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