Now, a century later, we have flu vaccines that have reduced the severity of epidemics.
These vaccines need to be updated every year because the virus changes and new strains emerge.
What researchers fear is that a new strain of the virus will develop and cause another pandemic.
Once an outbreak occurs, transmission of the disease will be even faster than before.
An unintended consequence of our improved transportation system will be the speed at which an epidemic can spread.
Experts predict that the public health systems will be overwhelmed and unable to react quickly enough.
Questions:
1. Why do vaccines need to be updated every year?
>> The viruses change.
2. What is an unintended consequence of improved transportation system?
>> It allows epidemics to spread more quickly.
So the best defense will be to prevent an outbreak from occurring.
This will require global cooperation and the sharing of data.
It may also require changes in how humans interact with animals.
Animals such as birds and pigs carry viruses that may mutate into a strain that can infect humans.
Such a new strain could lead to another pandemic well before a new vaccine could be developed.
Since diseases and epidemics don't stop at national boarders, this is a global issue requiring global action.
The threat of a global epidemic is another example of why we must learn to live together.
Question:
— Why is global action required to deal with health issues?
>> Epidemics don't stop at national borders.
Fill in the blanks:
Animals such as birds and pigs carry viruses that may mutate into a strain that can infect humans. Such a new strain could lead to another pandemic well before a new vaccine could be developed.
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. So the best defense will be to prevent an outbreak from occurring.
2. The threat of a global epidemic is another example of why we must learn to live together.
3. An improved transportation system allows epidemics to spread more quickly.
4. Animals such as birds and pigs carry viruses that may mutate into a strain that can infect humans.
5. Experts predict that public health systems will be overwhelmed and unable to react quickly enough.
6. One danger is that an animal virus may mutate into a strain that can infect humans.
