CDC releases $225 million for bird flu

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Health and Human Services
Department released another $225 million to states and cities
on Tuesday to use in preparing for a pandemic of bird flu or
other disease.

The allotment is the largest share of $350 million
designated to help state and local governments buy supplies and
fix up medical and emergency services. The first $100 million
was distributed in February to identify gaps.

The money goes to help states pay for activities above and
beyond what they normally provide, said Joe Posid of the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which distributes
the money.

“They’ll use the CDC funds for more macro or public health
purposes such as surveillance, epidemiology and mass
communications,” Posid said in a telephone interview.

“We are asking that all states go through a number of
exercises or drills or simulations that we believe will be
necessary if and when a pandemic comes our way.”

For instance, states need to have plans in place to close
schools and set up mass vaccination clinics, he said.

HHS has stressed that state and local governments,
businesses and individuals must bear most of the burden of
preparing for a pandemic or biological attack. Leavitt says the
federal government is not equipped to do all the work and does
not have enough money.

Infectious disease experts agree that a pandemic of some
sort of influenza is overdue. The H5N1 avian flu virus that has
affected birds in about 50 countries is considered the most
likely candidate.

H5N1 rarely infects humans but it has killed 131 people out
of 229 who contracted the illness in nine countries.

Experts argue that even if a pandemic does not come, the
money is well spent to shore up neglected public health
services globally and a thin vaccine industry.

The U.S. Congress has authorized $6.1 billion of bird flu
funds out of $7.1 billion requested by President George W.
Bush. Most is aimed at vaccine research and development.

The United States has also pledged to help other counties
but has spent only about $71 million out of the $334 million it
promised, according to a United Nations report.

The money is meant to help countries watch for flu, upgrade
veterinary systems, hold vaccination drives and educate people
about animal and human hygiene.