The subject matter of "Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America," a TV movie about a bird flu outbreak that aired Tuesday on ABC, is all too real, local health officials said Friday. They worried the movie would cause panic but took the opportunity it provided to talk about pandemic flu preparations.

Mat-Su Emergency Services director Dennis Brodigan said Friday he hadn't seen trailers for the movie but has heard the hype.

"I'm concerned that people may be panicked by such a scene," Brodigan said. "It's not that it isn't a potential scenario. It just isn't a probable scenario. But the public should understand that if we don't do proper preparations, perhaps this is a scenario that could come true."

For months, Brodigan has been working with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and the Municipality of Anchorage to prepare for a possible pandemic flu outbreak. It might not happen with avian flu, Brodigan said, but some type of massive flu outbreak is likely.

A pandemic, according to information from the state Health and Social Services Department, is a global disease outbreak. Influenza pandemic occurs when a new virus emerges for which humans have little or no immunity. Avian influenza is not pandemic, but it could be if the virus mutates and becomes more easily transmitted from person to person.

No cases of avian or human infection from the H5N1 influenza strain have been reported in the U.S., according to information from the department Friday.

According to state Fish and Game biologists, wild birds carry many flu viruses, including the H5N1 strain. The difference with H5N1 is that it spreads easily to domestic birds. In the past two years, it has also been transmitted to a small number of people who live or work with infected domestic birds.

Since 2004, the World Health Organization reports 205 confirmed cases of H5N1 avian flu infection and 113 human deaths. There are no documented cases of human infection from wild birds.

In August, the Southcentral emergency service responders participated in a mock scenario meant to gauge their ability to respond if the Strategic National Stockpile, the federal stockpile of vaccines, antibiotics and other life-saving items, needed to be reached in an emergency.

Heather Handyside, director of emergency management for Anchorage, said simulated vaccine distribution centers were set up. A few thousand people received fake shots in a few hours. But the practice run might not help in a pandemic flu outbreak, such as avian flu.

"If a pandemic flu were to occur, it would be months before the vaccine would be created," Handyside said.

Local governments are being told not to expect a quick fix or much help from higher offices, Brodigan and Handyside said.

"The message we received from the federal government and the state government is, they can provide guidance, but they really don't have any resources for us," Handyside said.

The state Department of Health and Social Services is providing assistance. That agency monitors flu outbreaks around the state and has put together a public outreach program with a lot of information available at www.pandemicflu.alaska.gov. They've also prepared a statewide response plan.

Sarah Sanderlin, nurse consultant for emergency preparedness at the Mat-Su Public Health Center, said the state is helping communities prepare for an outbreak. Part of that means making citizens aware of their responsibility for preventing the spread of viruses.

"We can look at this at the organizational level, but it completely comes down to the individual and taking care of yourself," Sanderlin said. "If we're looking at pandemic specifically, or specifically at bird flu, the simple principles of hand washing, covering your mouth; in the slowing of disease process, they are key elements."

So is having an emergency kit, Brodigan said. Pandemic flu outbreaks tend to last longer than other emergency events, like earthquakes. He's recommending a 21-day stockpile of food, water and emergency equipment. For information about what to keep, he suggested a list at the state Homeland Security Web page: www.ak-prepared.com/homelandsecurity/citizenpreparedness.htm.

Sanderlin said personal responsibility is the focus in part because it's the best way to contain an outbreak without a vaccine. Alaska hospitals would be overrun if people don't limit their contact with others.

Sanderlin said that based on estimates from past outbreaks, nearly one-third of the Alaska population could become ill from a pandemic flu. Between 2,000 and 22,000 could need hospitalization. Alaska has about 1,400 hospital beds statewide.

"Even a mild pandemic would put our hospitals at capacity," Sanderlin said.

Sanderlin and Brodigan are working together on a Mat-Su response plan. Because Mat-Su, Anchorage and Kenai are so closely tied, Brodigan said he's working with Handyside and Kenai representatives to be sure response plans mirror each other. With 25,000 Mat-Su people driving to Anchorage daily, he said, there's no other choice.

"If Kenai and Anchorage have all these prevention techniques set up and we don't, we could undo that in about two seconds," Brodigan said.

Public meetings about pandemic flu plans will be held around the state in June, Sanderlin and Brodigan said.

In Mat-Su, the meetings are set for June 27-28 and will cover a range of topics. Brodigan said a town hall meeting would also be held so people can ask about emergency plans.

"We kind of take these opportunities to do public education," Handyside said. "If a movie like this does prompt people to get prepared, that's fine with me."

Daily News reporter Rind White can be reached at rwhite@adn.com or 352-6709.