Pandemic Controversies: The Global Response to Pandemic Influenza Must Change

[tetano]

Jan. 28, 2013 ? 'Evil' scientists, deadly viruses and terrorist plots are usually the preserve of Hollywood blockbusters. But when it comes to pandemic influenza, it is the stuff of real life. As controversy about research into the H5N1 bird flu virus continues, a new paper argues for a complete overhaul of current approaches to pandemic preparedness.

To Pandemic or Not? Reconfiguring Global Responses to Influenza, by Dr Paul Forster, of the ESRC STEPS Centre, investigates the H1N1 swine flu pandemic of 2009-10 and sets out some vital lessons if we are to prepare for pandemic influenza effectively, while avoiding confusing and costly mistakes.

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...encedaily (ScienceDaily: Latest Science News)

 

[tetano]

Re: Pandemic Controversies: The Global Response to Pandemic Influenza Must Change

To Pandemic or Not? Reconfiguring Global Responses to Influenza

Authors: Steps Admin, Paul Forster

Examining the political economy of knowledge in responses to the 2009-10 influenza pandemic, To Pandemic or Not? Reconfiguring Global Responses to Influenza argues that globally, and in many individual nations, techno-scientific narratives constructed by bio-medical actor networks failed to correspond with the more variegated narratives of multifarious global publics, and so struggled to recruit support and maintain credibility and authority. With reductive narratives constructed by bio-medical actor networks confounded by the uncertainties intrinsic to the influenza virus, the complexities of the disease in individuals, and compromised by continuing ignorance, political and cultural forces became dominant.

Universalistic, one-size-fits-all responses drawn from reductive science are therefore argued to be insufficient, and possibly misguided. Planning and response efforts must consider diverse local settings and concerns. Reductive technical framings emerging from tight, unreflexive actor networks may prevent other options from emerging, and limit response pathways. Such narrow, technocratic responses are not only at odds with the varied understandings, needs and priorities of different people in different parts of the world, but also favour rich, industrialised nations.

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http://steps-centre.org/publication/pandemics-wp/