Should I stay or should I go?
Pandemic influenza is not just a threat to global health - it will undoubtedly have a huge economic impact that could also affect governance and security, according to David Nabarro, UN System Senior Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, speaking earlier this month at the London School of Economics.
People missing work to avoid infection will pose the biggest problem – causing reduced productivity and trade. And it’s easy to see how problems will quickly escalate with a diminished police force and reduced national security!
So we should stay at work – and increase the risk of viral transmission? It’s a mixed message...
The answer lies in effective communication – it is imperative that accurate advice and information is disseminated quickly throughout the community, and that the media avoid ‘scare-mongering’. A key element of pandemic preparedness relies on ensuring that channels of communication are in place and ready to respond quickly.
Would you listen to those messages and stay at work? I’m not sure....
Listen to the Podcast of this lecture here.
Comments
I think people should stay at work but the biggest challenge will be to address the medical treatment during a major flu outbreak. The medical community should look at the alternative homeopathic approach that was used during the flu of 1918 and the positve response of homeopathy.
Posted by: Vectorpedia(Rick) | February 16, 2008 11:55 AM