Oh no...

[Big D]

General consensus is that the virus is on its way toward mutating into a form that's readily spreadable from human-to-human. Statistically, we're overdue for another global pandemic; with modern travel and trade going as fast as they are, any illness will be able to spread very rapidly once its in circulation. This was demonstrated by SARS which, while not fatal in over 95% of cases, was a brand-new disease that spread from country to country with remarkable speed.

Quarantine, border control and - if necessary - medical isolation are the best ways to approach an avian flu epidemic. Most countries have laws in place that'll allow this, so hopefully outbreaks can be contained, once they begin. It's probably a matter of "when" rather than "if", so the best we can do is hope for adequate preparation and a sufficiently speedy response.

[udsuna]

It's already capable of infecting humans with fair ease. Not too easily, but it's just a matter of time before that change occures. Some strains are now touch and close-quarters communicable (aka- you can spread it by coughing on someone). As opposed to less than a year ago when you practically had to bite the heads off of infected chickens. At this rate, we get another six months to a year, and it'll spread as quickly as any human influenza virus.

EDIT: and that assumes we don't have some psychotic terrorist grab ahold of the stuff and play with it. It's not too hard to "breed" virus strains to merge their abilities. Doing it without accidentally exposing yourself: that's the trick.

[fire_of_avalon]

So we've put the mutation on a timeline now, eh?

I just don't see the point in worrying about it. Don't touch bird poopie and you should be a-okay.

[udsuna]

People a LOT smarter than we, the most world-renowned experts in the field of viral pathology, all agree that the avian flu is going to be a pandemic if not contained immediately. They were obviously fairly persuasive, they managed to get the only unanimous legislation pushed through congress that wasn't directly related to war or disaster issues.

I take that seriously.... our last unanimous push through congress was based off the Tsunami, and before that 9/11. The Katrina and earthquake events are still going through, but they'll probably also be unanimous. It seems to take "death on a mass scale" to get politicians to agree on anything.

[Odaisé Gaelach]

It has taken fairly long from the bird-flu strain to reach Turkey from China. There's probably a good chance that they could contain it yet from western Europe.

I remember during the foot-and-mouth crisis that Ireland managed (for the most part) to prevent the disease from entering the 26-country Republic, apart from a farm in County Louth.

I think that we should be worried, but with care and prudence it can be contained.

[Cloud No.9]

the virus itself is extremely close to the virus which caused spanish flu. that is worrying to say the least.

what's worse is tamiflu. for those who don't know tamiflu is the flu vaccine all the old folks get when winter comes. it is the vaccine currently being stockpiled across the world. it's a vaccine which is untested against the virus and could turn out to be totally useless. but it's the only line of defence we have.

tamiflu is patented by one company. they own the rights to that vaccine. and obviously they are loving this. the world in panic from an outbreak on the scale of the spanish flu. and only them being paid for it. wonder how they're stocks are doing? they refuse to let go of the patent to allow people to produce this vaccine.

so as the world faces a pandemic one company seizes this opportunity to make a mint.

how sad.

[Dreddz]

I am now agaisnt Roche, they have the formula for the curing drug, and will not let anyone else use it as they claim it as that everyone does not know how to use the drug well and that they have worked on it for 5 years. I think its selfish. Cant be that hard.....

[Destai]

I am now agaisnt Roche, they have the formula for the curing drug, and will not let anyone else use it as they claim it as that everyone does not know how to use the drug well and that they have worked on it for 5 years. I think its selfish. Cant be that hard.....

Im gonna go out on a limb and guess its not that simple.

[Dreddz]

Im gonna go out on a limb and guess its not that simple.

It probabli isnt, but C4 says that Roche are being little s baisically.....

[Shoden]

seems as if it won't infect so many humans unless it mutates but the chances arent extremely high.

Drugs designed for human flu are said to be effective.

Either Europe will contain it or it goes naturally.

[Dreddz]

a girl in Turkey has actually caught symptons which they believe is a cause of the bird flu, I think shes ok now, but Thats why its becoming a big deal....

[Shoden]

Well the more people get the flu jab the less chance it has to mutate.

[Dreddz]

its not a jab for Bird flu.....

[Shoden]

but it's a jab for influenza, rubbing out a way of it mutating.


if someone has flu and catches Avian flu it mutates, but more people who get jabs for normal flu than avian flu won't be oh so much of a bother, according to the information from the earlier posted site.

[Rengori]

its not a jab for Bird flu.....

True, but it'll reduce the chances of catching it.

EDIT: Damn, Shoden beat me.