March 13, 2006
By Shawn McGinnis, KTLA News
Washington, D.C. — The bird flu is coming to the U.S. and experts say there is no way to stop it. In fact, scientists say wild birds infected with the deadly virus could reach Alaska within the next few weeks.
Spy satellites are being used to track the infected flocks on their route from Asia to Alaska. The migratory birds are expected to mingle with North American flocks in Alaska and move on to the lower 48 states as early as August.
But don't count on having a vaccine available that soon. Federal health officials say it will take at least six months after a pandemic breaks out to produce a bird flu vaccine.
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt says that's because the virus is mutating and there is no way to know in advance which strain might become capable of human to human transmission.
Once the particular strain is identified, Leavitt says it will take time to ensure that a vaccine is safe and to mass-produce it. Until then, it will be up to traditional public health measures to contain the outbreak.
There is no direct evidence that the current strains of bird flu can be transmitted from person to person. To date, people have only been infected after close contact with sick birds.
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