http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071218/ts_nm/disaster_preparedness_usa_dc_1;_ylt=AiksJfbDnDih2Mel1zpjpsIE1vAI

We are and have always been on our own.

Dave

First: {I can't state what I think, here, without violating the Board rules}

Second: I am not surprised that preparation funding has been getting cut. Refer to the First paragraph.

Third: I am noticing that people are getting more concerned about the Avian Flu that is apparently cranking up in Pakistan.

Fourth: Many more people are quietly preparing for home quarantines being put into place.

Fifth: Two years ago, the Avian Flu Virus had 5 mutations to make before it would become a hazard to Hu-mons. It sure made that transition quickly (1 to go????) all by itself??????

*climbs to the top of a tall stool to sit*

Raise your hand if you are surprised.

*sitting on my hands, looking around*

So the Bird Flu has infected 340 people in the last two years. As of right now, the world has 6,638,641,109 people. So thats... (counting on fingers)... one out of 19,525,415. Or so. I just looked, and while I was figuring, the world's population increased by 706.

Anyway, even if it did transmit directly to people, it could also mutate right out of it, too, couldn't it?

Think of Bird Flu as a magic trick: if our government keeps trumpeting about Bird Flu, what is it that they're NOT showing or saying?

I'm sitting on my hands, too.

Sue

The more I read about Bird Flu, the more I recall the Swine Flu and all the preparations undetaken to combat it during Pres. Ford's adminsitration. And then, of course, swine flu was not a major problem for us. Seems to me like someone may be crying wolf about the Bird Flu.

Maybe not however, and pandemic is a possibility for which few are prepared. But few are also prepared for natural disasters, civil unrest and numerous other things too. I'm somewhat prepared, but really do not feel like it is enough. Becoming more prepared is something that we as individuals should do for ourselves and with and for those we care about.

Seems to me like someone may be crying wolf about the Bird Flu.
Maybe not however, and pandemic is a possibility for which few are prepared. But few are also prepared for natural disasters, civil unrest and numerous other things too.

This is a major point that you mention. Sorting through the chaff (big pharma propaganda to actual news reports with all of the drama thrown in) to get to the wheat (factual information) leaves many in confusion as to what to believe, on a day by day basis!

I am beginning to think much of the "news" is 75% pure hype!

The Swine Flu had one fatal victim. ONE. More people were affected by the faulty vaccine.

Sue

What they aren't showing is how much money they send to Keizer, et al. using Bird Flu as a smoke screen. When it does mutate to human-human transmission, it may or may not be fatal. What changes will happen when it mutates is a big unknown. It could be as bad as the Spanish Flu, worse or it could be a big ho-hum.

At this point I can do next to nothing directly about the Bird Flu so I'll prepare for earthquakes and wildfires and hope there's some cross-over.

I'd like to clarify this particular issue. Out of all the gadzillions of virii in all the birds/pigs/people, only ONE of the viruses would have to mutant into the direct-transmission form for this flu to begin spreading from person to person. But then ALL of its offspring would need to mutate back into a non-transmittable form.

Baically, it's like the cliche says, it's easier to get into truoble than out of it.

That being said, bird flu is still way down my fear-list.

-Blast

Ya I believe that the bird flu is pretty much a lot of hype as it stands now, but it could easily mutate into something nasty kinda like the great flu pandemic. You just never know, that doesn't mean you need to hide under the bed though. At least for now. :-)

I am more worried about a bigger, better terrorist attack. I mean, if you think about it, 911 was pretty small on the scale of death vs impact on the US.

Dave

my my, how did we ever survive the 1918 pandemic? (my Dad did, as an infant he got that flu and lived into his middle 80's)

The harsh reality is that however tragic and however many may die in a bird flu pandemic, it is unlikely to end the world as we know it. Yes, bad for you or your family if you get it, but in the scheme of things, a bump in the road.

I'm more likely to be killed during my 7 mile commute to work by the good folks talking on their cell-phones while diving then by the bird flu: forced off the road twice in the last year!

Pay attention people this man knows his S#!#.

It doesn't even have to be an avian flu- a normal, "human" strain could mutate and turn into a monster. Stuff happens, and the more I learn about virii the more I worry. :P

That is very true. The most likely scenerio is that someone will be infected with strains of both normal and avian flu at the same time. In such a situation the two viruses could swap some DNA and make an offspring with all the fatal aspects of bird flu with the quick person-to-person transmission of regular flu.

That's when things turn ugly fast.

-Blast

Great, just great. In that case, I guess I got my flu shot for nothing....

No, it is worth something.

A virus isn't really alive, it a machine made of biological material. Think of them like Legos. Blocks from set A can interact with those from set B easily, if they are in the same container. Because of this modularity, they can mutate faster than most things do, much faster than I would have once given them credit for.

The trick is, (a) getting both strains in you, and (b) having your body not knock out any mutant versions, and (c) having a mutated strain that actually amounts to something.

It is possible and probably more like in our current day over crowded world. Kinda like when there is an over population in the animal world, some kind of disease will raise up and wipe most out ect. Oh yes Viruses are creepy little monsters.

Dave