Bird Flu Risks Internationally?
 

Hi. I'm concerned about the bird flu and have been reading about it for several years now. Last night on network tv, there was a story warning the US that is was coming - Prime Time / ABC.

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Inv...=1130392&page=1

Here's some more interesting links about the bird flu:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,165009,00.html

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/cheal/message/279

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avia...s/en/index.html

Any thoughts on preparedness, risk, threat, etc??

thoughts? hype? propaganda to help the drug companies sell more vaccines? Wash my hands a lot? watch "The Stand" again?

sorry, I have short thoughts.

Concerned
 

we all are very concerned aboutthe same
i came to know aboutthe virus from the page (not allowed to post a link on your first post in case you're a spammer. -UT) and got a good amount of information
i am really scared and the thought of a pandemic scares me to death

Probably the best thing you can do, until this develops a little more, is get as healthy as you can..... good diet, plenty of sleep, exercise, etc. Can't hurt. :)

And, if someone coughs in an elevator lobby, take the stairs.

Fuck em.

I'll be going to Asia again this winter....eating their birds, walking their streets, mixing with the unwashed masses and not giving a thought to the flu.

I got my shots. What next? More shots? Then more? And more? Then more?


If I get into trouble, I have a hotline to God anyway.


So there!

I work for the NHS (National Health Service - UK). We don't have any insider information, but it has been a common subject of conversation at work recently.

The general consensus here is that there are too many "ifs" for us to be concerned. In order for there to be a pandemic, the virus has to mutate and become capable of passing from human to human. Even SARS - which DID pass from human to human killed approx 800 people worldwide. If I went trawling for statistics I'm sure I could find a similar mortality rate for road traffic accidents within a reasonably small area.

I do appreciate that governments and health authorities need to be prepared. Models showing impact on critical care in the UK have shown that current resources would be overwhlemed. I think its important that the NHS is aware of that, and devise an action plan that could withstand a worst case scenario. However I think it is also important to remember that the model assumed an 8 week pandemic affecting 1 in 4 people in the UK.

My gut feeling is that this pandemic will not come to pass, at least not to the degree that is being anticipated (I wonder if I can get odds on that at the bookies?)

However I am intrigued by the idea of preparing a survival kit. Am tempted to get in water, tins and over the counter medicines just so I know that whether its flu, flood or zombie attack I can hole up and survive. At least I know I'll be okay if the power goes off - scented candles work just as well to read by, right?

For the zombies you need per person: 5 day supply of water, 5 day supply of food, and a shotgun.

The fireaxe isn't good enough for zombies. You have to really blast 'em.

Oh, and you want your shells loaded with rock salt.

Zombies really hate rock salt.

Call me whacky, but *my* gut feeling tells me we are waaaayyyy overdue for just this sort of thing, and my family is laying in water, filter masks, ammo and canned goods right now.

I'm no paranoid, either...I just think that the time is ripe.

Be sure to get canned peaches. Mmm ripe peaches!

If I'm gonna lay in for nuclear winter (or, zombies) I'm going to have chocolate PUDDING and fuck your peaches!

Plus, vodka, and cigarettes.

And, comics.

and Swiss Chocolate

Be Careful Ep, this is a **********very********** slippery slope. Next thing you know you're storing your own plasma and have your entire fortune converted to Kugerands.....


Your trigger finger twitches uncontrolably when ever the cable goes out for even a pico-second.....

And whenever you see a low flying helo, you're caluculating trajectory and the required lead for volley of successful shots from a high power semi-auto rifle.

Then Wolf stops by.... speaking very softly...... and puts this nice white jacket on you backwards...

Nice work jackass, bird flu to white coats.....


So the general consenus is that this is a longshot but then again....with our luck lately .....snot a bad idea to have a little insurance.

OK. :biggrin:

Slang is psychic. I already do all of those things, except for the Krugeraands. I can't afford them, so I just buy more bullets. Now, if I can just find some Afrikaaner opportunists roaming around my neighborhood when the flu hits, I'll be set.

Why Kruggerands and not American Eagles?

I bought a Kruggerand, but I needed its metallurgical makeup and the Eagle would not do. Tip: Kruggerands are alloyed with copper and Eagles are alloyed with silver. My recipie was for rose gold, and I needed the copper.

Folks are more familiar with the Kruggerands, haina? sorry couldn't resist putting that in the Wyoming Valley patter.

I expected to be able to ask slang "what then?" but he kept answering the question.

If it's not this flu; it will be any flu that comes down the pike, that's for sure. Me, I'm not gonna eat any Peking Duck (not that I ever did), just to play it safe... Nat. Geo. was very informing and just as confusing, maybe yes, maybe no.

I would really recommend against that as well, particularly since your ducks are coming from New Jersey.

You do know why New Jersey got all the Toxic Waste Dumps and Pennsylvania got all the lawyers, right? New Jersey got first choice.

Slightly OT but regarding ducks.....

I watched a programme on Ch4 (UK channel) called "Supermarket Secrets". Felt quite small, as I believed I had a handle on where my food came from.

Turns out, in the UK, the RSPCA (Royal Scoiety for the Protection of Animals) issues a Freedom Food certificate to farms that breed animals for slaughter responsibly. I had heard all about battery farmed poultry - and always buy free range - but hadn't thought about ducks. Perhaps I assumed they were shot on my local duckpond or something Anyway, not a single duck breeder in the UK qualifies for the Freedom Food certificate.

Undercover filming showed quite nauseating scenes, and although I'm not sentimental about animals it certainly made me wake up to the possibility of infection from eating animals housed in those conditions.

I decided after that I wouldn't eat duck until I knew where it came from. Which doesn't sound too much of a hardship, but having recently discovered an All You Can Eat Chinese which has Crispy Fried Duck I feel I am suffering for my convictions!

Yes, begin preparing now! You'll want to pick a safe room, a-la Homeland Security 2002, and seal it shut with plastic sheeting and duct tape. As viruses can squeeze through very small gaps in order to attack your air-hole, you'll need to close off all possible ventilation points.

Once you've sealed the room so that it is shut air tight, you'll want to ensure you have food and water. Bottled water lasts a long time, but canned food is sometimes questionable. For the longest lasting, most nutrient rich food, your best bet are baked beans, pickled cabbage, and canned chili. Stocked with this stuff, you'll be plenty comfortable in your safe room.

Be sure to avoid ducks, piegons, and computers connected to the internet, as they are all prone to viruses.

Cook all meats to at least 160F for at least ten minutes.

Sneeze into a tissue, not your hands! You mother raised you better than that.

Just like New Orleans after Katrina, looting and Al Qaeda terrorism will be at their peak. In order to avoid confrontations with the unwashed and infected, place your flat screen television at the curb for pickup. Shortly after the pandemic sets in, you will be rescued from the rising waters by a basket lowered from a FEMA helicopter and be deposited at a major sporting arena where you'll enjoy your remaining days relaxing and enjoying football games from the stands.

You give FEMA too much credit; they will bring oxcarts and yell, BRING OUT YOUR DEAD!!!! and they ain't gonna mean "Deadheads"......

It is spreading. Shoot every migratory bird you see and send the carcasses to Jersey.

Ha. Wait until it gets around to us shooting migrating Europeans coming down the jetway.

OK, any bozo with a hummingbird feeder, outta the gene pool! NOW!

First reports of Bird Flu are coming in from Orlando. :worried:

Ha!