James Whitfield said Tuesday he hopes that some day people will think he was "crying wolf." But Alaska's proximity to Asia and its contacts to the continent make it vulnerable to the virus that originated there. He said the state should take measures to protect itself.
"We must be prepared for the public health aspects and the social disorder aspects," Whitfield said.
"I hope we get incredibly prepared for the flu and it never happens," he said.
Whitfield is based in Seattle. His region includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Bird flu has not been found in flocks or humans in the United States.
Tens of millions of chickens have died or been slaughtered in Asia in an attempt to contain the spread of the deadly virus strain. Migrating birds over the summer caused an outbreak in Siberia that killed thousands of domestic foul. Bird experts in Alaska have been testing migratory birds for the flu.
In addition to birds migrating from Asia to Alaska, people move back and forth, Whitfield said.
Humans almost exclusively get the virus from birds, and about half die, according to his agency's best estimates.
"That's an incredibly high rate, attributed to the fact that we have no immunities to this flu."
People have to be extremely close to catch the flu from other humans.
"The big concern about a pandemic is that it could mutate to a point where it could be transmitted more easily," Whitfield said.
The Spanish flu, which broke out in 1918 and killed about 50 million people worldwide, is thought to have mutated from a bird flu.
The threat "is not smoke and mirrors," Whitfield said. "It's not fun and games. It's the real thing."
Being prepared, he said, is the top priority of the secretary.
"We're not there yet," Whitfield said.
Whitfield has been talking to officials in his four states about plans to address the threat of a pandemic. It could create social crisis as well as a health emergency, so communities, school districts and law enforcement agencies have become involved.
"Imagine the situation when standard flu symptoms can be perceived by people as a death sentence," he said.
He discussed measures to slow the spread.
Isolation and quarantine would limit transmission among people. Earlier this month, President Bush suggested using the military to enforce a quarantine.
Vaccinations would have to be developed, along with potential antiviral drugs, Whitfield said.
The fourth piece is the most important, he said.
"Standard respiratory etiquette is the thing we can all do," he said. That means covering all coughs and sneezes, washing hands and carrying sanitizing alcohol hand gels.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.