Senate Approves $3.9 Billion For Bird Flu

EPIDEMICS

illustration only

by Todd Zwillich
Washington (UPI) Oct 03, 2005
The Senate approved more than $3 billion in spending to bolster national defenses against avian flu late Thursday, though it remained unclear whether the money would survive a conference with the House.

The measure, attached to a military funding bill, spends $3.08 billion to increase federal stockpiles of anti-viral medications, including Tamiflu, made by Gilead Pharmaceuticals. The drug can ease flu symptoms and may cut the chances of transmitting the disease.

The amendment also spends $125 million to boost domestic production of an avian flu vaccine, though it does not specify where the money will be spent.

The Bush administration signed a contract in August with Sanofi-Pasteur to begin producing initial doses of a vaccine against H5N1, the virus causing avian flu.

Public-health experts both inside and outside the government have sounded alarm bells about the danger of an avian flu pandemic. Humans have no natural immunity to the virus, meaning if it spreads, it could cause widespread illness and death.

An estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta predicts widespread human-to-human transmission could kill as many as 200,000 people in the United States.

Efficient human-to-human spread has not yet been observed in Southeast Asia, however, where avian flu currently is circulating. Still, the disease has sickened more than 115 people and killed at least 58 since 2004, according to the World Health Organization.

"We have to prepare, and we have to prepare now," said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the minority whip, during debate on the Senate floor.

Majority Leader Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt on Wednesday, urging the administration to obtain enough anti-viral medication for half the of U.S. population.

Thursday's amendment was designed to pay for that request, said Allison Dobson, a spokeswoman for the amendment's sponsor, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.

Some experts have questioned the value of stockpiling large amounts of anti-viral medications, however. The drug is effective only if given within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, and requires several doses to complete an effective course. Those strictures can make it less likely the drug can reach patients on time and effectively treat them.

The amendment also sends $33 million to the CDC to boost the agency's surveillance against avian flu in Asia and elsewhere, but it remains unclear whether all of the funds will stay within the military appropriations bill by the time it reaches President George W. Bush's desk.

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said he agreed to allow a voice vote on the amendment, "so that it will be in this bill" when it goes into negotiations with the Republican-led House, but he did not say he would back the $3.9 billion in spending at that time.

"I had some questions about this amendment," Stevens said on the Senate floor.

All rights reserved. � 2005 United Press International. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by United Press International. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of United Press International.

EPIDEMICS

CU Virologist Finds Contagious Equine Flu In Dogs

Ithaca NY (SPX) Sep 29, 2005
A Cornell University virologist has isolated a highly contagious equine flu virus that is spreading a sometimes-fatal respiratory flu among dogs, and is responsible for a major dog-flu outbreak in New York state. There is no evidence that the virus could infect people.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.