http://www.michiganindependent.com/2006/10/25/the-university-prepares-for-an-avian-flu-pandemic/ The University of Michigan's Progressive News & Views Magazine Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:19:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 http://www.michiganindependent.com/2006/10/25/the-university-prepares-for-an-avian-flu-pandemic/#comment-104 Arikia Millikan Wed, 17 Jan 2007 22:58:49 +0000 http://www.michiganindependent.com/2006/10/25/the-university-prepares-for-an-avian-flu-pandemic/#comment-104 I appreciate that you are also interested in avian flu, and I'm glad that you are also writing to inform students about it. You are correct in that a viral mutation would be the worst case scenario, as I addressed in the first article I wrote on the topic. What you are overlooking, however, is that the migratory patterns of birds might play a role in the opportunity for the virus to mutate. It is my understanding that when birds from all over the world migrate for the Winter, birds from America and Asia alike sometimes come into close contact (the world is round). This would provide an opportunity for the H5N1 strain to be spread from Asian to American waterfowl, and for new mutations to occur as the virus was passed through different species. Fortunately, we have not observed this happening yet. Also, in regards to your comment about medical technology, I think I conveyed clearly that the U has emergency medical plans in place, and the importance of these plans. Medical technology surrounding effecient vaccine development is important as well, and would go hand in hand with smooth emergency management. I appreciate that you are also interested in avian flu, and I’m glad that you are also writing to inform students about it. You are correct in that a viral mutation would be the worst case scenario, as I addressed in the first article I wrote on the topic. What you are overlooking, however, is that the migratory patterns of birds might play a role in the opportunity for the virus to mutate. It is my understanding that when birds from all over the world migrate for the Winter, birds from America and Asia alike sometimes come into close contact (the world is round). This would provide an opportunity for the H5N1 strain to be spread from Asian to American waterfowl, and for new mutations to occur as the virus was passed through different species. Fortunately, we have not observed this happening yet. Also, in regards to your comment about medical technology, I think I conveyed clearly that the U has emergency medical plans in place, and the importance of these plans. Medical technology surrounding effecient vaccine development is important as well, and would go hand in hand with smooth emergency management.

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