Fighting a Deadly Flu

Influenza viruses have won more battles than history’s best military commanders. The flu slowed Charlemagne’s 8th century march across Europe. And just after World War I, a flu virus girdled the globe, claiming far more American lives than the conflict itself. Now, an especially virulent strain of flu virus--named H5N1 after the proteins it contains--is suspected of jumping from chickens to humans in Hong Kong, where officials reacted swiftly and surely Monday by launching a campaign to kill all 1.2 million of the territory’s chickens.

While extreme, that measure was appropriate, for H5N1 is a particularly dangerous foe. Usually, influenza viruses occur first in birds, then move on to infect pigs, in which the viruses become less harmful, and finally to humans. In contrast, the original form of the H5N1 virus is thought to have been transmitted directly from birds to people.

The virus currently poses no threat to the United States, but its appearance should encourage Congress and the Clinton administration to take another look at the nation’s own protections against livestock-borne disease. They are far from adequate.

In particular, the Food and Drug Administration should consider banning the use of rendered animal protein--livestock feed made from the remains of dead animals. Britain’s mad cow disease, which infected hundreds of thousands of cattle in 1989 and is suspected of killing 20 people, began when cattle ate rendered animal protein containing the disease-causing virus. Britain has banned the feed, but U.S. regulations still allow many forms of it.

The most urgent need is for the international community to work together to track down the source of H5N1. China has the world’s largest poultry population, and Hong Kong officials believe the virus emerged from neighboring Guangdong province, which the Beijing government denies. Political disputes on the source should be avoided, for they can only hinder scientists from handling the formidable challenges ahead, like developing a vaccine.

As the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control probe the epidemic, they should remember that viruses, unlike military commanders, kill regardless of nationality, rank or serial number.