Version 2: slightly toned down.
Can I just say that the people who dismiss Bird Flu as some kind of media invention are misguided. Anything that could kill upwards of 2 million people and maybe as many as 1 in 4 in this country is anything but a joke. There is a very real possibility that, if it comes, a significant number will be killed by it. And some of them could be among our circles of family, friends etc.
Learn a bit about bird flu here, and click on 'quick guide' . If you do, remember that we are supposed to live in a democracy. If we want the Government to do more, and we shout loud enough, they might. But we seem to be less prepared than any other country in Europe. You can find out more about that in another link on the same page. If we all treat it as a Daily Mail conspiracy, then maybe they'll do too little too late.
Here's a headline to make you think: "Experts say it is no longer a case of if but when a pandemic of bird flu hits the human population."
And here's a fact: so far it has killed 50% of those people who have contracted it.
Some joke.
24 comments:
But that's a total of about six people isn't it? that's still six people too many and I don't doubt that it may be a disaster in countries with a generally poor level of nutrition but I do seriously doubt the stories about how it will primarily wipe out fit Westerners in their 30s and 40s. See my comment about the 1918 pandemic on surly's blog.
sorry, constructed long reply then Mac crashe and lost it all. Frustrating.
I think you need to add a few noughts after your 6. No time to explain now, but hopefully will be back much later to share my thoughts.
Really? I thought the deaths now tallied three in Turkey and three in China. And it only seems to be people who regularly spend time with live poultry
From the BBC website link in my post "By the end of 2005, more than 70 people had died from bird flu - a mortality rate of around 50%."
The big jump it has yet to make is into a virus that transfers human to human - you are right about everyone so far has worked with birds. But when it makes that mutation - as all the experts seem to say it will (it's a 'when' not an 'if') - that's when we have a problem. And for that to happen it has to infect someone who already has flu AND make the mutation. It's a big jump, but it will happen and then we can start to panic.
But up to then - why worry about possibilities? Becasue the government has to.
It's just that it's not something to be taken lightly.
If it doesn't come in 2006, it will come in 2007 or even 8. It's on its way.
First taxes, now Bird Flu.
On today's News at Ten they said, and I quote "bird flu is very easy to catch." The two children in Ankora who have caught it had simply been playing, as kids will, with the cadaver of a wild bird they had found.
It is scary. I'm sure the Govt won't be ready with suficient anti flu stuff if it gets really big and I just hope they've learnt enough from the last few panics to get really heavy really quickly with containment and isolation measures.
Not a joke.
You're so right: it is no joke. And that's all I was trying to say. There have been some people in blogland treating as a conspiracy or a joke, and it just isn't.
Unfortunately I don't think the government is really doing enough yet. Our preparations lag behind the rest of Europe, and although our island status may be a help, I don't think its enough to make us as complacent as they seem to be being.
Still, I'm sure they've created another committee, or even a working party, to look into the possibility of having a meeting about planning to thnk about dealing with it.
Even I'm getting bored of this now, but one last (for now) point. Some people are saying (in their blogs or as comments in others') that only 75 have died so far, there are worse problems.
Well yes, but something is being done about those problems (mainly not enough), and often that something was started too late (AIDs?) and countless thousands have/will die because of that.
So shall we learn from that lesson? Or shall we continue to ignore developing problems until, once again, it is too late and they are actually killing our friends and families?
I think you can engage with what's going on in the world or you can live disengaged. People who suggest this is a storm in a tea cup, or less of problem because it hasn't happenend yet, are disengaged.
As I (sort of) said, leaving things to the last minute often hasn't worked in the past. So let's learn from history and NOT rely on the 'old ways', let's do something in advance (more than is being done now) and then you can all turn on me and say - see, we told you it was nothing to worry about.
And if I'm here, I'll be happy to be on the receiving end of it. Because I will know what might have been.
Finally, finally, mean to say to GSE: I thought your six was refering to the number likely to die (in a sort of ironic way). My 'add a few noughts' was the potential, not meant to indicate the number who have died so far.
That is only mid-70's. So far. And every one direct from infected brids to humans. The urgent point we all need (imho) to get is that once it mutates - and all the scientists are syaing it WILL - then we can start to expect the figures with worrying amounts of noughts after them.
It is not an Apocalypse Now, but it might become one. Everything is pointing towards it. And as I said before, if not in 06, then 07/08/09. The clock ticks.
word ver: enftj - I think someone is telling me to end it. Enfin.
maybe your word ver was EN f*ing TJ
just a thought
or were you an INTJ? oh, getting confused again
:-$
I think this looks very messy, by the way; it might not bother you - but it bothers me
(only happens when time and comments in double figures)
if only the state of the house bothered me as much, I'd stop blogging and go do something about it (ha ha)
I do apologise for being Slightly Critical, BTW
what looks messy. the comments or the post?
nzfuztds
now ze fuging zing is tedious?
new zealand for ze tedious?
the bit that goes:
"posted by - The Beep@12:55PM(space)12 Go on say it, you know you want
to:"
only happens when you're in double time figures and double comment figures (ie 12 AM or PM plus 10+ comments) and then the (space) isn't big enough
word ver - just slap me
funny I was only thinking this morning of changing it ...
and there was me (Guardian gal)thinking you were a (trashy) Times guy. . . could have combined them with "Timely Observations". . .
I'm just impressed you know how do do it (change "comments" into "Subservient Snivels" or whatever takes your fancy)!
did your folks (any combination of them) have those small pocket sized books about Trees and Birds called Observer guides, or something or other of that ilk(quarter A4)? if they did you'll remember, if not you won't know what I'm talking about
(in me corkney accent, like) (guv)
WV me-tarzan-you-jane
VG! I shall almost certainly nick that. I thought the observers because i suspect that's how my Grandpa earned his medal. But when that post fades with the sound of the last post, I shall change to timely observations.
Hoorah!
yes, but you
did not answer my question about small books
Observed she
(sorry, still in haiku mode)
yes, but you did not
answer my question
about small books, observed she
(kinda like the middle line better that way)
ELIZABETH DAVID
good night, slacker, good night xx
too soon. tomorrow.
and sorry books. I know them, but no. Not the sort of thing my parents would have done for me.
I thnk on off g/f has the birds one, and the trees one is familiar. I wouldn;t mind it now actually as I am compeletely crap at tree id, and there's a red barked one in the hedge where i walk the dog. the growing bits are red and the old bits are ordinary dull brown.
in certain lights it looks like a trick photo.
must try and capture it. Needs a low warm sun. like the other night, but it was too far away. I need to walk a different route.
g'night x
you never said
what you thought of my haiku
(or whatever it was)
(17!) x
You're wasted. Get out there and inspire some kids to write. You could be one of those teachers that famous writers namecheck in their acceptance speeches "and finally," sniff, "I'd like to mention Don't Chase It, a marvellous teacher who inspired me to read Carol Ann Duffy and other poets, and with her in mind I gratefully accept this, my fourteenth striaght Haiku award. I love you all" rousing cheer, massive applause. Fade to Grey. Run Titles.
don't be sarky
it's this bloggin' malarky
only those who can't, teach
I wasn't being rude about teachers, BTW; spend quite a lot of time helping in school and admire them totally, I know I couldn't do it
have put something up for you, chez moi
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