NPR Series: Health Officials Keep Close Watch on Bird Flu https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4949542 An especially virulent strain of the bird flu has spread from Asia to Europe and Africa. Known as H5N1, the virus can infect humans as well as birds. World leaders and health officials are taking the threat of a pandemic seriously, and pressure is on to develop effective containment measures and treatments. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 06:30:40 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Health Officials Keep Close Watch on Bird Flu https://www.npr.org/series/4949542/health-officials-keep-close-watch-on-bird-flu Companies Prepare for Possibility of Pandemic More than 2,500 banks and insurance companies recently participated in a United States Treasury Dept. computer exercise that simulated the effects of an avian flu pandemic in an effort to evaluate their preparedness in the event of widespread emergency. Valerie Abend of the Department of Treasury speaks with Liane Hansen about the exercise. Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2007/10/21/15492093/companies-prepare-for-possibility-of-pandemic https://www.npr.org/2007/10/21/15492093/companies-prepare-for-possibility-of-pandemic More than 2,500 banks and insurance companies recently participated in a United States Treasury Dept. computer exercise that simulated the effects of an avian flu pandemic in an effort to evaluate their preparedness in the event of widespread emergency. Valerie Abend of the Department of Treasury speaks with Liane Hansen about the exercise.

]]> Weighing the U.K. Avian Flu Outbreak Agricultural workers in the United Kingdom kill thousands of turkeys, seeking to block the spread of bird flu. Meanwhile, investigators try to trace the source of the infection. How should the United State react if faced by an outbreak of influenza on the scale of the 1918 epidemic? Fri, 09 Feb 2007 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2007/02/09/7314499/weighing-the-u-k-avian-flu-outbreak https://www.npr.org/2007/02/09/7314499/weighing-the-u-k-avian-flu-outbreak Agricultural workers in the United Kingdom kill thousands of turkeys, seeking to block the spread of bird flu. Meanwhile, investigators try to trace the source of the infection. How should the United State react if faced by an outbreak of influenza on the scale of the 1918 epidemic?

]]> Experts: Use 1918 Methods to Fight Pandemic When the next pandemic strikes, Navy researchers suggest reviving a treatment used during the deadly pandemic of 1918. Back then, military doctors injected severely afflicted patients with blood or blood plasma from people who had recovered from the flu. Studies show the treatment reduced mortality rates by as much as 50 percent. Tue, 29 Aug 2006 14:29:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/08/29/5731688/experts-use-1918-methods-to-fight-pandemic https://www.npr.org/2006/08/29/5731688/experts-use-1918-methods-to-fight-pandemic When the next pandemic strikes, Navy researchers suggest reviving a treatment used during the deadly pandemic of 1918. Back then, military doctors injected severely afflicted patients with blood or blood plasma from people who had recovered from the flu. Studies show the treatment reduced mortality rates by as much as 50 percent.

]]> Richard Knox Government Posts Medical Procedure Price List The federal government is posting what it pays for certain medical procedures on the Internet in an attempt to help consumers. Fri, 02 Jun 2006 12:24:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/06/02/5427939/government-posts-medical-procedure-price-list https://www.npr.org/2006/06/02/5427939/government-posts-medical-procedure-price-list The federal government is posting what it pays for certain medical procedures on the Internet in an attempt to help consumers.

]]> Human Transmission Feared in Bird-Flu Deaths The so-called avian flu virus scientists have dubbed H5N1 has reportedly killed seven members of a family in Indonesia. World Health Organization officials are concerned the infection was passed through human contact. Alex Chadwick talks about the outbreak with <em>Wall Street Journal</em> reporter Nicholas Zamiska. Thu, 25 May 2006 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/05/25/5430505/human-transmission-feared-in-bird-flu-deaths https://www.npr.org/2006/05/25/5430505/human-transmission-feared-in-bird-flu-deaths The so-called avian flu virus scientists have dubbed H5N1 has reportedly killed seven members of a family in Indonesia. World Health Organization officials are concerned the infection was passed through human contact. Alex Chadwick talks about the outbreak with Wall Street Journal reporter Nicholas Zamiska.

]]> WHO Monitors Bird-Flu in Sumatra The World Health Organization says it will not raise its flu pandemic alert level, despite reports of several cases of bird flu in an Indonesian family. But the agency is watching the situation closely to determine whether bird flu is being passed from human to human in North Sumatra. Wed, 24 May 2006 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/05/24/5428488/who-monitors-bird-flu-in-sumatra https://www.npr.org/2006/05/24/5428488/who-monitors-bird-flu-in-sumatra The World Health Organization says it will not raise its flu pandemic alert level, despite reports of several cases of bird flu in an Indonesian family. But the agency is watching the situation closely to determine whether bird flu is being passed from human to human in North Sumatra.

]]> Richard Knox Romania Maintains Bird-Flu Quarantines Quarantines meant to halt the spread of bird flu in Bucharest have been scaled back, but some neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city are still under lockdown. On Monday, city officials quarantined thousands of residents in response to growing numbers of bird-flu reports centered about 100 miles north of the capital. Melissa Block talks with Radu Tudor of Romania's <em>Jurnalul National</em> newspaper. Wed, 24 May 2006 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/05/24/5428491/romania-maintains-bird-flu-quarantines https://www.npr.org/2006/05/24/5428491/romania-maintains-bird-flu-quarantines Quarantines meant to halt the spread of bird flu in Bucharest have been scaled back, but some neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city are still under lockdown. On Monday, city officials quarantined thousands of residents in response to growing numbers of bird-flu reports centered about 100 miles north of the capital. Melissa Block talks with Radu Tudor of Romania's Jurnalul National newspaper.

]]> Researchers Fan Out to Find Bird Flu in Alaska In Alaska alone, the goal is to test and screen more than 15,000 birds this summer and fall. Despite the looming danger, the surveillance effort is still somewhat of a work in progress. Fri, 19 May 2006 17:13:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/05/19/5416755/researchers-fan-out-to-find-bird-flu-in-alaska https://www.npr.org/2006/05/19/5416755/researchers-fan-out-to-find-bird-flu-in-alaska

In Alaska alone, the goal is to test and screen more than 15,000 birds this summer and fall. Despite the looming danger, the surveillance effort is still somewhat of a work in progress.

(Image credit: Elizabeth Arnold, NPR)

]]> Elizabeth Arnold Protecting Chickens from Avian Flu Are backyard chickens the great American bird flu threat? A poultry expert weighs in on how people who keep flocks of chickens at home in the United States can protect their birds -- and their families and neighbors -- from the threat of avian flu. Fri, 05 May 2006 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/05/05/5386289/protecting-chickens-from-avian-flu https://www.npr.org/2006/05/05/5386289/protecting-chickens-from-avian-flu Are backyard chickens the great American bird flu threat? A poultry expert weighs in on how people who keep flocks of chickens at home in the United States can protect their birds -- and their families and neighbors -- from the threat of avian flu.

]]> Alex Chadwick Feds Announce Flu Plan, But Will It Work? The Bush administration on Wednesday announced a national strategy for dealing with a potential influenza pandemic. Madeleine Brand talks to Laurie Garrett, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, about how the government can plan for and fight deadly health threats. Wed, 03 May 2006 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/05/03/5379436/feds-announce-flu-plan-but-will-it-work https://www.npr.org/2006/05/03/5379436/feds-announce-flu-plan-but-will-it-work The Bush administration on Wednesday announced a national strategy for dealing with a potential influenza pandemic. Madeleine Brand talks to Laurie Garrett, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, about how the government can plan for and fight deadly health threats.

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