When it comes to matters of health, it’s no surprise that this is the cold and flu season. Many neighbors, family members and friends are contracting the common cold and even suffering from pneumonia or the flu. Who would have ever imagined that the next flu pandemic to be encountered would be from birds? Avian influenza is on the rise, and its prevention will only come from awareness. Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a contagious disease spread by diseased animals and which solely affects birds. Since birds are the carriers of this disease, avian influenza can be transmitted to humans through infected poultry. WSSU has developed a plan to educate the campus community and prevent the transmission of avian influenza. On the WSSU Web site is a link to the university’s pandemic bird flu preparedness plans. The site answers questions concerning this pandemic such as: Why plan for a pandemic? What is avian influenza? What is a pandemic? How do people become infected? What are the symptoms of bird flu in people? How can the bird flu be prevented? Interim Chancellor Michelle Howard-Vital voices her concern on the Web site for the safety of those who attend and work at WSSU. “Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff; secondary is the preservation of property and the continuation of the academic affairs here on campus. As a university, it is our social, moral and ethical responsibility to prepare for any possible scenario that might occur,” she says. Latonya Pankey, a nursing major, does not seem to share the same concern about the avian influenza.
“To be honest, I really don’t care too much about the avian influenza. I eat chicken on the regular, but it’s not like it’s wild turkey or something. I guess I should be more concerned, but it’s the last thing that I am concerned about on a daily basis,” Pankey says. The threat of the avian influenza pandemic reaching the United States has raised the necessity of awareness. There are no vaccines for protection and the normal flu shots do not provide protection. The only means of preventing the contraction of avian influenza are sanitizing objects, bathing regularly, washing hands frequently, and being aware of food and safety precautions; and also, being cautious of contact with birds. WSSU’s avian flu preparedness committee consists of members from the university along with the Director of Emergency Response and Communications from the Forsyth Health Department. At the beginning of November the committee submitted its plan to the UNC system.