Doctors brace for overreaction to film.

Byline: Matt Cooper The Register-Guard

While viewers across America tune in tonight to ABC's made-for-TV movie about the global spread of deadly bird flu, health experts will battle the spread of something else: overreaction by the public.

"I'm concerned that some people may get the wrong message from it - just get unnecessarily upset or freaked out," said Dr. Sarah Hendrickson, Lane County public health officer. "I hope people have fun watching it and don't take it too seriously. It's just a movie."

The airing of "Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America" at 8 p.m. caps months of increasing publicity and public discussion about bird flu.

The Bush administration last week released a plan for dealing with a bird flu pandemic that basically puts the brunt of the responsibility on the shoulders of states and local communities. The federal plan urges businesses and individuals to take steps now to plan for keeping vital services running.

Given that bird flu H5N1 is a real concern - mostly for birds, that is - health experts are taking pains to publicize facts that can balance out tonight's fiction.

Following are answers from government officials to questions prompted by the movie. For more information, call the county at 682-4041.

Question: What is bird flu?

Answer: Bird flu is a flu that kills birds, Hendrickson said. People who work very closely with birds can catch it, and it can be lethal. People who don't aren't likely to catch it, and there are no reported cases of sustained human-to-human transmission of the disease. There is no massive outbreak of bird flu anywhere. But it is spreading and eventually will reach the United States.

Question: How many people have died?

Answer: There have been 207 reported cases and 115 deaths since 2003, generally in Southeast Asia and the Russian federation. The numbers look alarming, but officials can't count people who have the virus but haven't reported it.

Question: More than 20 million people die in the movie. Could that happen?

Answer: "We don't know what it's going to be like," Hendrickson said. "It could be as bad as the movie; it could be slightly worse than plain old everyday flu." The common flu kills about 30,000 people a year.

Question: In the film, vaccines are in short supply. Realistic?

Answer: Yes. Vaccines can't be made until the strain of flu is identified, and then it's six months, minimum, to develop it. The federal government is also trying to stockpile anti-virus medicine such as Tamiflu for 25 percent of the population, which is about the percentage that could be expected to get sick based on historic outbreaks.

Question: Could an outbreak hurt the availability of other medicines and food?

Answer: Yes. As with any disaster, a severe outbreak could block the manufacture and distribution of products; keep an emergency supply of food and medicine. With a severe outbreak, up to 40 percent of the work force may be out sick or at home taking care of ill family members, according to the federal Health and Human Services department.

Question: Will masks help?

Answer: Can't hurt, Hendrickson said. Flu is generally spread by airborne droplets that reach the eyes, nose or mouth. Masks and respirators are recommended for health care workers at risk, and infected patients should wear masks.

Question: How effective is a quarantine?

Answer: It may be used early to contain an outbreak, but once an illness spreads, the measure is ineffective. At that point, officials preach "social distancing" - stay away from large gatherings, minimize travel, put some space between you and your dinner guest, telecommute and watch for school closures.

Question: In the movie, trucks dump bodies into massive open graves as the death toll skyrockets. Realistic?

Answer: Not very. The federal government is working with government agencies and the private sector to guide states and communities to practices that will maintain the dignity of the deceased, honor family wishes and respect religious and social customs, the federal health department said.

Question: With vaccines in short supply, who gets it first?

Answer: Infants, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions - the three groups most at risk - and health care providers essential to maintaining the service of health care.

Question: What about young adults? They were decimated in the 1918 flu pandemic.

Answer: That was due to two factors, Hendrickson said - the close quarters that many American soldiers kept as they trained for World War I, and the fact that the 1918 flu attacked their immune systems. The bird flu may have the same potential, but it's too early to say. The federal government plans to stay flexible in determining who to vaccinate.

Question: So what should we do?

Answer: As with any disaster, communities and businesses should form a plan for loss of work force, telecommuting and disruptions to the economy; visit www.pandemicflu.gov for details. Citizens should remember the basics: Cover your cough, stay home when you're sick, keep your distance from others and wash your hands often.

And enjoy the movie.

CAPTION(S):

"Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America," a made-for-TV movie that debuts tonight on ABC, has health officials concerned about undue public panic.