I’ve kind of learned it’s easier for my OCD/hypochondriac/med student syndrome self to just stop trying to diagnose myself, stop Googling every symptom, and stop palpating nodes, thinking that one will turn out to be Hodgkin’s (and still secretly knowing deep down that it won’t). But every time I read Effect Measure , I start to get a little scared. It’s a public health blog that’s doing some awesome blogging following the Avian flu virus (Influenza A H5N1).

A perfect example of a freak-out post . I really don’t think the writer is being alarmist; I get the sense he’s pretty well read, experienced with public health, and (gasp) uses data and facts for the basis of his posts. I’m mainly scared about this bird flu for my own personal concern: the flu seems to be hitting people in my age group . Combine that with the fact that that I’m an official first responder, starting work in the hospital in July, in California, in the Bay Area, with a constant huge influx of people from Vietnam and other bird flu hotspots, and you can color me nervous.

Yes, I know, it’s one of the risks I take as a future physician, but I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that this isn’t a bigger story in the news, or that our government is doing less for preventative measures. I guess that’s what happens when you’ve got a war going on to protect our security. My bet: when the bird flu hits, and if it hits as hard in the US as Effect Measure is reporting, “health security” will be a new buzzword, and could be the tipping point for a national health insurance system in the US. If there’s one thing the US is good at, it’s reacting once a problem has already hurt us. Go primary prevention!

The UK has ordered enough antiflu meds for 25% of its population; the US: 2%.

Sweden has ordered enough for half a million and tens of millions more doses have been ordered by Norway, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland and France. The US has only ordered 2.3 million and may increase that to 6 million (enough for only 2% of our population). The UK is more ambitious with plans a $385 million for a quarter of its population. London wants 100,000 for its police fire and transport workers. WHO is trying to establish a “mobile stockpile” of 120,000.

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