Hurricane Katrina has exposed the thin veil separating civilization from chaos. Now imagine a pandemic, far worse than the deadly flu epidemic of 1918, one with the capability of spreading across continents with lightning speed, killing and disabling millions. How would world governments cope with this unprecedented health disaster? This History Channel documentary presents a hypothetical but chillingly plausible doomsday scenario of what might happen when the next great plague—the avian flu—strikes. In a remote Vietnamese village, the virus jumps from birds to humans, infecting an American businesswoman who, flying home, unknowingly spreads the germs to other passengers, who board more planes, further dispersing the disease. At first there are few symptoms, but within days people flock to the hospitals, which are unable to treat the sick. Weeks later, thousands are dead, international borders are sealed, industries are shut down, and difficult decisions must be made as to who will receive the limited lifesaving antiviral vaccines. Although the pandemic takes a year or two to run its course, eventually it ends, leaving millions dead and economies ruined. The Next Plague: Avian Flu vividly describes the carnage the virus wreaks on the human body, discusses the antiviral vaccine Tamiflu (which represents the best hope of inoculating humans against the disease), and outlines steps that must be taken now if the world is to be adequately prepared. An effective wake up call for government agencies, health groups, and concerned citizens, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
The Next Plague: Avian Flu
(2005) 50 min. DVD: $24.95. The History Channel (dist. by A&E Home Video). PPR. Color cover. ISBN: 0-7670-8997-9. Volume 21, Issue 5
The Next Plague: Avian Flu
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: