Bird Flu

el tel · 03-04-2006 04:50PM

bird 'flu? No problem...
http://www.leeharding.net/hideout/?p=26

civdef · 03-04-2006 04:54PM

Not too worried as of yet, my concern still lies with Cellafield tbh.

Influenza kills hundreds / thousands of people most years, just they're old so noone really notices. If the current bird flu mutated to a form easily transmissable by humans the results could be unpleasant if it maintained it's lethality (it's already killed a good few people who were in close contact with poultry). The big problem with influenza is how easily it spreads between people - very difficult to isolate.

Sellafield poses nothing like the same level of risk.

Patricide · 03-04-2006 06:06PM

I dunno bout birdflu, it just doesnt freak me out, especially after that sars "Threat". Birdflu has only killed something like 60 people worldwide or somthing, I know if it mutates theres a possibility that we could be ****ed but the chances of that happening arent super high there just there, i mean if the regular flu mutated into somthing more deadly thats when id start worrying.

It personally hasnt put me off eating chicken in the slightst, as long as its cooked well were all fine.

Too many people are overreacting to this just like sars, i mean remember when people were saying that sars could kill millions and millions of people, absolute rubbish.

Now this is somthing that i cant remember where i heard it but i hear in a lot of people that catch bird flu its like a severe cold and there just ****ed out of it for a week or two before they get back on there feet, is this correct in the slightst cause thats the one thing i heard that i am truely sceptical about.

fits · 03-04-2006 06:55PM

ronoc wrote:

What are you basing this on?

The Past.

Every single strain of influenza originates in birds and mutates into something we can get. Its not like this type of mutation is uncommon or anything. The fact that this is a new strain means that, as it stands at the moment, the human population have no immunity. Plus, these things are cyclical and we're due a pandemic.

By the way, people who arent eating chicken are being ridiculous.

Terry · 03-04-2006 08:38PM

edwina currie.

Peace · 03-04-2006 10:55PM

julep wrote:

edwina currie.

Yeah, I'm blreding starvin too... A good ole chip curry... good idea.

Terry · 03-04-2006 11:01PM

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

The Sweeper · 03-04-2006 11:02PM

Avian flu will only become a human pandemic if someone contracts bird flu from an infected bird while simultaneously suffering a human influenza and the avian virus mutates. It could then be transferred as quickly as a human influenza virus. H5N1 causes the body's own immune system to attack over-vigorously, thereby injuring itself.

Subsequently fit people in their late teens to mid-thirties may be most at risk (their immune systems are more aggressive and therefore will do more damage to them).

Still, it's got to happen yet.

Terry · 03-04-2006 11:13PM

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

The Sweeper · 03-04-2006 11:41PM

CJD is different in that it was a scare-mongered (and still is) affliction said to be down to eating infected beef. It was never said to be transmissable between humans.

Pandemics are transmissable between humans.

Anyway - what's the worry? Nobody here will get it - you have to have real contact with other people to be infected.

Peace · 06-04-2006 08:34AM

Its getting closer...

Irish Independant wrote:

Bird flu found in Scottish swan
ADVERTISEMENT

A SUSPECTED case of bird flu is being investigated in Scotland.

The Scottish Executive said preliminary tests had found "highly pathogenic H5 avian flu" in a sample from a swan found dead in Fife.

A statement said: "The exact strain of the virus is not yet known, tests are continuing and a further result is expected."

Keepers of birds in a protection zone where the swan was found were instructed to isolate their birds from wild birds, by taking them indoors wherever possible.

Measures to restrict the movement of poultry, eggs and poultry products from these zones are also being brought into effect.

The Executive said if disease was confirmed as H5N1 there may be further restrictions put in place, such as housing and movement controls.

Its statement continued: "Whilst highly pathogenic avian influenza has been found the full type is not yet known at this stage.

"There is no reason for public health concern.

"Avian influenza is a disease of birds and whilst it can pass very rarely and with difficulty to humans this requires extremely close contact with infected birds, particularly faeces."

goo · 20-04-2006 02:31PM

Minesajackdaniels wrote:

It was never said to be transmissable between humans.

Unless you eat them.
Or they donate their pituitary gland.

"Minesajackdaniels wrote:

Pandemics are transmissable between humans.

A pandemic is a global outbreak of disease, so not necessarily.

sportswear · 20-04-2006 03:31PM

it is tranmissable if a significant genetic shift occurs in the coating of the virus. then it can very well be transmissible to humans..

we are doing it in college at the moment. the lecturer from the national virus reference labratories said we are GUARANTEED to get it. its just a matter of time....

he gave us some lovely death statistics as well.lovely jubly.

takethebiscuit · 20-04-2006 03:54PM

xzanti wrote:

*Apparently* the HSE have ordered 3,000 body bags and have advised the Government to buy in large freezer units for storing bodies

I know this nurse who used to work in Bermuda, where nothing much ever happened until one day an oil tanker ran aground and all the sailors jumped into the sea and were attacked by mental killer sharks. There wasn't enough room in the morgues, so they had to put most of the bodies in supermarket freezers.
I'd be more worried about that....having to reach down to get me McCain crinkly oven chips through rigid body parts.

20-04-2006 04:07PM

Yeah, we're buggered. But isn't it very difficult to actually contract the disease. I think I read that only yesterday.

goo · 21-04-2006 11:11AM

It takes a lot to contract it now, but if the disease fully mutates or recombines with human influenza then it'd spread like normal flu but be way more dangerous.

Bird Flu

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