Avian Influenza (AI): the threat of pandemic is real if not inevitable. Who will protect the security/armed forces in case of such pandemic?
by Iztok Podbregar, Teodora Ivanusa
International Journal of Emergency Management (IJEM), Vol. 6, No. 2, 2009

Abstract: Since 1997, Avian Influenza (AI) infections in poultry have taken on a new significance with the increasing number of cases involving bird-to-human transmission. Does the increasing number of human casualties who died due to confirmed infection with H5N1 HPAI viruses impose the suspicion that the potential reassortment of AI virus genes and the emergence of the new pandemic AI virus generations in humans have already begun? The next pandemic could put in question the entire global security system, not to mention the mass casualties, chaos and political, economic and cultural integrity, while simultaneously producing high psychological impacts and government instabilities. By critical discussions regarding different possible ways to become infected with HPAI viruses, we cannot ignore the view that the immune system of the human population is hypothetically completely incompetent; nevertheless, the members of security/armed forces we count on substantially in case of such pandemic are human beings. The established military educational programmes were carefully analysed and we believe that existing ones regarding biological agents and a possible biological warfare should be upgraded. Such educational policy is immensely important for security/armed forces to be fully capable of predicting and protecting themselves prior to any course of action. It is important to emphasise that infectious diseases account for 65%-80% of soldiers' hospitalisation in recent wars and military conflicts. Finally, there are also direct international benefits if the government will provide accurate education and timely response to the threat that AI and other biological agents can pose to the global community.

Online publication date: Tue, 17-Nov-2009

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