Originally published October 5 2005
Senate proposes legislation to prepare stockpiles for flu pandemic
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Responding to warnings issued by the World Health Organization, the U.S. Senate proposed to set aside 3.9 billion dollars in order to create a stockpile of anti-virals and establish emergency plans in the event of an avian flu pandemic.
THE US Senate has proposed spending $US3.9 billion to stockpile vaccine and bolster detection efforts against a possible global avian flu epidemic amid warnings that the government remains ill-prepared for a flu outbreak.
The bill, adopted on Thursday, was attached to an unrelated defence spending bill and still has to be approved by the other legislative chamber, the House of Representatives.
"It is important that the United States take action to stockpile anti-virals and necessary medical supplies, coordinate global surveillance relating to avian flu and provide financial assistance to state and local public health agencies," said Republican Senator Richard Lugar, one of the legislation sponsors.
Since 2003, avian flu has killed 63 people in Asia who had contact with infected birds.
If the H5N1 virus mutates and becomes transmissible among humans, it could spark a worldwide epidemic that could kill millions of people.
International health experts have expressed concerns that the United States and other governments have failed to take necessary precautions for a possible outbreak of the disease and need to increase vaccine stockpiles.
"It would be morally wrong and irresponsible for us not to act and prepare Americans," Senator Harry Reid, leader of Democratic minority in the Senate.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), which has sent staff members to countries to assist with emergency planning, has estimated in a report that a flu pandemic could claim two to 7.4 million lives.
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