Avian flu is nothing to sneeze at

Re “Bird flu and Chicken Littles,” Opinion, April 6

Marc Siegel denounces scientists and public health officials for “speculations and hysterical predictions” about bird flu. The problem is that the scientific literature to which Siegel refers does not support his contention that bird flu is a long way away from turning into a human infection. On the contrary, recent studies show that H5N1, the bird flu strain spreading across Eurasia, is perfectly capable of evolving mutations certifiably dangerous to human individuals and populations.

Certainly no one -- not the least, Siegel -- would forgive scientists and public officials for giving no warning if such a pandemic did emerge. Nor should we expect scientists to wait to issue warnings until a human-to-human strain emerged, as Siegel suggests. Clearly, erring on the side of absolute certainty would not allow time enough to ramp up a proper public health response.

There is room in the public square for myriad opinions about bird flu, including those of the skeptic. But skeptics too are open to critique, particularly one such as Siegel, who, in titling his new book “Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic,” cashes in on the very hysteria he claims to refute.

ROBERT G. WALLACE

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

UC Irvine