What will happen should the Avian Flu arrive in America as a true killer disease? Speculation rages about whether or when the dreaded pandemic will occur. We certainly know the form of virus that kills birds continues to work its way around the globe with reports of outbreaks in Greece and Turkey only a few days ago. So what happens when a disease like this becomes human compatible and spreads rapidly in the modern world?
No one knows for certain and the final scenario depends upon the virility of the final disease. Nevertheless, the US government will soon release an action plan to shape policy and procedures in the event of an outbreak. A section of that document describes a possible outbreak scenario. The details are chilling and bear careful scrutiny those of us in the funeral profession. We need to take these matters to heart and start now in making appropriate contingency plans. Here's an exerpt from the report that appeared in the New York Times three days ago.
Act II: An Airport in America
In late June, the C.D.C. reports that the virus has been isolated from ill airline passengers arriving in four major United States cities.... Vaccine manufacturers are requested to shift vaccine production from annual to pandemic vaccine.
In July, small focal outbreaks begin to be reported throughout the United States. The first doses of a new pandemic vaccine become available in September. Despite full-scale production by manufacturers, supply remains very limited.... Community-wide outbreaks begin to occur more frequently as children return to school, and by late August, outbreaks are occurring simultaneously throughout the country....
Overall, about 2 percent of Americans with influenza illness die. In communities during the peak weeks of ... outbreaks, about a quarter of workers are absent because of illness, the need to care for ill relatives and fear of becoming infected.
Hospitals are overwhelmed and staff shortages limit capacity. Intensive care units at local hospitals are unable to provide care for all who need it, and there are shortages of mechanical ventilators for treatment of patients with severe pneumonia. Makeshift hospitals established in schools and armories care for those who are unable to be treated in regular hospitals....
Act III: The Pandemic Rages
During the peak of disease activity in the community, police, fire and transportation services are limited by personnel shortages, and absenteeism at utility companies leads to spot power outages. Supplies of food, fuel and medical supplies are disrupted as truck drivers become ill or stay home from work.
In some areas, grocery store shelves are empty and social unrest occurs. Long lines form where food and gasoline are available. Elderly patients with chronic, unstable medical conditions hesitate to leave their homes for fear of becoming seriously ill with influenza.
Riots occur at some vaccination clinics as people are turned away or supplies run out. Several trucks transporting vaccine are hijacked, and a gray market develops for vaccine and antiviral drugs - many of which are counterfeit.
Pig herds acquire infection with the pandemic virus and are decimated; large numbers of workers in those settings become ill.
Family members are distraught and outraged when loved ones die within a matter of a few days. Public anxiety heightens mistrust of government, diminishing compliance with public health advisories. "Worried well" seek medical care despite their absence of influenza illness, further burdening the health care system.
Mortuaries and funeral homes are overwhelmed.
[Full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/weekinreview/16harris.html ]
Riots, food shortages, absenteeism in police and fire units, what happens to the poor funeral director at the end of the line? What happens if our casket companies cannot find drivers for deliveries because they don't want to go near our influenza dead? What happens if we can't get fluids and preparation materials? What happens if we can't locate police officials to keep us safe while we attempt to make removals? What happens if we can't get graves opened because cemetery workers walk off the job out of fear?
New Orleans was a dangerous place for several weeks while DMORT and funeral service volunteers participated in the recovery efforts. It took days for the federal government to mobilize and the destruction was fairly localized (compared with the entire country) and most of the people had evaluated. Bird flu hits almost everywhere at almost the same time. The feds will not have the ability to step in all across the country and make our towns and communities function. We will have to figure out how to make things work on the local level and we will need to coordinate with local and state leaders in order to help our communities through the tragedy.
This will take much more than the quick thinking and improvisation typical of a good funeral director. It will take contingency planning and coordination that few outside of DMORT understand. So WHO'S WORKING ON THIS STUFF AND GETTING OUR PROFESSION PREPARED FOR THE CONSEQUENCES? Have our vendors paid any attention (they've got the deep pockets and a lot at stake financially here)?? Have our associations started working on this?? I haven't seen anything yet. Time has come to squawk and complain and make enough noise that our leaders pay attention and get things done. It will be WAY too late if all of this gets swept under the rug until the virus finally appears. Time to start, now.
Keep in mind, I'm just one voice and easily ignored. Our casket companies and vault companies and chemical companies and professional associations (state and national) need to hear from lots of people over and over again. Otherwise, we will all pay the consequences (and so will our communities) later on. Join me in rattling some cages so that bird flu issues get the attention they deserve right now.
BT
I honestly would have expected this to be one of the lessons learned from Katrina - that dead bodies don't just go away. Sidewalk "burials" under sheets or in front yards aren't something any of us can want to see again. I really hope that your voice gets heard on this one.
Posted by: Sue | October 21, 2005 at 11:59 AM
In this case I have started a small email campaign to try and raise awareness of this issue. I want to see a high profile leader in funeral service take charge and begin the networking and planning necessary. So far, no takers.
Persistence in matters of importance will often pay dividends. I will continue.
BT
Posted by: BT | October 21, 2005 at 01:13 PM