Tom Price: “have you seen the headlines: Bird Flu Anxiety Spreads Across Europe. Bird Flu Could Kill 150 Million People. WHO Warns…”

“have you seen the headlines: Bird Flu Anxiety Spreads Across Europe. Bird Flu Could Kill 150 Million People. WHO Warns of Dire Flu Pandemic. Media should report facts, not create panic. Unfortunately, today many of the stories we see and read are short on facts and long on panic. It is time we brought some sanity to all the sensationalism. No one should doubt the potential of the bird flu. However, responsible people are working diligently to be certain that we are prepared for any threat and are able to respond quickly. Certain facts are important to keep in mind. This Avian flu virus has been around since at least 1997. It is not a new phenomenon. The CDC states that ``the current risk to Americans is low.'' So there is cause for concern, but not panic. Our real concern should be expanded. We need to address our ability to respond to any infectious disease. Providing incentives to U.S.-based companies for vaccine production and building a routine adult immunization program are just two of the positive steps we should take. Importantly, these actions should move forward in an environment of concern, not panic. ____________________”