Deadlier Strain Would Overwhelm Health Systems

Photo: Doctors at work Wednesday in the Navy Hospital in Mexico City -- the epicenter of the swine flu outbreak. Image from CNN

From Wall Street Journal:

Governments around the globe have moved swiftly and aggressively against the fast-spreading A/H1N1 flu virus. But should it evolve into an especially deadly strain, the consequences will likely overwhelm even the most advanced health systems in the U.S. and other Western countries.

By one important measure -- stockpiles of antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu -- the U.K. is among the countries best prepared to cope with the emerging pandemic. It has enough of the medicine on hand to treat 33 million people, or 54% of its population. France is also a leader, with drugs also to treat 54% of its people, as well as one billion surgical masks in its stockpile. Austria, with antivirals for 40%, and Japan, at 28%, are close behind.

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My Comment: If one wants economic, political, and national security chaos .... a flu pandemic will certainly fulfill these goals. Serious pandemics in the past have always brought about the seeds that inevitable led to war and conflict. Can the same thing happen in the 21rst century .... I hope that I will never find out.