Report details bird flu effects

The Wichita Eagle ^ | 3-23-2007 | David Goldstein

[blam]

BOO!

[stubernx98]

Yeah, and I have a method that repels birds (doesn't hurt them), and talked the the CDC about it, my congress critter and they could care less.

Stay away from "natural" foods, range feed chickens etc.

The bird flu lives in bird poop, and when it disintegrates into the atmosphere you got problems. Also don't sleep with you Parrot

[lightman]

NEWS FLASH: No one gets outa here alive!

[TomGuy]

I continue to be skeptical.

Something is going on, however, because allot of money worldwide is being allocated to this phantom pandemic.

This is from the House Military Budget bill passed on March 23, 2007:

Avian Flu: Provides $969 million for the Department of HHS to continue to prepare and respond to an avian flu pandemic. Of this funding, $870 million is to be used for the development of vaccines.

Especially after I found these:

Bird flu has killed at least 167 people worldwide since it broke out in Asian poultry stocks in 2003. [Note that the article of this thread omits that latter part - 167 deaths since 2003.]

Source: Number of bird flu cases reach 50, but no infections in humans or commercial poultry farms
AP, March 5, 2007


Yet, this from Nov, 2006:

$1.3 billion more needed for bird flu - Bird Flu - MSNBC.com

Keywords: $1.3 billion more

A heck of allot of money is being spent on something --- and I don't 167 deaths worldwide in 4 years is the reason.

[blam]

"A heck of allot of money is being spent on something --- and I don't 167 deaths worldwide in 4 years is the reason."

Yup. They still seem to be proceeding full speed ahead but without the original hysteria. Most people have lost interest...it seems.

[LucyT]

Most people have lost interest...it seems.

Some interesting discussion on fluwiki about lack of interest; maybe it's a lack of reporting?

[Smokin' Joe]

Ping.. (Thanks, blam!)

[Smokin' Joe]

One of the best ways to make sure something gets ignored is to raise a ruckus and have nothing happen. (Nothing to see here, folks, move along now...)

However, the planning, etc., going on is a dual use thing which may work in the event of biological attack.

I did note the reference to 'our' global economy, meaning the US in particular, but not taking into account that similar or even worse disruptions would occur in other countries as well.

I may be reading too much into that turn of phrase, but the exclusion seems to indicate an anticipation of a contagious and commonly fatal disease which affects the US more so than elsewhere, as if in anticipation of biological attack.

[Lurker]

However, the planning, etc., going on is a dual use thing which may work in the event of biological attack.

Bingo.

One of the areas which has been woefully ignored for years in the field of Emergency Management is planning and training. Thankfully that seems to be changing since most of the Fed and State funding is being tied to measurable training goals.

Since NIMS and ICS are now Federally mandated a lot of state and local governments are now putting real effort into planning and exercising.

Don't be surprised to see lots of this going on in your area in the upcoming 18 months or so.

L

[ex-Texan]

*BUMP*!

[Waco]

Something tells they're hoping for some disaster to thin the population out.

[Gritty]

Something tells they're hoping for some disaster to thin the population out.

The only ones wishing that way are the environmentalists. Their vehicle is the much more telegenic morality play of gorebal warming, not some nasty and painful means - like pandemic disease - where you end your miserable days dying isolated, suffocating in your own blood.

[gorush]

This bird flu has not yet mutated to a form that passes from human to human. If it does your skepticism will disappear. These viruses mutate quickly, making it difficult to provide a serum in time. I found the book "The Great Influenza of 1918" very enlightening on this subject and on Woodrow Wilson and WWI.

[blam]

"I may be reading too much into that turn of phrase, but the exclusion seems to indicate an anticipation of a contagious and commonly fatal disease which affects the US more so than elsewhere, as if in anticipation of biological attack."

According to the 'experts' in a number of fields, we're due or overdue for some catastrophist event: pandemic, supervolcano, major earthquake, asteroid impact and now we have human provoked catastrophic possibilities. So...

The recent earthquake/tsunami in Indonesia and the effects of Katrina have reminded TPTB that unexpected 'sh.. happens.'

[Old Professer]

Global warming crises are the scourge of the mongers in winter; now flu crises are going to fill the lazy, hazy days of summer?

Do these Pandoric Pimps ever sleep?

[Old Professer]

The enemy is going to launch a battalion of Bird Flu Bonnies?

[Old Professer]

If you own a vacant house, keep the lights on and a No Trespassing sign in the yard.

[Smokin' Joe]

If I had to bet, it would be more along the lines of a smallpox variant, but there are other weaponized lovelies out there, up to and including an ebola variant.

Quarrantine, restricted travel, high mortality, insufficient medical care/infrastructure/supplies, and the complications of as few as just one out of 10 people dropping dead are tough to plan for, but the same plans generally would work for a natural pandemic (even though the weaponized strains would likely be far more deadly).

[RightWhale]

The birds seem to be as annoying as ever for this time of year. I haven't heard if the University is interviewing more birds this year. They came up zero for 20,000 last year.

[Lurker]

If you own a vacant house, keep the lights on and a No Trespassing sign in the yard.

I'm not sure why you gave me this advice, but it is sound. So if I ever find myself owning a vacant house I shall indeed adhere to it.

Thanks,

L