Cost and fear of bird flu Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cost and fear of bird flu - Research Paper Example This essay explores these issues in depth with a focus on avian influenza haze. Globally the avian influenza is considered an epidemic as it occurs over large areas affecting several communities over a particular period. For example, the influenza H6N1 spread in large areas of China and was quickly curbed in areas like Japan (Francesca, 2013). People panic when bird flu is an epidemic as they do not know where it will spread next or if it will be transmitted to their regions. Similarly, avian influenza leads to economic losses because on money used to treat and contain it, reduction in poultry sales, and losses in productivity. For instance, â€Å"Romania experienced a 80% drop in poultry sales in May 2006; in Italy, sales fell by 70% after wild swans were infected† (Food Quality & Safety Magazine, 2008, p.1). It also leads to social alienation of the country or countries involved as they are considered dangerous areas since the flu is fatal and spread quickly through human contact. Alerts of the bird flu are usually magnified when the mortality rates are high. Also when the vaccines or cure against the disease are difficult to manufacture or make, or when the virus strain is hard to identify and eliminate, the alerts made are so that people can safeguard themselves from the spread of the disease. Limited alerts are made when health organizations can come up with solutions and the virus strain of the disease does not lead to high mortality rates or is manageable (World Bank, 2013). It would be advisable if the alerts were made with the correct information on how people could protect themselves from the disease as opposed to sending out alarming alerts of the number of deaths, that is, statistics without educating the public. The extent to which the bird flu should be funded and where the experts and medical personnel should go will largely be determined by the severity of the