The most important step is for government officials to work with health care, emergency management, and public safety personnel in planning and preparation efforts. The Vermont Pandemic Planning Summit held Thursday by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and Gov. Jim Douglas in South Burlington is a good example of this collaboration, says Peter Dale, M.D., president of the Vermont Medical Society. Dr. Dale is an internist with a subspecialty in infectious diseases.

While there is no evidence that the strain of avian flu found in Turkey and Asia is transmissible from person to person and there have been no cases in the U.S., Dr. Dale says preparing for a pandemic is appropriate at this stage. Most of the preparation needs to be done by medical professionals and political leaders, he says. The Vermont Medical Society participated in the pandemic planning summit, and is participating in emergency management meetings sponsored by the Vermont Department of Health.

Vermonters should encourage their local officials to become involved in planning efforts, he says. Citizens should also make their elected officials aware of the critical need for adequate funding for vaccine production and distribution. Earlier this winter, health care providers had trouble getting enough traditional flu vaccine and had to turn many patients away, Dr. Dale says. The supply problems illustrate the shortcomings of the current vaccine production system.

Becoming better informed about how influenza spreads, and always practicing good hygiene, can keep Vermonters healthier now and in the future, he says.   

One thing that parents can do now is teach their children how to reduce their risk of getting sick. Frequent handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes with tissues help keep colds and flu from spreading. “Habits that are generally good to prevent the spread of infection will apply even more in a pandemic,” Dr. Dale says.

People should not be concerned about eating poultry, Dr. Dale says, because avian influenza is transmitted by respiratory pathogens, which requires being in close proximity to live birds. It is not spread by consuming poultry that has been processed and properly cooked.

Vermonters who raise chickens or other poultry may want to start thinking about how to keep their flocks from coming into contact with migratory birds. “There may come a day in the U.S. when people need to be more wary of exposure to bird populations, particularly if they have co-mingled with migratory birds,” Dr. Dale says.

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