What would it be like when H1N1 influenza pandemic unfolds?
Have you watched Will Smith’s movie,
I AM LEGEND? The movie shows the aftermath of a pandemic which wiped out civilization and completely irradicated mankind. What if its going to happen soon? How possible is it to happen? Well of course turning one into monsters and vampires from viral infection are quite obscure.
The world now is posed with this threat of H1N1 flu pandemic. HOw ready are we to face it? There are a lot of contentions and notions as to how does it spread, mutate, affect individuals. Numerous studies have been made to develop vaccines, medicines and counter agents to completely rid off the virus.
One big question still lingers in everyone’s mind. ARE WE READY for this?
How will the world cope if the H1N1 influenza virus mutates into a deadlier, resistant, airborne strain?
Many scientists believed and certain that the modern 21st century plague is happening…..but who will be saved?
When the avian flu was a threat two years ago, BBC presented a 90-mintute documentary, HORIZON, which depicts an apocalyptic vision of the future, showing in its most vivid and terrifying details on the effects of the modern-day influenza pandemic. The documentary also shows the latest breakthrough in flu research and reveals how the US government asks the public to prepare medicines and food for an outbreak. It totally tells the story of how a pandemic could unfold.
How does pandemic unfold?
Hospitals and emergency services will be overwhelmed and would not have the capacity to dispose of infected cadavers.
The world’s once busy noisy streets and metropolis will be silent (just like in I am LEGEND). Almost a quarter of the workforce will be absent. Public transport will all be hampered and crippled. Schools will be closed and public gatherings will be disallowed.
It is predicted that the pandemic flu will cause millions of deaths, economic meltdown and social chaos.
This vision sounds so Science Fiction, which we often see in HOlywood Films. But truly it is not science fiction. It is is based on scientific research.
Many thought that the elderly and the weakest members of the society are the most likely target influenza virus. But research shows that the devastating flu pandemic targets people in the age range of 20-40, prime of life
If vaccine is developed soon, statistically, only 600 million people worldwide will vaccinated from every 6 months of largescale production.To put this in perspective, only about 9% of the global population can be vaccinated. Based on past experiences, it takes 6 months to produce working vaccines after virus arrive.
At present, plans have been made as to who will be qualified for early vaccination. It has been suggested that the elderly and very young are the least priority for vaccination.
"You have to give vaccine to frontline medical staff, because they’re going to be face-to-face with the people who are plainly infected. But if you get to a situation where you have to make decisions within the public, it’s much more difficult. Scientists have suggested that two-year-olds may not be people that have high priority because, as yet, there hasn’t been a sizeable investment.Now those are brutal decisions but people are having to think in those sorts of terms.”Professor Peter Dunhill, of University College London"
