Bird Flu

[Moonliner]

The Bird Flu.

How worried are you about this?

It's been on my "Ya I'll worry about that real soon now" list. Right up there with issues like dirty bombs and asteroid strikes.

Now however as more human cases are being reported I'm starting to wonder. I find my self thinking back to the post where I made light (http://www.xenarchy.com/LoT/showpost.php?p=38260&postcount=1)of a storm called Katrina. At that point it was out in the Atlantic and hardly a storm at all. And then...

Is the bird flu the same thing? A storm gathering on the horizon just starting to pick up steam?

Are you worried? Or not? Preparing? Or not?

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Somewhat torn on the issue...

On one hand, the media loves to over-sesationalize. How many times has the evening news told us about some disaster that is just around the corner? Africanized Bees, Fire Ants, etc... I try not to get worked up over stuff like that.

Then again, few people are aware of the severity of the 1918 flu epidemic that killed 25-40 million people worldwide (more than the black plague), and all within approx. a years time. Now granted, medicine has come a long way since 1918, but if what is being reported is accurate, this could be very very bad and we don't seem to be adequately prepared. The more cases get reported, the more nervous I will get.

[Moonliner]

Somewhat torn on the issue...

On one hand, the media loves to over-sesationalize. How many times has the evening news told us about some disaster that is just around the corner? Africanized Bees, Fire Ants, etc... I try not to get worked up over stuff like that.

Then again, few people are aware of the severity of the 1918 flu epidemic that killed 25-40 million people worldwide (more than the black plague), and all within approx. a years time. Now granted, medicine has come a long way since 1918, but if what is being reported is accurate, this could be very very bad and we don't seem to be adequately prepared. The more cases get reported, the more nervous I will get.
Medicine has indeed come a long way, but unfortunately so have the agents of infection. Airports. Worldwide in less that 24 hours.

[Not Afraid]

Am I personally worried? No. I'm young(ish) and (reasonably) healthy. I may get sick and suffer but I don't think I will be damaged beyond belief if I DO catch this thing.

There are those who will not be as lucky. They are frail, old, terribly young or generally unhealthy. These are the same people who could be killed by a bad case of "regular" flu.

As usual, the hardest hit demographics will be those with fewer priviledges and that will be terrible. There aren't many equal opportunity diseases around these days.

I tend to look at the fear the media is currently inciting with a chunk (better than a grain) of salt. I rarely watch TV and, when I do turn it on, there's always something ridiculous like "Storm Watch 2005" (reporting on California). I just can't take it seriouslt any longer and I'm not willing to go into any sort of panic mode just yet (if ever).

[Moonliner]

Am I personally worried? No. I'm young(ish) and (reasonably) healthy. I may get sick and suffer but I don't think I will be damaged beyond belief if I DO catch this thing.

There are those who will not be as lucky. They are frail, old, terribly young or generally unhealthy. These are the same people who could be killed by a bad case of "regular" flu.

As usual, the hardest hit demographics will be those with fewer priviledges and that will be terrible. There aren't many equal opportunity diseases around these days.

I tend to look at the fear the media is currently inciting with a chunk (better than a grain) of salt. I rarely watch TV and, when I do turn it on, there's always something ridiculous like "Storm Watch 2005" (reporting on California). I just can't take it seriouslt any longer and I'm not willing to go into any sort of panic mode just yet (if ever).

So once again you live up to your name. :)

I found this tidbit on Webmd.com:

The H5N1 bird flu bug has been particularly deadly for people unlucky enough to catch it from poultry. But if the bug learns to spread among humans, it almost certainly won't be as deadly as it is now, says Ira Longini, PhD, professor of biostatistics at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.

"Avian H5N1 looks like a 70% case fatality in humans. But this has never been true of any human strain," Longini told WebMD last December. "There has never been any human influenza virus that has behaved that way in recorded or even unrecorded history. The case fatality of even highly virulent flu strains are a couple of deaths per 10,000 people."


So it looks like it's not quite as bad once it makes the human-to-human jump.

[Matterhorn Fan]

I'll worry about it as much as I worried about West Nile and SARS. That is, not much at all. The news has sensationalized so many ridiculous things that we'll never know when they're being real.

OTOH, a story on the Daily Show quoted Bush as saying that it's when the bird flu goes "bird, human, human" that it's dangerous. They followed the best logic I've heard about this thus far: the best solution, if that happens, is to give it back to a bird.

I can find plenty of birds around here should that happen. ;)

[Matterhorn Fan]

The H5N1 bird flu bug has been particularly deadly for people unlucky enough to catch it from poultry. But if the bug learns to spread among humans, it almost certainly won't be as deadly as it is now, says Ira Longini, PhD, professor of biostatistics at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.So let me get this straight: the President LIED to us? "Bird, human, human" isn't when it becomes dangerous? I'm shocked and appalled!!!!

[Moonliner]

So let me get this straight: the President LIED to us? "Bird, human, human" isn't when it becomes dangerous? I'm shocked and appalled!!!!

Well yes and no. When it spreads human-to-human is when it takes off like wildfire and millions get infected. At the same time it should drop from 70% fatalitly to fractions of a percent fatality. However since (in theory) truly massive numbers of people will contract the disease then many more will die.

[wendybeth]

Being young and healthy is not always a defense against influenza. It's thought that the reason so many young and healthy people died in the Spanish Flu epidemic is because they hadn't been exposed to a milder form of it that made the rounds a generation prior, and so had no natural protection.

I am not too worried, mostly because there is precious little I can do about it. (Much like with Ebola or any of the other horrific viruses out there). If a '12 Monkeys' bug hits and things go to hell, then I will deal with it as best I can, provided I survive. If I don't, then I won't be around to worry about it anyway.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

What, me worry?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yeah, I'm with MF on West Nile and SARS.

It's good that it's being thought about at a high level. Good perparation will minimize the effect. Remember, best case scenario is that in 10 years we all say, "Pfft, remember what a big deal they made about bird flu?" Well, making that big deal may be what keeps it a small deal.

But practically, the best thing you can do is wash your hands, keep tabs on your own health, clean and cook all your food well, and keep in contact with your doctor. Hmmm, that's kinda what I do all the time anyway.

[wendybeth]

Well, I try not to stay in too close of contact with my doc, GD. She's around sick people all day!

I like the fact that they are starting to put sanitizers next to grocery carts, etc. They are riddled with germs, as are hotel room remotes, public telephones, etc. I should probably actually start using the sanitizers, though.:rolleyes:

[Drince88]

Well, I try not to stay in too close of contact with my doc, GD. She's around sick people all day!

I like the fact that they are starting to put sanitizers next to grocery carts, etc. They are riddled with germs, as are hotel room remotes, public telephones, etc. I should probably actually start using the sanitizers, though.:rolleyes:

Wow! You have sanitizers near the grocery carts (or as the locals here call them, Buggies!) -- Right now, we're lucky if we have produce bags in the produce department (lately it's been mostly the general grocery bags in the produce department) -- but even without all the normal hardships, I will be VERY surprised if we get that kind of a thing!

[Not Afraid]

So once again you live up to your name. :)



Well, I figure I can spend my time worrying and fretting over things I have little control over and therefore shorten my life and lessen the quality, or I can just be a happy camper while I'm here.

[€uroMeinke]

I'm not sure how one would prepare for it - it's not like you can make a Bird Flu Preparedness kit, like you would for Earthquakes or other natural disasters.

I also think, Bird Flu may be a big distractor - Viruses mutate and speread in a number of ways. The thing that will get us is the one beneath the radar. Just think about AIDS, how long it took to even figure out what was going on, how many people died before anyone knew what it was, how to diagnose it, or even treat it. Heck, how many people are still dying in Africa.

[Prudence]

I worry better than anyone else I know. And I do worry a bit about bird flu. Not too-afraid-to-go-outside worry, but I do sometimes think about what I would do if there were an outbreak. (This applies to West Nile, SARS, and any other infectious disease transmittable through everyday contact. (As opposed to bloodbourne pathogens.))

I have asthma. So does much of my family. Mine is actually pretty well under control right now. I haven't used either of my inhalers in ages. Still, when I get sick, the congestion heads right to my chest. I've had to seek medical treatment after a garden variety cold. I'm afraid of the regular flu and get a flu shot every year -- have for as long as they've been regularly available from the doc. It's terrifying to feel like you can't breathe, and whenever I get sick I have to plan for what I will do if I need to get treatment quickly. (For example, having transportation readily available.)

Buying and using my treadmill are the biggest steps I've taken toward improving my survival chances. I may not make it down to beauty pagent weight, but I can sure increase my overall health. In fact, it's since I 've been using the treadmill regularly that I haven't had to use my inhaler very often. I should -- and could -- do more, I suppose.

[Moonliner]

Tredmill? No need for that, just try my easy and fun Disney work out...

1. Enter the main gate an go ride (In this order)
1. Roger Rabbit
2. Indy
3. Space Mtn
4. Splash Mtn.
5. Buzz
6. HM
7. Peter Pan
etc..

You get exercise and have fun at the same time.

Or you could just follow GD and CP on 1/2 of a MouseAdventure but that's for the advanced Disney workout student only.

[tracilicious]

Eh. I was pretty worried when I first heard about it. Then I found out that the media had conveniently forgotten to mention that you can only get it from a bird. IF it mutates, then I will worry about it in an appropriate fashion.

In the meantime, we'll continue to keep our immune systems strong by taking vitamins and acidophilus, and eating healthy. We don't get flu shots because I refuse to put mercury and countless carcinogens into mine or my children's body. I would have to think pretty hard about a bird flu vaccine though. Then again, if it's as deadly as the media is trying to portray it, those that are going to die will probably be dead by the time a vaccine comes into circulation.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Tredmill? No need for that, just try my easy and fun Disney work out...

1. Enter the main gate an go ride (In this order)
1. Roger Rabbit
2. Indy
3. Space Mtn
4. Splash Mtn.
5. Buzz
6. HM
7. Peter Pan
etc..

You get exercise and have fun at the same time.

Or you could just follow GD and CP on 1/2 of a MouseAdventure but that's for the advanced Disney workout student only.Level 2:

1. Take 1-2 trips through Tarzan's Treehouse (for cardio & lower body).
2. Ride the Canoes twice (once on the right and once on the left, for an even upper-body workout). OR, for variety, try to make those teacups spin.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Personally worried? No, not really. 1- worrying won't help, 2- if it gets to be bad, we'll hear about it, 3- I think it's really being over-hyped.

I'm not particularly a worrier. The thing that's bad about these diseases that jump from an animal to a human is that we have no immunity. It's different enough from the prior viruses that we don't know how to recognize it as an intruder. The vaccine will help that.

My favorite quote was the lead-in to a story about the Bird Flu on the Daily Show- "The Bush White House has been plagued with one piece of bad news after another. Historically, you know what that means- it's nation-scaring time!"

Mostly I feel bad for people in those Asian countries who raise birds and have to kill them all (and of course can't sell them) trying to contain the infection.

[BryceCal]

I'm keeping my eye on it. They say it can kill up to 100 million people in as little as 4 months, that seems pretty serious to me, but then again what the heck do I know!

[Prudence]

One of the things that worries me is the collateral disruption. If quarantines are announced, what will that mean for the rest of us? What if I don't have enough food on hand? How long would I be out of work and would I have enough savings to cover the bills in the meantime? How much would infrastructure suffer?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Tredmill? No need for that, just try my easy and fun Disney work out...

1. Enter the main gate an go ride (In this order)
1. Roger Rabbit
2. Indy
3. Space Mtn
4. Splash Mtn.
5. Buzz
6. HM
7. Peter Pan
etc..

You get exercise and have fun at the same time.

Or you could just follow GD and CP on 1/2 of a MouseAdventure but that's for the advanced Disney workout student only.Good luck keeping up :D

Actually, what you described above is a lot like a MA. Add in a time limit.
One of the things that worries me is the collateral disruption. If quarantines are announced, what will that mean for the rest of us? Depends on how big the quarantines are, and where they're located.What if I don't have enough food on hand? You'd die of starvation, or at least be horribly malnourished.How long would I be out of work and would I have enough savings to cover the bills in the meantime? Well, if we're talking on the scale of worst case scenario, then we may very well end up using a bartering system instead of money and you'd have to dig graves for your food.How much would infrastructure suffer?Once the feudal systems die down, democracy will flourish again, right?

Don't you feel better now?