The epidemiology of Influenza is currently being monitored because a pandemic had plagued the world three times (1918, 1959 and 1968) in the last century. It has been predicted that one or more pandemics awaits the world. It has been well known that a pandemic costs several diseases, death and interference in the entire world such that an outbreak may be underway simultaneously in different locations (http://www.flu.gov/planning-preparedness/states/planningresolutionor.html, 2014). Therefore, this need to prepare for an influenza pandemic that is yet to come requires a collective effort from all sectors of the society with the leadership of the federal government.
The viral respiratory disease influenza A can cause a global epidemic because it mutates into a different subtype of virus. And humans have not developed their immunity to combat a newly evolved influenza virus. By the time the virus has already evolved, this makes it difficult to prepare a vaccine for everyone. The demand overshoots the supply of vaccines that will be then available. Thus, it begs the question is the State of Oregon or the whole world prepared for the next influenza pandemic?
The growing number of urbanization is analogous to the growing number of population in the world. The increase also in international travels presents an opportunity for the easy transmission of the influenza A virus. While countries with abundant resources may develop prophylactic vaccines, the time before the new pandemic strikes may be faster than the developed vaccine. And this, makes it more difficult to overcome. While the government has declared an additional $3 million funding for the state to address this disease, still there has been a shortage in flu vaccines for two consecutive years (2003-2005) in the United states because of an increase in demand during the flu season and the contaminated vaccine that was produced by Chiron, Inc (Knobler, S. L. et al., 2005).
References
Knobler, S. L., Mack, A., Mahmoud, A. and Lemon, S. M. Editors. (2005). The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? Workshop Summary. Washington Dc: The National Academic Press.
Planning Resolution between Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt and Governor Theodore R. Kulongoski of the State of Oregon. Flu.Gov. Washington, DC: US Department of Human Health and Services. Retrieved from: http://www.flu.gov/planning-preparedness/states/planningresolutionor.html.
