A federal report says neither the U.S. government nor the states are ready for bird flu, though it has spread to 60 countries and will likely arrive here sooner or later.

"My home state is particularly vulnerable," said Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, "because of the number of visitors we receive from Asia, where many of the incidences of this disease have been identified. This virus could create a health as well as an economic crisis in our tourism-dependent state."

The Government Accountability Office report, issued Monday, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken "important steps" to prepare for an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza but said "better planning could improve response."

One potential obstacle to responding to a bird flu outbreak could be a squabble over jurisdiction, not between federal and state officials but between officials of different federal agencies. USDA takes the view that involvement by the Department of Homeland Security is not necessary unless there were multiple outbreaks, an agroterrorism event or a human pandemic. But GAO points out that this is not USDA's decision to make.

"After H5N1 enters the U.S. and makes people or animals sick is not the time to negotiate over who's in charge," Akaka said, adding that he was disappointed with the USDA for not coordinating with DHS over something that puts lives at risk.

GAO pointed out that terrorist involvement would likely be suspected regardless of circumstances because of the possibility that terrorists could introduce bird flu to disrupt the U.S. economy. The World Trade Center was targeted in 2001 precisely because it housed several large brokerage firms and the bombers thought its destruction would disrupt Wall Street.

GAO also reported that USDA has not estimated how much medicine is needed in the event of an outbreak. And it also said several states have no response plans or plans which are incomplete. The report was undertaken at the request of Akaka and several other senators, Republicans and Democrats alike.

Hawaii welcomes about 5 thousand visitors a day on flights from Asia. Most are from Japan, but there are also direct flights to Hawaii from Seoul, Taipei, Manila, Guam, Australia, New Zealand and several smaller Pacific Island nations.

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