flu news - hope or despair?

[wncbmw]

An article on the killer Spanish flu of 1918, the relationship to the current bird flu and the implications to our lives. The Spanish flu has been re-created and the question is can the good guys use this to thwart a pandemic that could kill millions before the bad guys steal it and use it as a weapon.

Scary stuff.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01783.html

This subject transends politics and should give us a common enemy - the flu!

[Boxer]

I wish I had a name like "Krauthammer"...


J. Schmutzmann Krauthammer.....yeah baby!

[dano]

yeah, a scary prospect; weaponizing avian flu or 1918 strain. still, back then, most succumbed to secondary, bacterial pneumonia (the viral 'flu' predisposes you to get this), and there were no ventilators/antibiotics, etc. still would be very damaging, but not (i hope) like 1918.
best to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.....

[jonothan]

I think that there's a lot of media scaremongering over the Avian flu that has now reached Turkey. It's killing turkeys in Turkey. Really.

Avian Flu has killed, what, 60 or so people in the Far East. Out of a population of millions.

The flu pandemic that's mentioned relies on (1) that virus mutating to a form more easily contracted by humans and (2) in so doing, retaining it's virulence.

Bear in mind that general health in the Western world is better, nutrition is better and health care better than in 1918. Also vaccines are easier to manufacture and more effective.

I think personally that the media are behaving irresponsibly.

J

[geechie]

As bad as this potentially might be for humans, just be thankful you're not a bird.

George

[rdsmith3]

I'm with Jonothan on this. I think the threat is being exaggerated by the media.

The big killer is still heart disease in the Western world. It is not as dramatic; it does not have a scary name; celebrities do not wear a ribbon to publicize it.

[wncbmw]

After the Katrina experience, perhaps the media is not to be believed on the real threat from this. On the other hand, there are many folks I read who normally do not over react to things taking this very seriously.

And I have already read articles faulting "the government" for not being ready for the future bird flu epidemic.

[rdsmith3]

And I have already read articles faulting "the government" for not being ready for the future bird flu epidemic.

Don't worry -- Homeland Security ("parent" organization of FEMA) is responsible for the U.S. response to the bird flu. Really.

[CycleRob]

What they are not talking about is the survival rate of the "bird flu". From what I saw on the news, it's about 50% in a 3rd world (?) nation.
(are there any 2nd world nations??).

The lack of available vaccine mfgr's is the fault of lawyers and the small profit made by the contracted drug makers. The lawyers severly punished the vaccine mfgr's for the infinitesimal number of people harmed or killed by the life saving vaccine. The following year only one drug company was participating. Now there is blame and finger pointing and a lot of the old and weak in many nations will most likely die needlessly if this virus jumps the gap. I point my finger at the lawyers.

[Gord]

Pick a century. Pick a decade. There has always been something plaguing the world. The ability of germs to mutate and evolve perhaps is the greatest evidence that just perhaps Darwin was right. No matter how much man applauds himself for overcoming disease, a new or more virulent form comes along.

It is the ability of people to move so freely about the globe that has created the terrible potential for mass death by disease. It is controllable. If governments have the will to not only enforce travel controls, and the will to take the tough economic decisions when something like avian (or mad cow) hits.

Controlling something like this is all about leadership and commitment. It will be interesting - if not scarey - to see how it unfolds.

[garylspolar]

The big killer is still heart disease in the Western world.

I can't imagine why. Only 90 percent of U.S. men and 70 percent of women eventually become overweight. On average, nearly 65 percent of our adult population is obese. OBESE. Not love handles, not a bit of fullness in the cheeks,.... obese.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051003/hl_nm/obesity_dc

[wncbmw]

garyspolar - while off-topic, I feel I must answer the obese issue. There is no doubt Americans are getting bigger and fatter. But the official government definition of obese, includes virtually every defensive back and wide receiver in the NFL (American football for you non-US guys! ) It also includes me. 5'9' - size 34 pants. Anyone who spends time in a weight room will show up statistically as "obese".

Not that I am necessarily disagreeing with you on people's habits and heart disease, but like many issues, the media may be over playing that one also, if basing the story on statistics.

[Boxerboy]

I think that there's a lot of media scaremongering over the Avian flu ....

I think personally that the media are behaving irresponsibly.

J

Maybe. Someone is taking it seriously.
The Oz government have "stockpiled" 300 ventilators (life support) for use in the circumstance that this 'flu becomes a real problem.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/ ... 42989.html
They have also stockpiled enough circuits (the inspiratory/expiratory tubing setup) for 2 circuit changes per week per ventilator.Each vent would retail for about OZ$50K. I'm sure they got a discount for the bulk purchase.


These decisions would've been taken after serious advice from experts...you'd hope. I wonder where they'll find the Nurses to drive the bloody things?

Wouldn't you love to be the rep on commission that stitched up the vent sale!

The Oz government has also stockpiled 20mill doses of antivirals...one each here!