandemic.

Since it re-emerged in 2003, H5N1 bird flu has infected 256 people, killing 151, mainly in Southeast Asia. Although it has been difficult for humans to catch, health authorities fear it could evolve into a form more easily passed between people and trigger a pandemic.

According to Harvard’s poll, 24 percent of 1,697 Americans surveyed nationwide from September 28 to October 5 said no one could take care of them if they became sick and had to remain at home for seven to 10 days during a bird flu pandemic.

About 45 percent of those living alone said no one would be available to care for them, and 34 percent of black adults said they would have no one to take care of them if they became ill with pandemic flu.

The results will be presented in Washington on Thursday to the Institute of Medicine which advises Congress, the federal government and various institutions.

To prepare for a possible bird flu epidemic, the U.S. government is planning to stockpile vaccines and drugs, and work on developing better vaccines.

The survey also showed that many households would face serious financial distress during a bird flu pandemic.

According to the survey, one in four employed people said they would face serious financial problems if they missed seven to 10 days of work during a pandemic, and 57 percent would face serious financial problems if they missed a month of work.

Three-fourths said they would face serious financial problems if they were away from work for three months, while only about 29 percent said they would be able to work from home if they had to stay away from their workplace for a month.

“These findings are a wake-up call for business, that employees have serious financial concerns and are unclear about the workplace plans and policies for dealing with pandemic flu,” Robert Blendon, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, said in the study.

But about 90 percent said they would obey public health officials urging them to stay in their town or city, and more than three-fourths were willing to curb activities—from shopping at malls to using public transportation and attending church—for a month.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.

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