Bird Flu did mutate, now what?

[The Mystery Machine]

So, now it is confirmed that the Bird Flu has mutated. So now what should we do?
They say it doesn't increase risk of a human pandemic so hmmmm....
Are YOU going to do anything different?


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/3995155.html

 

[hentob]

Oh dear

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

DW MeanLaureen (Lauri) talked to all of her doctors about this subject a couple weeks back because she is supposedly in the high danger group for this flu (she has an autoimmune disease)

All doctors have assured her that the hype over the Bird Flu being some big killer that will devestate the country is just that.. hype.

All of them have said that there is a vaccine that will become available shortly and the media is just having a Y2K field day with the whole thing

 

[NewJersey]

I still believe it's pretty scary, and the government doesn't have enough vaccines actually. People with an autoimmune disorder are at high risk? I didn't know that.

 

[luvwinnie]

DW MeanLaureen (Lauri) talked to all of her doctors about this subject a couple weeks back because she is supposedly in the high danger group for this flu (she has an autoimmune disease)

All doctors have assured her that the hype over the Bird Flu being some big killer that will devestate the country is just that.. hype.

All of them have said that there is a vaccine that will become available shortly and the media is just having a Y2K field day with the whole thing

I don't mean to doubt her doctors, but there can't be a vaccine until it mutates into whatever form will/may cause a pandemic. That doesn't make any sense. See quote below:

"Let's acknowledge the fact that for the first six months of any pandemic, we're not going to have a vaccine," Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt told The Associated Press.

 

[Crankyshank]

Honestly right now I'm more concerned about what is really here - the outbreak of measles in Boston, antibiotic resistant TB, diptheria, and increased cases on childhood illnesses we thought were eradicated. All of those are right here in my area and I would imagine in other areas. That's a bit more of a real threat than the bird flu at this time.

There's really nothing I plan to do regarding the bird flu. I'm going to continue to not travel to Asia (like I could afford it ) and continue to wash my hands thoroughly.

 

[luvwinnie]

Honestly right now I'm more concerned about what is really here - the outbreak of measles in Boston, antibiotic resistant TB, diptheria, and increased cases on childhood illnesses we thought were eradicated. All of those are right here in my area and I would imagine in other areas. That's a bit more of a real threat than the bird flu at this time.

There's really nothing I plan to do regarding the bird flu. I'm going to continue to not travel to Asia (like I could afford it ) and continue to wash my hands thoroughly.

I agree...that mumps outbreak in the Midwest too...

 

[NewJersey]

I don't mean to doubt her doctors, but there can't be a vaccine until it mutates into whatever form will/may cause a pandemic. That doesn't make any sense.

I thought the same thing.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Well just like the Ebola outbreaks, SARS scare, the SmallPox scare, the Flu Vaccine Shortages of recent years -- and all the other Plagues of the past decade that the media has been hot to inform us will kill us all any day now....

I don't think there is MUCH that you can do.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Some Canadian health officials went so far as to warn people that the only poultry they need fear at this time is the fried variety.

 

[ford family]

We've decided to avoid any thread with Bird Flu in the title.

ford family

 

[Nevergrow'nup]

Government is saying WHEN not "if" the bird flu comes.

I have been keeping extra food, etc just in case. The supplies will be good for bird flu, hurricane, power outages, etc. I feel better being prepared than not, that's just my OCD talkin'.

Just keep you ears open and listen, they are slowly putting more and more info in the news for a reason. If they were trying to hype this, it would be ALL over everywhere. I rarely hear anything about it except for on message boards. Some of those boards, you hear enough to scare anyone!
but there is enough info out there for me to prepare.

 

[bbangel]

Birds have been getting the flu for as long or longer than humans. Getting all worked up about this recent strain is pointless. If you do not handle live birds or come in close and repeated contact with live birds you will not catch this strain. If you keep live chickens in the house - then you have a problem.
People got in a flap about SARS. Fewer people got the disease in that few months than died of regular old been around forever and we have a vaccine influenza. Don't let the media scare you.

 

[luvwinnie]

Birds have been getting the flu for as long or longer than humans. Getting all worked up about this recent strain is pointless. If you do not handle live birds or come in close and repeated contact with live birds you will not catch this strain. If you keep live chickens in the house - then you have a problem.
People got in a flap about SARS. Fewer people got the disease in that few months than died of regular old been around forever and we have a vaccine influenza. Don't let the media scare you.

The "regular" flu vaccine does not protect against bird flu.

 

[Free4Life11]

Ok so the media kept warning about the mutation. So it's mutated and it's no big deal?? This is why people don't bother, we're told one thing, it happens, and then they change the story.

 

[luvwinnie]

Ok so the media kept warning about the mutation. So it's mutated and it's no big deal?? This is why people don't bother, we're told one thing, it happens, and then they change the story.

Well, it mutated, but apparently not into an "easily spread, going to spark a pandemic" form, at least according to that article.

 

[luvwinnie]

Anyone who is very interested in the topic should read The Great Influenza, it's about the 1918 pandemic.

 

[JimFitz]

Better safe than sorry. Now where's my army helmet and rifles?

 

[NewJersey]

Better safe than sorry. Now where's my army helmet and rifles?

Maybe you should send them over to Iraq so our men actually have weapons and armor. (sorry couldn't resist Jim)