"What we all learned from (Hurricane) Katrina is that sometimes we have to think very clearly about the unthinkable," says Mike Leavitt. "We're not as prepared as we need to be. ...We will not have enough for everyone."
U.S. officials have acknowledged the bird flu strain, in its current form, could reach the States through a migratory bird.
We can't put a number on how probable that's going to be," says Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the infectious disease division of the National Institutes of Health. "It's a low probability. When the consequences are unimaginable, you must assume the worst-case scenario."
The U.S. currently has enough doses to treat 4.3 million people.
President Bush has proposed stockpiling enough of the anti-flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza for 81 million people, a goal drug manufacturers believe can be reached by mid-2007.
We're not prepared for vaccination, that's why we need to scale up. We are doing studies to extend the value of the vaccine ... allowing us to vaccinate more people with the same doses," says Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of now, Americans should take the usual steps in guarding against the common flu, like washing hands frequently and getting a flu shot.
