By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Regional law enforcement and health officials are preparing their strategies for dealing with the threat of an avian flu outbreak in the United States.
A conference Thursday at St. Louis University examined several issues, including crisis communication and how to quarantine victims.
Dr. Greg Evans directs the university's Institute for Biosecurity. He says unlike a chemical leak that lasts only a few hours, a flu outbreak would force law enforcement to take long-term measures.
It's going to be around for months, Evans said. And therefore, daily they have to be protecting themselves against coming down with the infectious disease, and particularly if we do not have a vaccine. Probably in the early stages we will not have a vaccine.
Evans says while experimental vaccines are being produced, it's unclear how effective they'll be against any type of new avian flu strain.