Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli (D-Syracuse) urged the governor to make certain New York is ready to fight the forecasted avian flu pandemic. At present, the poultry disease poses little risk to us. But scientists fear that future mutations could make it easily communicable between humans and could spread across continents in months.

“We need a plan in place to deal with potential catastrophes like an avian flu pandemic,” Magnarelli said. “Last year’s unprecedented shortage of flu vaccine showed that suppliers can have a difficult time keeping up with demand in a normal flu season, when 50 million vaccine doses were contaminated and we were inadequately prepared. In the event of a world-wide flu outbreak, a vaccine shortage will compound the crisis, so we have to remain vigilant. The president has already said that avian flu could be ‘the first pandemic of the 21st Century.’ The governor and the state Health Department need a plan to immediately identify, contain and treat carriers if an outbreak happens.”

To date, avian flu is not easily transferable from one person to the next and generally those who have the virus handle poultry. This month, the World Health Organization reports 117 cases, all in Asia, with a total of 60 deaths.

But an Associated Press story this week reports the infection is spreading in birds. In northern China’s grasslands an estimated 2,600 birds have been found dead of the bird flu, near a breeding facility. Scientists are concerned that if mutations make this virus lethal and it is not contained, it’s feasible that someone with the virus could travel internationally and the results could spell disaster.

“We’re an agricultural state. We rank 20th in egg-producing states. In 2002, ducks, broilers, turkeys, other chickens and eggs brought in $64.6 million, a substantial portion of the year’s $3 billion farm economy. We have to take extra precautions for the sake of our families and our economy,” Magnarelli added.

People who work with live poultry are most at risk for contracting avian flu, Magnarelli noted. To lessen the possibility of infection, the state Department of Agriculture and Markets recommends that all producers and processors:

• Clean and disinfect cages, crates, vehicles and other poultry handling equipment with a disinfectant that will kill avian flu;
• Do not borrow poultry equipment;
• Only allow authorized personnel to handle birds;
• Accept replacement birds only from known and reputable sources;
• Use clean overalls; and
• Have sick birds diagnosed and properly disposed of if they die.