Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us"
Rom. 8:35, 37.

The following will be placed on the Missions Resource Network Website soon.

Avian Flu Threat

A major public health concern being raised worldwide is the possibility of a pandemic resulting from an outbreak of avian or “bird” flu. This could have significant implications for missionaries and their families living throughout the world. Dr. Dan Blazer is a psychiatrist at Duke University and a member of the Task Force for Missionary Care associated with Missions Resource Network. Part of Dr. Blazer’s work is with the U.S. Armed Forces. He recently asked Dr. Roger Gibson, Executive Secretary for the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board, several questions regarding concerns about which missionaries and churches should be aware. We want to share his replies in order to raise your awareness about potential responses in the event of worldwide outbreak of avian flu.

What advice would you give missionaries?

In addition to the typical preventive medicine measures (wash your hands, avoid crowds and visibly sick people, eat healthy, etc.), they should stay informed by listening to the radio/TV, website. They should know up front that some folks transmit influenza before showing symptoms. Therefore they are not fully risk free if they avoid sick people. And they could intentionally transmit the disease to others. Restricting their movements is very wise.

I would recommend having about a month's worth of food and essentials stored away, just in case. In a true pandemic, you can plan on seeing the country's infrastructure implode...stores closed, buses and trucks not delivering, maybe break downs in water and electricity supplies.

Would you attempt to evacuate missionaries ASAP back to the US? What would be the concerns about them bringing the flu to the US?

Wearing my clinical hat, given the level of care required for those who contract the current virulent version of avian flu, I would recommend return to the US or at least movement to a non-avian flu area where good medical care exists. Epidemiologically, I would prefer everyone stayed in place and have optimal treatment provided for them. The best bet would be to contact the American Embassy and get the latest information on movement restrictions. More than likely those returning to the US from an area where avian flu is being transmitted from human-to-human will have some form of restriction of movement imposed upon them once they arrive in the US. It is possible, but currently unlikely, that they would be denied entry into the US. It is slightly more likely that airlines will refuse to fly to infected areas. They should be prepared for that eventuality and comply fully with the authorities.

Should there be some backup medications, such as Tamiflu, on site for missionaries to begin to take?

Yes. Absolutely. For two reasons. First taking Tamiflu during the first 48 hours of illness has been shown to reduce the severity and length of illness. More importantly, Tamiflu dramatically reduces viral shedding. Finally, if they start taking Tamiflu as a preventive in the face of the outbreak, they can greatly lower their risk of getting infected. So the best scenario would be: Stay informed. Be ready to leave the area at the first signs of an outbreak. Start taking Tamiflu and stay on it till you're back home or the outbreak is over. If you can get out of the outbreak area, isolate yourself for a week. Alternatively, if you can't leave follow good preventive medicine precautions. Take Tamiflu as soon as you become ill. Stockpile. Other meds (both those to treat acute illnesses like bacterial pneumonia and as well as your typical chronic disease meds) should also be stockpiled.
What else would you advise?

The use of N-95 respirators for other than medical and first responders is controversial. While respirators and good hand washing will greatly reduce or eliminate the risk of infection it is hard to maintain these practices for extended lengths of time. It takes a LOT of respirators if you are wearing them all day, every day. Finally, if this bug is true to form, it will travel in waves. Any specific location will see cases for about 6 weeks before it burns itself out. If you can hunker down for that long, you may be OK.

The following link will explain what emergency supplies need to be on hand.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us"
Rom. 8:35, 37.

We serve at His pleasure.

Love's prayers,

Dottie