U.S. preparations against a possible outbreak of the deadly form of the H5N1 avian influenza virus are thorough, but other countries may not be as ready, a U.S. health official said Thursday. We' re close to the state-of-the art in the United States with preparations and strong bio-security measures, said Ambassador John Lange, the State Department s special representative on avian and pandemic influenza. However, in other countries, preparations are mixed, Lange said during a meeting of poultry industry leaders in Washington. The United States is spending $392 million over two years to help other countries prepare for a possible human outbreak of the disease, also known as bird flu. U.S. support has included sending experts and laboratory equipment to other countries, Lange said. The H5N1 avian flu virus has killed at least 148 people since 2003, mostly in East and Southeast Asia. Currently, the virus almost exclusively affects birds, though health officials fear that it could mutate and be passed easily between humans. Lange said it was especially challenging for poor countries to prepare for an outbreak because they do not have resources for sufficient surveillance and vaccinations.
