Avian flu caused by the H5N1 virus is under close observation and study by disease experts because of concern that it could become a pandemic. The Center for Disease Control and others are monitoring the spread of this virus, which currently causes illness in birds, to determine the possibility of mutations allowing spread from birds to humans and from humans to humans. There have been cases in other countries, like Indonesia, of spread from birds to humans, leading to death.

There are three criteria needed for a pandemic to occur. The first two criteria have been met: 1) it is a “novel” or new virus causing human disease and 2) it causes severe disease. The third criteria; sustained person to person transmission, has not yet been met.
Pandemics of the past appear to have begun possibly through human contact with sick birds. We are told all it would take for H5N1 to become a pandemic would be for the virus to mutate so it could spread in a sustained way from person to person. The process of adaptation by a virus to a host takes time. The World Health Organization (WHO) has plans in place for surveillance of clusters of unusual viral infections that include flexibility, the possibility of quarantines and international cooperation to hopefully, thwart the emergence of a pandemic.

We are encouraged by national and state public health personal to take steps to stay healthy, prevent the spread of disease and to be aware of national and international efforts regarding surveillance. Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College administrators are concerned about the health and safety of students, faculty and staff. We have established a Pandemic Planning Committee and are in the process of developing a plan to implement along each step of the way. Our goal is to minimize disease and its spread and to keep operations of the institutions up and running with as little interruption of services and instruction as possible.

For specifics regarding what BSU is doing see the sidebar at right. If you would like to find more information about the pandemic from reliable sources, the following web sites are recommended:
www.mdhflu.com. or www.Pandemicflu.gov
Watch for further information on this site as national, state and local health status changes.

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Avian Flu Update as of
August 28, 2006


Bemidji State University is
preparing for a potential
flu pandemic by:

Updating and expanding the BSU’s emergency plan

Sharing information regarding pandemic preparedness with students, staff, faculty, and their families