Posted on 11/02/2005 9:12:05 PM PST by neverdem
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 - An outbreak of the avian flu virus in the United States could infect one-third of the population and kill as many as 1.9 million people, according to an analysis by the federal government released today.
The report, by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, said that banning large gatherings and imposing quarantines would likely be necessary in order to contain the spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus if it mutated into a form easily spread by human-to-human contact.
There have been no reported cases of the virus being spread between humans.
The government analysis released today was part of a plan, broadly outlined by President Bush on Tuesday, to confront threats from new outbreaks of flu. The analysis was based on previous flu pandemics in the United States in 1918, 1957 and 1968.
"When a pandemic virus strain emerges, 25 percent to 30 percent of the population could develop the clinical disease and a substantial fraction of those individuals could die," the report stated. "The resources required for such a vigorous containment would almost certainly exceed those available in the affected communities."
The government analysis found that 40 percent of school age children could become sick with the virus, and between 865,000 and 9.9 million people would require hospitalizations - depending on its severity - a number that would threaten to overwhelm the hospital system.
The virus would affect a community for six to eight weeks and likely come in two different waves.
The report warned, however ,that because such viruses quickly mutate, they are difficult to predict.
"The scope and pace of an influenza pandemic may defy accurate prediction," the report said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
ping
Ah, the NY Slimes. A day late and a dollar short.
Too bad they don't read FR. It's all right here.
Yeah, yeah, yeah....
And global warming will melt the polar icecaps, raising the ocean level, drowning us all next week.
More doom and gloom bullsqueeze from the Birdcage Liner of Record.
It's just a scare, nothing to worry about.
Wrong Prescription (Jumping on avian vaccine spending won’t help matters.)
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list. Anyone can post any unrelated link as they see fit.
An outbreak of the avian flu virus in the United States could infect one-third of the population and kill as many as 1.9 million people, according to an analysis by the federal government released today.
Probally kill 1.9 mil in Los Angeles.
Economic dispuption would really damage the country.
Most of the rest of the world would be toast.
The places that are already toast would likly disappear.
Hope I'm wrong.
Is this the strain the vacinee will protect against or a different one? If its the same im going for a shot tomorrow when im at the college heather center.
Wasn't W supposed to give a warning of a flu pandemic yesterday? Did that happen? I got a flu shot. Am I saved?
It's a different one but for various reasons, because of them both, go ahead and get your flu shot this year.
"Over the weekend there were a total of 7 accidents reported on local roads which brings the monthly total to 18. The Highway Deptartment says it's expecting a total of 60. YOU'RE NOT TRYING FRIENDS!!!"
Any of this stuff sound familiar to anyone else?
One of these days we will get a pandemic flu. They've happened in the past, and they will happen again. Will it be the Avian flu? Maybe. Maybe not. I am thankful the President is taking steps to be prepared just in case.
I figure if we just wash our hands more often and cook our poultry before we eat it we should do just fine.
""And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will--persecute you," (Luke 21)"
It does but that prophecy from Luke is one of the vaguer ones in the Bible. When in history have we not had wars, earth quakes, plagues, and famines?
Only 1.9 million? That isn't a pandemic!!
How many million die from the flu now? Does this mean we have been having a pandemic going on for decades? Is this in addition to those pandemic numbers?
Or is the WHO just looking for more money so they can live luxurious lives and drive nice SUV's on African safari's?
That's probably the most realistic things to do: wash hands and cook poultry thoroughly. LOL!
LOL! You have to wonder why the MSM is pushing this meme so hard.
Yep - sounds familiar - been happening for thousands of years now...
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