Avian (bird) Flu

[anomaly]

You probably all have heard that the Avian Flu, which is rather deadly, has reached Europe. Many scientists point out that the world is long overdue for a worldwide pandemic, and some say Avian Flu will fill this role. Others, however, point to advanced medical care, and say that this is nothing to worry about. It should be pointed out that if the flu mutates and becomes able to spread human to human (rather than bird to human), a vaccine will be able to be developed within about 6 months.

So what do you think? Have we reason to fear? Or is all of this greatly overblown?

[which doctor]

Remember SARS? It will probaly turn out to be similar to that. People will say it will be the next bubonic plague, but in reality it will infect few and kill even fewer. But of course I could be wrong and it could spread quickly in the united states, and then Bush deploys troops to quarantine large populations of people. Citizens will riot and overthrow the unpopular government and the revolution will have begun.

These viruses are constantly evolving into different strands that vaccines and cures won't be able to cure. Research on it will need to keep continuing

[Patchy]

If it turns out to be anything like the spanish influenza, I'm pretty sure that by the time an effective vaccine is out, most everyone is already knee deep in shit and long past saving.

It could be hella rough, it could be a dud.

[Xvall]

This seems a lot more serious than SARS. I don't think there was as much of a rush to find a cure for SARS as there is for the current bird flu. The problem with the media in our age is that it has become next to impossible to distinguish between actual threats to our safety and government sponsored panic attacks.

I don't hold my life in that high of a regard though, so I guess if something horrible does happen and I die I won't be too pissed.

[ComradeOm]

Who knows, this could be the event we've been waiting for. Anything like the spanish influenza will be a massive blow to the economic system. I doubt it could send the world into a massive depression but I'd bear it in mind.

From a health view, I expect it will kill about the same as the last few flu scares. The problem is that the flu itself and the lack of a cure. A vaccine will be nice but if its horribly contagious then we could be in serious trouble.

[Lord Testicles]

Last time there was a bird flu pandemic it killed 50 million people, this time it will be worst, because it will travel around the world a lot faster, because of people flying to other countrys and so on

[4514]

ive been asking my doctor alot about this as i'll be living in vietnam next year,
he has been unable to tell me anything and reckons the news is probaly the best source but i have a hard time trusting anything from the media.

if anyone has any links or more information please post,
4514
broken and dying

[ComradeOm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2005, 09:09 AM
Last time there was a bird flu pandemic it killed 50 million people, this time it will be worst, because it will travel around the world a lot faster, because of people flying to other countrys and so on
What? The last global pandemic was Hong Kong flu which killed about a million. Spanish flu (which did not originate in birds) killed 50 million in very different circumstances in a very different time.

[Martin Blank]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2005, 09:16 AM
Spanish flu (which did not originate in birds) killed 50 million in very different circumstances in a very different time.
I heard differently. Recently, scientists "resurrected" the Spanish Influenza virus in order to see if there was anything to learn from it, and, lo and behold, that virus was also an avian flu mutation.

Miles

[Mujer Libre]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2005, 05:09 AM
If it turns out to be anything like the spanish influenza, I'm pretty sure that by the time an effective vaccine is out, most everyone is already knee deep in shit and long past saving.

It could be hella rough, it could be a dud.
Yup. If this was the flu pandemic that everyone is freaking out about it would have already spread around the world and be infecting a lot more people.

The vaccine would only get out weeks (or was it months?) later. So it seems that this particular avian flu isn't the one people are anticipating. The thing about advanced medical care is that there is no cure for the flu, and that if you look at the Spanish Flu, t killed lots of healthy adults and adolescents. It's definitely worrying, but thankfully that subspecies hasn't resurfaced in a while.

Although for a bit of trivia there was a small outbreak of Spanish-type flu (I think it was exactly the same strain) in the USSR in the mid 20th century. Hmm. <_<

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I think it would be safe to say that we have on our hands either a ticking thermonuclear bomb (Spanish Flu redux) or a damp squib (SARS fiasco).

I don&#39;t think the Avian Flu has yet mutated into a form where humans can be infected and act as carriers, although that might simply be a matter of time.

[Zingu]

First I thought this said "Avakian Flu"

[Xvall]

That&#39;s a pretty dangerous one too.

[Ian]

Don&#39;t worry too much I say, it hasn&#39;t yet mutated and it may not ever. But start to worry when it mutates.

[Latifa]

I take this very seriously&#33; Almost as seriously as SARS, with only one reported case in New Zealand ( the person was fine ) and Y2K&#33; ( whats that? )

[h&s]

Originally posted by [email protected] 26 2005, 01:41 AM
First I thought this said "Avakian Flu"
Phew, I thought I was the only one... :P

Apparently this strain of flu&#39; is closely related to the Spanish flu&#39; of 1918, but at the moment that means nothing.
For this flu&#39; to become dangerous it must take up genetic material from either pig or human flu&#39;, which will allow it to spread rapidly amongst humans. This may mean that the virus will take up some parts of the other flu&#39;s that make it less deadly - who knows?
Whatever happens, a vaccine can only be made once we know the result of the mutation.