Guam worries about H5N1

Via GuamPDN.com: Senator stresses need for region-wide pandemic plan.

Sen. Tina Muña-Barnes, who's running for re-election, met last week with Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Palau's minister of Health and representatives of several Japanese companies on the creation of a plan to address a possible region-wide pandemic.

“Right now, plans for preventing or containing a pandemic outbreak in our region are inadequate,” Muña-Barnes said. “To the east of us, there is this deadly tuberculosis; to the west, Indonesia and ongoing cases of H5N1. We are surrounded by the potential for disaster that will stagger our economy and our society. Someone has to get this discussion started so we can prepare for these serious risks.”