Posted on 07/06/2007 3:54:15 PM PDT by blam
Scientists Alarmed At Rate Of Bird Flu
Posted at 8:49pm on 06 Jul 2007
A New Zealand virologist says international scientists are very concerned about the strain of bird flu currently affecting people in Indonesia.
Lance Jennings told a veterinary conference in Christchurch it has a higher mortality rate than any other strain before it.
Dr Jennings says that previously, bird flu has had a 60% mortality rate but in Indonesia 80% of people infected were dying. He says if that strain takes hold in more humans, thousands would die.
"What we're concerned about is if this virus does adapt to humans and retains that mortality rate, we're in deep, deep trouble."
Dr Jennings says all those in the animal industry need to be aware of the serious threat the current strain, H5N1, presents.
He says surveillance is the backbone to being able to developed and improve vaccines and treatments. Pandemic planning must continue and not be put on the back burner.
Copyright © 2007 Radio New Zealand
Bird flu bump.
BF Ping.
We’re doomed. Doomed, I tell you. Doomed!
Gak!
What ever happened to SARS?
thanks, bfl
Well, it’s not broken out yet, but neither has it gone away...Who knows what the future holds?
I used to think I knew...now I am aware that I know nothing.
“What ever happened to SARS?”
You mean Bird Flu with training wheels?
Every year they proclaim a new epidemic. If, and when, the real one hits nobody will listen.
Concerned it aint spreading fast enough prolly and all the end of the world is upon is rants will be shown for what they are, paid advertising by the flu vaccine companies.
Thanks for the link, blam. I keep track of it on another site.
OMG,OMG,so that's like what?,20 people got it and 16 died,we're doomed.
We need a new grant,a new government office,OMG;)
I am not an alarmist. Not by a long shot. But, I do believe in being (and staying) informed.
In 1918, between 40 to 50 million people died from a flu that has now been found to have been spread by birds.
A song that children would sing during that horrible time went like this:
I had a little bird,
Her name was ‘Enza’
I opened up the window,
And in-flew-enza.
Seems the people knew. (Even though science hadn’t documented it, at that time.)
IMHO, we need to stay informed.
Thank you for posting this, #1.
do keep in mind that this is Indonesia where I’m willing to bet that medical care is somewhat .... substandard. If there wsa an epidemic death rates may be high in undeveloped plafces in the world but developed countries would be alright for the most part. I wouldn’t worry
True, and the Indonesians themselves admit that is a problem, as well as sick people are seeking help "late".
However, during a pandemic, the available medical facilities would be even more strained with worse results likely. The same would hold true for this country as well.
In Indonesia, 101 people total have gotten it, and 80 have died. In the world, 317 people have gotten it and 191 died. Those aren't huge numbers, granted, but should it become easily transmissible between humans, and 80% of those infected die (the current rate in Indonesia), well, we won't be worried about the population bomb for awhile.
Didn't your grandparents ever talk about what it was like here during the Spanish flu (an avian flu that made the leap to easy transmission, but only killed around 5% of its victims)? It was scary because rather than killing the young and old, it mostly killed those in the prime of life, so people in the workaday world saw people working around them taking ill and being dead in a couple of days. There had to be someone designated to collect the new bodies each day as there were far more people dying than the hearse business could handle. My husband's grandfather lived through it and feared the flu because of that experience.
This flu may not be the next pandemic, and we should be grateful if it's not. The last 'pandemic' was the Hong Kong flu in '68, which was widespread but not very lethal. There'll be another, I just hope it's more like the Hong Kong - so that 80% death rate for bird flu worries me, and I want to hear its progress.
Nothing is infinity. Infinity is nothing.
I wonder if this bird flu can be related to the aerosolized viruses that are being found in China’s Dust Cloud?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1861056/posts?page=19#19
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.