Hawai'i has made impressive strides toward preparing for an avian flu pandemic, but we're nowhere near the point of kicking back and resting.

Last week's report from the Trust for America's Health underscored just how serious a public health crisis could result from such a flu infection in this state.

Potential losses for this state are projected at 6.6 percent of gross domestic product, largely because of our tourism economy. That places us second, behind Nevada, among the most vulnerable states.

This state is first to begin voluntary screening of incoming passengers, is stockpiling anti-viral drugs and is developing a lab able to test for avian flu and other flu strains here. The Centers for Disease Control already ranks us among the most prepared in the nation.

Infectious disease spreads quickly, but public awareness takes time. So it's a responsible act by state government to embark on the "Share Aloha, Not Germs" public information campaign, one that deserves full support.

Knowledge about avoiding infection — and acting quickly to counter it — may seem like common sense, but there are information gaps. That information must become second nature if we are to avoid the dire outcomes of a pandemic.