Connections
Environment: As millions of people can die due to influenza pandemic, there will be serious impact on environment. Besides, birds and mammals are also in danger. Mass production of drugs can lead to the pollutions of the environment. The developing countries as the areas where pandemic can arise will be in collapse and became isolated.
Culture: This article does not discuss cultural issues, for instance, the impact of the cultural background and national peculiarities on the pandemic prevention.
Governance and Security (Politics): This article suggests governments pay more attention to the problem of influenza pandemic and provide more effective preventive measures. The preventive measures should be developed with help of government. As an example, the author says about Chinese government that was unable to stop panic among citizens, to provide enough medical support and information.
Resources and Development (Economics): Influenza pandemic would have a serious impact on the global economy. Global, national and regional economies will be changed due to the trade of drugs; many countries will be not available for traveling. Moreover, there will be serious impact on the airline industries. Developed counties will have an advantage, as they will be able to use their resources in order to supply their citizens with the vaccine.
Critique and Reflection
This article was written in 2005 when the fears about influenza pandemic and the new stamp H5N1 were more serious than today. I agree with the author when he says about the necessity of providing more preventive measures and supply people with vaccine; however, I disagree about the fear that there is huge possibility of pandemic that may lead to the catastrophic consequences.
According to the present article, the future of mankind seems terrible. The author claims that such pandemic will kill millions of people, as it already happened before in the past century. This issue can have the dramatic impact on the global society, including the economical problems and psychological barriers and fears.
However, today, it is easy to hear another opinion that this problem is not as serious as people may think. Besides, this issue is not studied well yet; therefore, it is early to make the conclusions and predict such terrible scenario. Thus, Brown indicates that scientists still argue about the characteristic of the new stamp of influenza (“Lab-engineered bird flu virus may be less deadly than thought – or not”).
Besides, in the other article, Brown and Vastag say that it is better do not make a large discussions about the research of influenza: “The potential harm of publishing the research on H5N1, or avian, influenza in full exceeded the potential benefits, the board wrote, adding its decision was unanimous” (“Recommendations to censor bird flu research driven by fears of terrorism”).
Osterholm published his article seven years ago, and we can notice that since that time the world did not face with a serious threat of pandemic. Besides, statistics say that only 600 people only have become ill from H5N1 since 1997 and most of them live in South Asia (Vastag and Brown 2012). Therefore, I cannot agree with the statement that we are close to the pandemic which can lead to the serious changes within the global economy.
According to the information of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Northern Hemisphere’s 2012-2013 seasonal influenza vaccine contain the special vaccine for an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus (“Vaccine Selection for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 Influenza Seasons”). Vaccination is a good preventive measure which helps people to control disease. Therefore, I think the society should not be afraid of the possible pandemic.
Works Cited
Brown David. “Lab-engineered bird flu virus may be less deadly than thought – or not.” The Washington Post. Web.
Osterholm, Michael T. Preparing for the Next Pandemic. Foreign Affairs, 2005. Web.
“Vaccine Selection for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 Influenza Seasons.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
Vastag Brian and David Brown. “Recommendations to censor bird flu research driven by fears of terrorism.” The Washington Post. Web.