Avian Influenza and Pandemics

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Abstract
With an eye to the ominous storm on the horizon that is avian influenza, in his editorial (Jan. 27 issue)1 Stöhr proposes a much-needed research agenda — with one major oversight. In addition to clinical and epidemiologic questions, many ethical issues will undoubtedly be raised by an influenza pandemic. The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome taught us a number of important lessons, but the first was that we were ill prepared to respond.2 Among the greatest challenges faced were the duty to provide care in the context of unknown risk, the need to balance individual privacy rights and the public's right to know, the use of quarantine and other restrictive measures, and the need to set priorities and use limited resources appropriately. Other issues were related to information sharing, patents, and research ethics.3,4

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