There have been numerous warnings but people have looked at the danger presented by avian flu like they're watching a fire on the other shore of a river. It was believed that bird flu was just something that was passed between birds, and that it was only in extremely exceptional instances that it infected humans, therefore meaning it was not fatally contagious among people. The results of research by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies have turned that belief on its head.
The deadly nature of this virus is that humans have no immune system to fight it. There is a vaccine on the market but it cannot handle the speed at which the virus is changing and innate resistance, and the fact that it is spread by migratory birds increases the danger. Advanced nations like the US, the UK, France, Finland, and Japan are going all out trying to secure a treatment. The US is trying to have enough vaccine for half of its population. Our own health officials, however, look as pathetically relaxed as can be. All they're doing with the budget they have is spend it on public information activity. Korea only has the vaccine for 1.5 percent of the population.
There isn't much time. Fear could spread and cause social unease. The needs to be measures to deal with this, and quickly. Securing the vaccine is important, but there needs to be a production system for it. The plans for 2008 need to be implemented earlier than that. The government needs to put diplomacy to work so that there can be a system of international research into the virus and a system of vaccine development in coordination with the World Health Organisation.
The Hankyoreh, 7 October 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
