As we enter another flu season, we are reminded that we are due for another global flu pandemic which may kill a large number of our fellow humans. How great is the danger, and how can we protect ourselves? The H5N1 avian flu virus thus far appears to have infected only humans who had direct contact with domestic birds. If there has been any human-to-human spread, it has not been sustained.

Whether the next deadly flu pandemic will arise from H5N1 or from a seasonal human influenza virus, we have an unprecedented opportunity to plan for the worst. Federal, state, and local agencies are preparing for such a potential disaster. The public must also be well informed and prepared.

Talk with your physician about immunizations, how to protect yourself from the flu, and what to do if you become ill. Most people benefit from a yearly flu immunization. You may also benefit from pneumonia and other immunizations. Read and listen to public information, including websites such as PandemicFlu.gov.

Innovative vaccine and medication development are essential to manage the next pandemic. At best, taxpayer and pharmaceutical company dollars will better prepare us. Currently it takes months to prepare flu vaccines. New technologies, achievable only with years of work and billions for scientific research, can reduce the time to produce vaccines.

If we want new vaccines and drugs to protect our lives, we must encourage and support pharmaceutical research and development and significantly reduce the current bureaucratic and legal hurdles. Reasonable and prudent oversight of vaccine and drug development and production, and holding persons and companies financially and criminally liable for actual negligence and fraud, is appropriate and necessary. Unwarranted litigation endangers everyone. Innovative vaccines and medications will protect us only if they are available.

See my column at Lubbock Online for an extended version of this topic.