Day Twenty of the Avian Influenza Epidemic

As of this time, 250 total deaths have been reported with many more showing possible symptoms of the disease. Further school closings have been put in place in the area to prevent spreading though young children. While following the Minnesota Department of Health ‘Pandemic Influenza Plan’, state officials have been hard at work fulfilling the duties they are assigned. These include developing ways to notify the public of the danger of the virus, providing backup staffing for the emergency coordinating center, maintain proactive communication with the media, routine influenza surveillance, veterinary surveillance, monitoring for novel strains as well as tracking cases and their movements.
The farm where this virus originally entered the area has been shut down for over two weeks and officials have finished sanitizing and cleaning the area to prevent further spreading. The recently closed schools have been transformed into temporary facilities to help patients, as the small local hospital has reached capacity and more room to house the patients is needed. Families of the infected patients have been quarantined and restricted to very little contact with others, as it if now apparent that the virus strain has transformed to be able to move from human to human. Reports of the significant findings of the virus have been sent to decision makers at the Department of Health to further attempt to control the situation.
Scientists believe that the avian flu vaccine created in Asia may in fact work for this new strain of the virus. They are working at transforming it to match the viruses and testing of the vaccine has begun with hopes for mass production within a few days. Until then, health officials are spreading various sanitation information issues and promoting healthy habits, such as hand washing and safe coughing procedures in attempt to cause case numbers to fall. The number of deaths is still rising, though the speed has decreased and many are hoping the vaccine will soon be available and will result in the end of this epidemic.