Campaigning Day

Have spent all day campaigning and lobbying on the Preventing Bird Flu question. Local virologist says yes, good idea, and no, there is no chance of the vaccine combining with H5N1 Avian by accident. Local Public Health Consultant says yes, sound idea, but they have to go with the protocols, and she will send me one. Email goes off to Prof Vivienne Nathanson at the BMA, trying to get them on board. Phone local chicken farmers trying to find a brave soul who is ready to go an TV having his arm vaccinated.

In between times write also to the UN special Representative to Somalia and the UK Representative at the UN asking what the we can do about Somalia (toughen the arms embargo, strengthen civil society, deny the warlords' freedom to travel).

Now it is Nicky's birthday party, so time to get off the keyboard.

The Human-Avian Flu Pandemic Can Be Averted

I have contacted my patients who are chicken farmers and offered them a regular influenza A vaccine - the one we offer annually to all over 65s, and those with chronic illnesses. This will not stop them from getting Avian flu, but it will greatly reduce the chance of it being in the bloodstream of my particular patients that the Avian flu combines with human flu to produce the feared pandemic.

If all chicken keepers in the UK were offered this service, the mutation would be most unlikely to occur in the UK. It might add perhaps 0.01% to the overall cost of the annual influenza vaccination effort. Compared to the cost of vaccinating the whole population of the UK against the H5N1 strain if and when it emerges, (which the Government proposes to do) the cost would be negligible. It is also easier than the alternative option of running chicken stocks down next spring.

If this policy were extended to chicken keepers throughout the world, the chance of the pandemic occurring at all might be averted.

Now for the job of trying to get a decision - maker to listen. Have sent to MP and Green Party media. WHO never answer emails. Try BMA next.