Colorado Lawmakers Discuss Possibility Of Bird Flu

(CBS4) DENVER Colorado lawmakers spent Monday discussing the possibility of an avian flu outbreak in the state. The virus is extremely rare with only 177 cases worldwide out of 6.5 billion people, but it could still make an appearance in the United States.

"Most of the people that have got this have had pretty dramatic contact, they live with their birds," said Ned Calonge, Colorado's Chief Medical Officer.

The mortality rates is about 50 percent for those who get the virus from direct contact with bird mucous and feces. So far, 98 people have died from the avian flu.

Lawmakers were told if the virus is spread between humans in Colorado, about 25 percent of the population could expect to be infected.

"We'll have literally hundreds, maybe even thousands of people not being able to get the health care they need if this pandemic hits," said Senator Dan Grossman.

If the flu virus comes to the U.S., the Colorado State University Veterinary Lab in Fort Collins, would be one of the five core labs in the country where samples will be sent to be tested. The CSU staff told lawmakers that anti-viral treatments don't work and a bird flu vaccine may or not be in ready supply.

"We should be very wary of what the federal government is telling us and what the state government is telling us," Grossman said. "We're not ready and we shouldn't be living under the illusion that we are." [my emphasis]