Indiana preparation for smallest victims of bird flu

IndyStar.com Metro & State
September 22, 2006
Official: Kids most at risk for bird flu in Indiana
Though no U.S. cases are known, children would be vulnerable in outbreak


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By Richard D. Walton
richard.walton@indystar.com
Hoosier children could be the hardest hit if the bird flu strikes Indiana, the director of the Marion County Health Department said Thursday.
ABOUT THE VIRUS
Avian influenza viruses are very contagious in birds, but the risk of transmission to humans is low -- the bird flu would have to mutate into a new strain. As of Sept. 19, the World Health Organization had reported 247 human cases of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) and 144 deaths in 10 countries in Asia, the Middle East and Turkey.

Dr. Virginia Caine said statistics suggest an infection rate as high as 40 percent for youngsters exposed to the virus -- far higher than the rate for adults.
Immature immune systems and poor hygiene habits account for the increased vulnerability of children, she said. While there have been no confirmed cases of avian flu in the U.S., Caine said an outbreak among children "could very well be the first sign that something is going on in a community."
Caine spoke at a summit of more than 200 public health and school nurses Thursday at a Westside hotel.
She said health officials are concerned that if the virus reaches this country, there could be a shortage of breathing machines required to deal with the resulting respiratory distress.
"We'll have to make some very tough ethical decisions about who should be eligible for a respirator," she said.
Bird flu began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003 and spread with migrating birds to Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The disease has killed more than 140 people.
The virus is spread through the saliva, nasal secretions and feces of infected birds. It has proved difficult to transmit, but officials fear it could mutate and devastate populations.
Caine said the best protection against influenza is to practice good hygiene, especially washing your hands and covering your mouth when you sneeze. She also said Hoosiers should be prepared for shutdowns of groceries and public transportation if there is a major outbreak, as officials will want to limit large public gatherings.

Call Star reporter Richard D. Walton at (317) 444-6289.