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Several Koreans were infected with the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu when it spread in domestic poultry farms between the end of 2003 and spring 2004. Authorities asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test blood samples of Koreans who took part in the cull of chickens and ducks, and the results came back positive for four of them. The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the four were infected but showed no symptoms since they were given antiviral drugs.
The KDCD rightly says there is no immediate risk since the infection happened two years ago and no one fell ill. But that it took two years for the results to become public is incomprehensible. Even taking into consideration that the KDCD is still learning to test for bird flu from the U.S., there are legitimate worries that it is neglecting its responsibility and letting down its guard against the bird flu threat.
Of the 150 people infected with bird flu worldwide, 90 have died: a fatality rate of over 50 percent. It is now spreading uncontrollably from Asia to Europe, to the point where some want to cancel the World Cup in Germany due to the disease.
No human-to-human infection has been confirmed, but the World Health Organization has warned that when the virus mutates in the human body, it could evolve into a respiratory pandemic like the Spanish Flu that killed 40 million people in 1918. According to a simulation in Korea, if this happened, 1 million people would be hospitalized and 30,000 would die.
Since we have already had a bird flu outbreak, we cannot be sure it will never happen again. Early prevention is the most important thing. The authorities must step up checks of chicken and duck farms. When the government makes it clear that it will compensate farmers for their losses, they will be willing to report infections fast. If any more human infections occur, the government must have detailed plans ready for medical personnel, isolation facilities and control of contaminated areas as well as sufficient stocks of antiviral drugs.
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