{Health} The Next Pandemic?

[BEER980]

This is starting to head into serious territory.

International health officials are warning that a deadly avian influenza virus may soon spread rapidly, overwhelming unprepared health systems in rich and poor countries alike. If the virus mutates to become easily transmittable among humans, the death toll of the resulting global pandemic could number in the millions.

As a call to action, the July/August issue of Foreign Affairs will be publishing a special set of articles written by Laurie Garrett of the Council on Foreign Relations, Dr. Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota and the Department of Homeland Security, and Drs. William Karesh and Robert Cook of the Wildlife Conservation Society. Special condensed versions of the essays by Garrett and Osterholm, along with a Web-only Q & A with Garrett, are available on the Foreign Affairs website today.
Source

[Rainband]

With all due respect, I hardly call that source reliable

[Guest]

I have a feeling that this is at LEAST a POSSIBILITY. Life cannot last forever. Who knows, the end may be staring us in the face and we don't know it.

[BEER980]

Could I please have an approved list of reliable web sites Rainband. Or could you check some of these out for me to see if they are credible.

U.S. must take avian influenza seriously
Quick action may head off global epidemic
World Health Assembly Hears Warning on Avian Influenza Threat
Coping with the coming pandemic in poultry
Medium level flu pandemic could kill up to 207,000 in USA, says CDC Director
An avian flu pandemic could kill millions
World Unprepared for "Bird Flu" Pandemic, Experts Say
World Health Organization addresses bird flu threat
Bird flu threat urgent, medical journal says

[Brent]

The U.S. isn't "poor and unprepared" though. We're one of the most prepared in the entire world. I think that's referring to African nations and the like(or areas devastated by the Tsunami).

[Terry]

What's wrong with Foreign Affairs? In what ways isn't it a credible source? Just wondering.

[Windsong]

The U.S. isn't "poor and unprepared" though. We're one of the most prepared in the entire world. I think that's referring to African nations and the like(or areas devastated by the Tsunami).

Sorry Brent, I have to disagree. The US doesn't have a vaccine either, and once person to person transmission occurs, it won't matter much which country you live in. Granted, it will take longer to overwhelm the health system here, but those folks will be getting sick too, so it won't take long.

I remember the Hong Kong Flu pandemic of the late 60's. This one will have a much bigger impact.

Windsong

[Pebbles]

We are not ready for this. And I'll give you a really easy explanation why. How many times have you had the flu? Most people I know have had it several times in their lives.

This year I wanted to give my 12 year old and 5 year old flu vaccines. My 1 year old could of had the flu vaccine but the doctor wouldn't allow her to get it withing 4 weeks before or after her regular shots due 1st week of Dec and he didn't get any of the vaccines until Nov. Because of the shortage no one else including the 12 and 5 year old got the vaccines. The flu went around my house ...

Here's the point. The flu is something we know about, prepare for, have vaccines for and yet it still kills many every year. And these tend to be people who have weaker immune systems (the very young, old, sick). Most healthy children/adults can cope with it just fine.

Now imagine a 'flu' that is capable of killing 50 percent of a healthy population. It spreads just as easily as the regular flu we all deal with every winter. Remember the mess the regular flu vaccine shortages caused this past winter? People were calling everywhere just trying to find someone carrying the vaccine and then waiting hours to get it when they did. And this was only the small percentage of the population at risk.

The thought of some sort of viral outbreak honestly concerns me more then any other type natural or un-natural disaster... it is not an IF... it WILL happen. Not hyping at all. Just something people should keep in mind.

[Rainband]

Could I please have an approved list of reliable web sites Rainband. Or could you check some of these out for me to see if they are credible.

U.S. must take avian influenza seriously
Quick action may head off global epidemic
World Health Assembly Hears Warning on Avian Influenza Threat
Coping with the coming pandemic in poultry
Medium level flu pandemic could kill up to 207,000 in USA, says CDC Director
An avian flu pandemic could kill millions
World Unprepared for "Bird Flu" Pandemic, Experts Say
World Health Organization addresses bird flu threat
Bird flu threat urgent, medical journal says

With all due respect I am sick and tired of all this doom and gloom.

[Guest]

Well, I look at is as reality. I think you, Rainband, need to be knocked back into reality, and the reality is that an asteroid could hit the planet, you or I could all the suddnely die, and, yes, a very large disease could develop and kill large swaths of people.

Face the facts; life is not all rosey.

[streetsoldier]

I, probably more than most on this site, understand that this world can be ugly, vicious and threatening, yet...I don't dwell upon such things.

I take each day one at a time, for good or ill; do the best I can, and if in the process I die? I die.

[JenBayles]

I'm with you Streets.

[drudd1]

It is an undeniable fact that we are going to live, and we are going to die. That's the way it is, and nothing we can do is going to change that.

With that said, I have a choice to make: 1) Shall I spend my time worrying about the inevitable death looming in the future, because I know that something is going to get me? or 2) Spend my time living the life that I was so lucky to have to it's fullest.

I have always lived by number 2. Is this naive? Some may think so, but I refuse to waste precious time worrying about things I have no control over If it is within my power to change something that may make things safer, then I'm all over it. If there is a possible threat that I can't personally do anything about, then you can find me camping with my wife and children not giving it a second thought.

Life is too short, enjoy and embrace it. Think positive and have fun. If I go tomorrow I can say that I have no regrets. I have seen the world, been the best husband and father I am capable of being, and had a barrel of fun and laughs doing it. I am too busy to fit worrying into my hectic fun schedule

[coriolis]

Nice Post, Drudd. We all have to die of something. Flu wouldn't be that bad of a way to go. It's probably better than getting eaten alive.

[BEER980]

Rainband with all due respect I am sick and tired of you trying to start something. First you say the source is not credible then you are tired of the gloom & doom. Did you read any of the other article links I posted? Shurly some of them were credible enough for you. You stand a good chance of getting the flu and you certainly don't want this one. I had no idea you knew about this particular flu but I posted it for those that didn't know to make them aware. Please do me a favor and not read the threads I post. Maybe then your life will become brighter.

[azsnowman]

I, probably more than most on this site, understand that this world can be ugly, vicious and threatening, yet...I don't dwell upon such things.

I take each day one at a time, for good or ill; do the best I can, and if in the process I die? I die.

*tips his hat* "AMEN!" If we DID dwell on ALL the doom and gloom, my God, what a pitiful world this would be!

Dennis