Virtual Pandemic: 90 Days to Infect Entire U.S.

A new computer model reveals how a pandemic like the avian flu might spread quickly across the United States and what methods would best thwart the scenario.

Researchers assumed a starting point of 10 highly infectious influenza cases in Los Angeles, then let the model take it from there. The virus spread quickly, peaking in just 90 days with 100 or more infections per 1,000 residents of just about every corner of the country [Animated Map].

The simulation is an attempt to map out what might happen with a very uncertain bug: the avian flu virus H5N1 is a particular strain that does not yet easily pass between humans. If it morphs into such a strain, however, human deaths could mount quickly. Meantime, vaccines developed for current strains would likely not be effective against whatever variety ultimately emerges.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has said the country is not prepared for such a scenario.

SPECIAL REPORT: FLU FEARS Part 1 : Flu Basics What it is and how it affects us. Part 2 : Stay Safe How to prevent and treat the flu. Part 3: Pandemic Primer How flu could become a global killer. Animated Map: Starting with 10 cases in Los Angeles, how the flu might spread. Cases per one thousand people shown blue equals 1 or fewer red equals 100 or more. Credit: T. Germann et al., LANL

Lessons learned

The virtual pandemic suggests advance preparation of a modestly effective vaccine in large quantities is preferable to waiting to see exactly what strain emerges.

Quarantines, school closures and travel restrictions alone won't thwart the spread, but such measures can buy time while vaccines production is ramped up and tailored to the specific flu strain. In the simulation, long-range travel was cut to 10 percent of normal based on travel advisories that would presumably be instituted.

"Based on our results, combinations of mitigation strategies such as stockpiling vaccines or antiviral agents, along with social distancing measures could be particularly effective in slowing pandemic flu spread in the U.S.," said Ira Longini, a biostatistician with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington.

The variables

The model uses census data and 281 million synthetic people at work, play, school and home, along with Department of Transportation travel data that incorporates rapid spread from one city to another by air travel.

The computer model employs probabilities that an infected person will cross paths with others at home or, with lower probability, elsewhere.

"So we are only computing the probability of any person becoming infected on any given day, and a roll of the dice is needed to decide whether they are infected or not," said Timothy Germann of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The computer also considered one vexing aspect to the flu: About 33 percent of those infected don't develop symptoms and can unknowingly transmit the disease.

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