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CNN Live Today
International Efforts to Deal With Bird Flu Picking Up Steam
Aired November 01, 2005 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now on to the bird flu. International efforts to deal with bird flu are picking up steam. We just heard from President Bush in the last hour speak about the issue. The virus has infected 121 humans around the world. It first showed up in birds in Asia. It has now spread to birds in 16 countries, including some in Europe.
Our senior Asia correspondent Mike Chinoy is with us now -- he in Hong Kong -- to talk about the situation in that part of the world.
Mark -- Mike, hello. Good to see you.
MIKE CHINOY, CNN SR. ASIA CORRESPONDENT: Hi there.
Well, Hong Kong is where the bird flu virus first appeared in 1997. It was where the first victims died. And while the virus has spread to many countries across the globe, it's really only been in Asia that it's killed people.
Well, today, representatives from 21 nations in the Asia-Pacific Economic Coordinating body gathered in Brisbane, Australia, to discuss what to do. They talked about contingency plans to shutdown travel, to try and help governments maintain essential services in the event that a pandemic take place.
But the more immediate question is, what can be done to prevent that from happening? And the key here is what's going on in the countries in Asia where the virus has been most widespread, countries like Vietnam, where most of those who've died have caught the disease, countries like China. And one of the big issues is a lack of resources. A U.N. official says over $100 million is needed to help these poor developing countries monitor and track the disease, give them resources, give them access to anti-viral medications.
Another big question is China. During the SARS epidemic a couple of years ago, the Chinese covered up the fact of that epidemic until it was too late. So There's a big concern that China, which in the past has believed to have been the source for the world's earlier great pandemics, might not be open about what's happening there, and things could get out of hand before the rest of the world knew it. So a lot of concern on that front as well -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And, Mike, when we heard the president speak, and in previous conversations here in the U.S., they're talking about some severe prevention measures, perhaps even quarantine and sectioning off a part of the country that might have been infected. How would ideas like that play in Asia? CHINOY: Well, the Chinese have said that if it's confirmed that there is significant human-to-human transmission of avian influenza, they'll shut their borders. The government of Hong Kong has said the same thing. It's widely thought though that that's -- in this era where the world is so interconnected, it doesn't take very long to get on a plane in China and get off a plane in New York, and that's the amount of time would you need potentially for the virus to spread from this part of the world to the United States. So there is talk about very, very drastic measures if it becomes a pandemic.
But it's important to remember, amidst all the concern, at the moment, there is no pandemic, there is no confirmed case of human-to- human transmission, let alone significant clusters of it. But the concern is based on the past behavior of flu viruses that this could happen. And if it does, then we're all in a little bit of trouble -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Mike Chinoy, live from Hong Kong. Good to see you. Thank you.
So how worried should you be about bird flu and a possible human pandemic here in the U.S.? Recently I had a chance to talk with the man appointed by the U.N. to lead the global fight.
I asked Dr. David Nabarro about some of the practical concerns that you might have about bird flu.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. DAVID NABARRO, U.N. AVIAN INFLUENZA COORDINATOR: There are three kinds of flu, first is seasonal influenza, the influenza that affects many of us each year. The second is bird flu, which is currently killing an awful lot of birds and is spreading across the world. And the third is what we call pandemic flu, which is extremely unpleasant across the world, flu outbreak. We've had three in the last century. We might have another one in the foreseeable future.
We need to be prepared for normal seasonal flu, and that means having your flu jab, particularly if you're a bit older, because that does cause quite a lot of suffering and some death.
KAGAN: And flu jab for our American audience is the flu shot.
NABARRO: Flu shot. Thank you.
KAGAN: That's all right.
NABARRO: The British, you know.
KAGAN: OK.
NABARRO: But please have your normal flu shot. That's normal practice, and it's what everybody certainly who normally does it should be doing.
KAGAN: But that's for influenza. For bird flu, there's really nothing at this point that can you do to protect yourself.
NABARRO: Well, really, the person you described is not going to be concerned about bird flu, because bird flu is a disease of chickens, of ducks, of geese and of some wild birds. And the ordinary person is only going to get it if they come into direct and intimate contact with an infected bird or with uncooked raw meat from that infected bird.
And at the moment, there is no bird flu being reported from the United States. It's being reported from Asia, from Europe, and we may see some spreading into the Middle East and Africa. It may even come to the U.S., but it will be very isolated. And the vet services know precisely what to do about it. Surround the farm, eliminate the disease, create an exclusion zone. Very, very unlikely for the average person to come into contact with it.
KAGAN: OK. Now on the topic of birds, another good friend has a pet bird, a pet parrot.
NABARRO: Yes.
KAGAN: Do pet owners who have birds, do they need to be concerned?
NABARRO: Well, there we get into more difficulty for me. First of all, I want you to know, that whenever questions like this come along, I normally say go and ask the experts, which is the Food and Agricultural Organization of the U.N., or the World Organization for Animal Health.
But let me at least tell you how I approach this issue. If the pet bird has been in the home for many years, I wouldn't be at all worried. If you've just bought a pet bird that's just arrived and you don't know anything about where that bird's come from. Perhaps say it's come off a ship that's just recently came from Asia, then I would be a bit little more concerned, because these are the kinds of ways in which bird flu is moving around the world, and we can't fully trace what's happening. It's through sometimes smuggled pet birds that have come from Asia, brought into other countries, and have not been tested. You probably heard, or many of your viewers have heard, about a parrot that came into the U.K. and died that was thought to have got bird flu in that way. So be careful over these kinds of imports. This is the way in which bird flu is moving around the world.
KAGAN: OK, a very good point. Also, we here in American are about to go into the Thanksgiving season, when we eat a lot of poultry, a lot of turkey. Again, I don't know if this ask your area of expertise, but people might be think, oh, that might not be safe. But again, you're saying, domestically, this bird population, if your turkey comes from America, you're probably OK.
NABARRO: Really we need to be clear on this. The Food and Agricultural Organization has been telling governments and the public, please, go on eating poultry and other bird meat as normal, please do not change your habits. It's very unlikely that will transmit the virus, even if the original animal was infected, if the food is properly cooked. That applies to eggs, as well as to meat. And most of the poultry that's eaten in this country is going to be coming from very carefully tested environments, and so it's very unlikely to have any kind of danger to it at all.
So we're really encouraging people, go on as normal. The only situation in which we're worried about bird meat possibly causing disease is when people eat it, and it's not been properly cooked, and it's come from farms where the infection is likely, and that is not going to apply in the United States.
KAGAN: Doctor, I know from where you sit, you look at a much bigger and a global picture, but for many people who watch, they're concerned with these very everyday concerns. And I thank you for your time and information.
NABARRO: Thank you.
KAGAN: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: So concerns about avian flu spreading to humans have overshadowed other questions, namely what would happen if there was a large outbreak just in America's birds? One of the largest impacts would be on the U.S. economy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The United States is the world's largest producer and exporter of poultry. Another fact you may not know, Americans eat more chicken and turkey than they do either beef or pork. The retail value of American's chicken industry was about $43 billion last year. That's not counting eggs or turkey. There's no way of knowing exactly how much an outbreak of the bird flu would affect the poultry industry as a whole, but it's safe to say it could be a lot of money. And that's not the only impact. The poultry and egg industries use about 80 billion pounds of feed grain each year. So the grain industry is watching avian flu developments closely as well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: A royal visit, Prince Charles and his new bride coming to America. What kind of welcome can they expect on this side of the pond, a closer look just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's check in on the British capital now. Victims of the July terrorist bombings are being remembered today. Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair among the hundreds of people attending a memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral. Details from CNN international correspondent Paula Hancocks, who is in London.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's an important part of the healing process for those who have been affected by the July 7th bombings. A day of remembrance and a remembrance service at St. Paul's Cathedral. About half of the 2,300 congregation, those who were injured directly in the blasts and those who either lost relatives or lost loved ones in the blasts, as well. Many members of the emergency services who were involved on that day, in the minutes, the hours, the days afterwards, also attending the service, and those who work for transport for London.
Now, this day of remembrance and the service of remembrance led by Queen Elizabeth II and also the U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair. Now, this service definitely not just a day of remembrance or a service of remembrance. They wanted to make sure that it demonstrated the diversity, the religious and the cultural diversity of London. It was not just Londoners who were affected on the 7th of July, not just British people.
Many different nationalities lost their lives and lost their loved ones and were injured. And also, it was also not just one religion that was affected. So that is what they wanted to sum up in this day of remembrance, to show there is a sense of unity within London, within Britain and within those -- for those who have been affected directly.
Also, four candles were lit and carried to the altar by members of the emergency services, one each for the locations of the blasts from July 7th. St. Paul's Cathedral, really the focus of Britain. And for much of the world this Tuesday, as this remembrance service, remembering those 52 killed and hundreds more injured on July 7th.
Paula Hancocks, CNN, London.
KAGAN: So on this side of the Atlantic, the U.S. today welcomes Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. It's the couple's first official tour abroad since they were married in April. New York is the first stop on their eight-day visit to the states. But will many Americans with a fondness for the late Princess Diana accept this royal couple?
A CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll of 1,008 adults finds only 19 percent are interested in the couple's visit to the U.S. And when asked if they would like to meet the prince and his wife if given the opportunity, 19 percent said no, 67 percent said they didn't care.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the royal visit to the U.S. is seen as an extremely important one. It's a move to boost already strong ties between the two countries and it will serve as a test for the prince's new wife in a country still smitten with the late princess.
Here now, CNN international correspondent Richard Quest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As royal visits go, this one's as important as it gets. The future king of England and his new wife, visiting the most powerful nation on earth.
The trip has to be a success, and the royals are going all out to make sure it is. Even the media have been moved, not just by courtiers, but the couple. Days before leaving for America, their royal highnesses invited American ex-pats and members of the U.S. media to Clarence House, their home in London.
During the royal trip, Prince Charles will be keen to show his passion for agriculture and the environment. He'll make speeches on sustainable farming and visit organic farms. He'll also talk about the environment and architecture. These are all subjects upon which the British public have heard him talk many time. For the Americans, it will be a serious Prince Charles.
It's only been seven months since Prince Charles married the woman he's loved for 30 years. Camilla the mistress became Camilla the Duchess. The palace has been involved in a sustained P.R. offensive from Britain to get the public to warm to Camilla, and it seems to be working.
In the States, though, it will be an uphill task. Americans will remember that famous visit 20 years ago of Charles and Diana. The palace knows that Camilla will never achieve that kind of star status, but they do hope Americans will grow to like her.
ROBERT JOBSON, ROYAL COMMENTATOR: Although I'm not so sure the Diana versus Camilla story will be as hugely significant as everybody thinks it will be. It's almost ten years now since the death of Diana. And I think a lot of people have now, in many respects, consigned her to history. But obviously, you're going to look at previous footage and previous stories of Diana when she was in America and obviously there will somebody that try to compare them.
QUEST: The Charles and Diana visit to the states in the 1980s was pure Hollywood glitz and glamour. Twenty years on, Charles and Camilla, a couple heading towards their 60s. They intend to present a much more sober and more traditional image of British royalty.
Richard Quest, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: What kind of weather can the royal couple expect once they make their way around the U.S.? Some unusually warm temperatures in certain spots. Bonnie Schneider will have that for us just ahead, along with a check of the business world with Susan Lisovicz, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Our update coming now also from Southern California, from Pico Rivera. It's about 11 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. We were telling you about this fire a little bit earlier this morning. As I said, Pico Rivera, and that's a bridge that's going over the Rio Honda (ph) River. Concern right now that that bridge could collapse. Firefighters have been on the scene there for more than an hour, and there are surrounding homes. No danger to the homes at this point. We also are getting word, though, that one firefighter from L.A. County was injured in battling those flames. More on that as more information becomes available.
Want to tell you, I'm Daryn Kagan. International news is coming up next.
Stay tuned for "YOUR WORLD TODAY." Jim Clancy and Zain Verjee will be with you after a quick break. And I'll see you tomorrow morning.
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