Think of the avian flu as a distant but approaching hurricane. It may miss us or it may not, but Americans should be prepared because this virus has the potential to create a public-health disaster.

Although there are no signs yet of a bird flu pandemic in humans, the World Health Organization reports that of the 117 proven cases of the H5N1 virus in which people were infected, 60 of the victims died. All the human cases were in Asia, where millions of birds have perished, but avian flu has reached parts of Europe and is expected to spread elsewhere. The virus is not easily transmitted from one human to another, but that won't be the case forever. The Bush administration has done well to sound the alarm. However, legislation moving through Congress needs improvement.

Aside from the high lethal rate of the virus in humans so far, other reasons for concern exist. There is no vaccine, nor the potential to manufacture enough doses in a short period if one is developed. A prescription drug called Tamiflu, made by Roche, can mitigate the effects of avian flu, but there is not enough on hand to avert a pandemic. This strain of flu is new to humans, and the virus is evolving, further complicating an effective prevention strategy.

Some immunologists believe that anti-bacterial drugs already on hand can effectively fight the effects of the flu and prevent large-scale loss of life. Immunology has made great strides since the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-19 killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide, but this doesn't lessen the need to prepare.

Commendably, Congress is moving to enact legislation that offers financial and other incentives to pharmaceutical companies to speed up the development of medicines that protect people against bioterrorism and potential dangers such as avian flu. The bill (S. 1873) establishes the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency as the single point of authority within the government for advanced research and development of drugs and vaccines.

This is a good step, but even better would be the designation by President Bush of a top government official with the sole responsibility of preparing the country for an avian-flu outbreak. The sad experience of Hurricane Katrina suggests that this is necessary in any large-scale disaster.

The government should also consider a temporary suspension of the patent of the anti-flu medicine Tamiflu to allow more production as quickly as possible. The manufacturer, Roche, should be compensated, but given the high stakes, it's worth setting aside the usual rules that govern the production of pharmaceuticals. Too many lives, particularly among the youngest and oldest, are at risk.