Bird flu cluelessness

The Russians, it seems, are taking bird flu much more seriously than we here in the US. The Russian newsagency Tass, in an elliptical and slightly mangled news report, refers to this pronouncement by a health official:

Because of the potential for pandemic flu outbreak [with bird flu], [the official] ordered committees set up in all regions to coordinate operations. He also recommended settng aside specific hospital beds for possible victims. [slightly edited for clarity]

Sounds like the Russians "get it." What are we missing? (Here's a clue: Leadership).