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CNN Live Today

Asian Bird Flu

Aired January 29, 2004 - 11:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Asian countries that have escaped the current outbreak of bird flu have stepped up efforts to prevent its spread. The outbreak has killed 10 people in recent week. Thousands of chickens and ducks across Asia have died or have been killed.
Joining us now from Philadelphia to talk about the outbreak and the efforts to contain it, Dr. Myles Druckman of the International SOS, the world's biggest medical assistance company.

Dr. Druckman, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

DR. MYLES DRUCKMAN, INTERNATIONAL SOS: Good morning, Daryn. How are you?

KAGAN: I'm doing OK. I have no bird flu here.

DRUCKMAN: Fortunately not.

KAGAN: Yes. What is it? And how do you get it?

DRUCKMAN: Well, the bird flu really is a virus that has been around for over 100 years. And typically, it has affected wild fowl population, and we have had instances where it has spread to the domestic poultry industry, and this is what's happening right now. It's devastating flocks of million of birds, killing them, and then forcing the government to -- the local governments to cull and destroy further numbers so that we can reduce the spread.

KAGAN: So, we've seen -- I'm sorry to jump in here. So, we've seen the birds get this disease, this virus, and we've seen it go from bird to human. But have we seen it go from human to human?

DRUCKMAN: Well, that's -- we haven't yet. And again, that is the major concern that all of the health authorities have right now is that we have seen it go, and actually in 1997 it first went from bird to human. And our concern is that it doesn't go from human to human, because that could herald a major pandemic.

KAGAN: And right now we're just seeing it in a number of countries in Asia. If you're traveling to Asia in the near future, what should you keep in mind?

DRUCKMAN: Well, so far, the CDC, WHO and International SOS have not had any travel advisory, so people can travel. But we do strongly recommend that obviously not going to poultry farms, avoiding large outdoor markets with live animals as well, and also just routine good hygiene, hand washing, making sure that you're well looked after to avoid the flu.

KAGAN: And as health professionals like yourself who look at world travel, as you watch this, what are the lessons that were learned last year from SARS?

DRUCKMAN: Well, I think we definitely owe a lot more vigilance. We definitely -- the local health communities, especially in Asia, are much more aware of the issues and the concerns. So, we are definitely thinking more about it. But I think it's going to be a continual process that we need to monitor very closely.

KAGAN: And finally, any suggestion that people shouldn't be eating chicken or any kind of fowl because of this?

DRUCKMAN: Well, right now, if you cook chicken, it kills the virus. So, as it stands today, there's not an issue. But again, we're going to have to watch this very closely to see how the virus may change, and our situation may drastically change as well.

KAGAN: All right, you'll be watching it for us, Dr. Myles Druckman.

DRUCKMAN: Absolutely.

KAGAN: Thank you, Doctor.

DRUCKMAN: You're welcome.

KAGAN: I appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.







Aired January 29, 2004 - 11:40   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Asian countries that have escaped the current outbreak of bird flu have stepped up efforts to prevent its spread. The outbreak has killed 10 people in recent week. Thousands of chickens and ducks across Asia have died or have been killed.
Joining us now from Philadelphia to talk about the outbreak and the efforts to contain it, Dr. Myles Druckman of the International SOS, the world's biggest medical assistance company.

Dr. Druckman, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

DR. MYLES DRUCKMAN, INTERNATIONAL SOS: Good morning, Daryn. How are you?

KAGAN: I'm doing OK. I have no bird flu here.

DRUCKMAN: Fortunately not.

KAGAN: Yes. What is it? And how do you get it?

DRUCKMAN: Well, the bird flu really is a virus that has been around for over 100 years. And typically, it has affected wild fowl population, and we have had instances where it has spread to the domestic poultry industry, and this is what's happening right now. It's devastating flocks of million of birds, killing them, and then forcing the government to -- the local governments to cull and destroy further numbers so that we can reduce the spread.

KAGAN: So, we've seen -- I'm sorry to jump in here. So, we've seen the birds get this disease, this virus, and we've seen it go from bird to human. But have we seen it go from human to human?

DRUCKMAN: Well, that's -- we haven't yet. And again, that is the major concern that all of the health authorities have right now is that we have seen it go, and actually in 1997 it first went from bird to human. And our concern is that it doesn't go from human to human, because that could herald a major pandemic.

KAGAN: And right now we're just seeing it in a number of countries in Asia. If you're traveling to Asia in the near future, what should you keep in mind?

DRUCKMAN: Well, so far, the CDC, WHO and International SOS have not had any travel advisory, so people can travel. But we do strongly recommend that obviously not going to poultry farms, avoiding large outdoor markets with live animals as well, and also just routine good hygiene, hand washing, making sure that you're well looked after to avoid the flu.

KAGAN: And as health professionals like yourself who look at world travel, as you watch this, what are the lessons that were learned last year from SARS?

DRUCKMAN: Well, I think we definitely owe a lot more vigilance. We definitely -- the local health communities, especially in Asia, are much more aware of the issues and the concerns. So, we are definitely thinking more about it. But I think it's going to be a continual process that we need to monitor very closely.

KAGAN: And finally, any suggestion that people shouldn't be eating chicken or any kind of fowl because of this?

DRUCKMAN: Well, right now, if you cook chicken, it kills the virus. So, as it stands today, there's not an issue. But again, we're going to have to watch this very closely to see how the virus may change, and our situation may drastically change as well.

KAGAN: All right, you'll be watching it for us, Dr. Myles Druckman.

DRUCKMAN: Absolutely.

KAGAN: Thank you, Doctor.

DRUCKMAN: You're welcome.

KAGAN: I appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.