Health
 

Infectious diseases have plagued mankind throughout history. For a brief period of time doctors and scientists thought that the defeat of infectious diseases was imminent due to the combination of public health measures (clean water and food, sanitation, immunizations) and antibiotics. However, because of antibiotic resistance, the threat of emerging infections, and bioterrorism, the U.S. government is trying to decide on the best ways to protect the public should a new infectious disease emerge.  Avian Influenza has raised the specter of a global pandemic and it gives us an opportunity to think about the ways that the U.S. government might respond to this threat.  In this seminar you will work your way through some of the questions that your community would need to consider during a widespread outbreak of pandemic avian influenza. You should try to imagine ways to protect your community, but still try to imagine how you would want to be treated if you or someone you care about was ill.

Questions to consider:

• Why should you be concerned if avian influenza is spreading through your state?
• How should your community prepare for this disease?
• Are there any problems with some of these preparations?
• If a vaccine is available for the influenza should people be forced to take it even if it has some side effects that make people sick?
• If there is only a limited amount of vaccine available, who should get it first?
• When should we quarantine people?
• If you put people in quarantine what do you have to do for them?
• If all the hospital beds are full, how do you decide who gets the beds and how do you decide when to stop giving care to some people who are not doing well if other people need the hospital bed?