Due to its location as a crossroads for migratory birds, scientists have identified Alaska as a likely North American entry point for avian flu, also known as the H5N1 virus, and warn that rural Native Alaskan communities would be among the first and hardest hit if a pandemic occurs. Government and community representatives met on April 13 at the Alaska Pandemic Influenza Summit in Anchorage to discuss this possibility, and to formulate precautionary measures. Many individuals in indigenous communities supplement their diets and incomes by hunting birds, and would be among the first to come into direct contact with any infected birds. "People are very concerned for two reasons," said Michael Bradley of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. "The first is that people in the rural communities depend on the birds as a food. But also, there are still lingering memories of the 1918-19 influenza pandemic that took a heavy toll on the indigenous communities." While there have not yet been any confirmed cases of avian flu in the United States, Alaska state officials are preparing for the possible outbreak by increasing communities’ ability to access information about avian flu. The state is also stockpiling supplies of an over-the-counter antiviral drug that many believe would be effective during a pandemic. The native health consortium is additionally engaging in educational outreach efforts: "We do a lot of presentations, educating people about the differences between bird flu and pandemic flu," Bradley said. "People were concerned at first, but as we explain more about the disease, and also what measures to take when handling birds, it lessens people’s fears."
