[Paloma_55]

I was speaking with the Chief of our local fire department who had returned from Emergency Management Training and he was talking about this issue.

If the pandemic takes off, it would make New Orleans look like a tea party.

First off, 50% of adults from 24-55 would die. The virus attacks the stronger people worse because their bodies fight it harder. The body raises temperature to fight a virus and when this flu hits, the body raises to 104 or higher to kill the virus and in the process, kills the brain. He didn't say it, but most likely, emergency services will receive the first anti-virus available.

Barring an effective antivirus, half of the firefighters, police, and government officials would be hit, and people would be dropping like flies, the society would very likely break down and anarchy would reign.

Apparently there was a flu like this a hundred years ago and a lot of people died. We have more people, higher density, and worse yet, jet travel.

Also, he said it comes in waves. Every six months or so, it will return and strike a large portion of the population in a slightly different strain.

If the flu transitions to a human-human flu without losing its virility, we have a big problem.

[rellimpank]

---IMHO, your "Chief" is as full of 'it' as any number of other scare-mongers--

[blam]

"The virus attacks the stronger people worse because their bodies fight it harder."

This thread provides some insight on this.

Bird Flu May Over-Stimulate Immune System

[SALChamps03]

We also have a more technologically advanced medical industry.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"Barring an effective antivirus, half of the firefighters, police, and government officials would be hit, and people would be dropping like flies, the society would very likely break down and anarchy would reign."

I was listening to an "expert" on FNC this morning who was talking about how our improved living conditions and widespread availability of medicines would lessen the impact of the pandemic.

I had the same thought you did. Healthcare and living conditions mean less with something that kills 50% to 70% of those it infects. Medical providers, utility workers and those who distribute the goods we depend upon would all be potential victims.

Michael Frazier

[cajungirl]

I just read the book on the 1918 pandemic in which my grandfather died. People literally fell in their tracks. Mass graves were used in places and in Philadephia the bodies piled up on porches until a group of priests took them away.

The reason for the number of people who died was the inattention and denial of public health officials who continued not to take action after the flu was spreading. Military put on boats to go to Europe for the war, died and were literally thrown overboard, the ships were ships of death. It was an awful catastrophe.