Bird Flu: Will civil society break down?

[C.Ann]

The OP is proposing mass hestera and the end of the whole. Give me a break.

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Then I guess you would advocate cancelling all news show and putting all newspapers and news oriented magazines out of business as well?

I don't see much difference between this thread and one that asks about the possibility of another major terrorist attack in this country and what we will do - individually and collectively - to insure our safety..

 

[ely3857]

It's been a slow news period, they're taking bird flu and running with it. If terrorists bomb a major landmark, you won't hear a darned thing about bird flu for a LONG time.

Exactly!



Jodie

 

[Tigger_Magic]

They say that a Bird Flu Pandemic is likely. Maybe 1-5-10 years from now, who knows.

If the Flu really spreads I suspect the (somewhat) civil society we live in will break down- fast.

Here is my prediction:

The financial markets will crash. Banks will close and people will panic over their money. Stock markets will either close or crash.

People will do almost anything to get the drugs necessary. There will be riots as people attempt to get to hospitals.

Only the rich and elite will be able to get medical care with millions needing care.

Retail will crash as no one will want to leave their house to shop.

No one will send their kids to school
===========================

I believe that civil society is based on people expecting life will be good tomorrow. If things turn bad, society will unravel. Your thoughts?

You really are having to dig past the bottom of the barrel to stir up stuff today, aren't you?

 

[CathrynRose]

Uh, no......................


P.S. Wanna' know one of the BEST & EASIEST ways to prevent disease transmission??

WASH YOUR FREAKIN' HANDS !!!!!!!!

No FREAKIN kidding!!! Im so tired of myself, my kids wandering around in this non-hand washing society...

To the woman in the bathroom when I am in the stall, and you try to pull a "turn the water on and do a quick swoosh through the water" This aint cuttin' it!!! There's too many of you people out there, too..

 

[Free4Life11]

But then again if "life as we know it ends" because of this thing the lines at WDW will be shorter and I still get to go because we own DVC!

Well you can't go if your DEAD from bird flu.... Just kidding with ya.

 

[MrsNick]

As usual the poor and the elderly will be hit hard but I don't believe what you describe will happen.

Actually, the horrible thing about the 1918 pandemic was that it disproportionately struck adults under 40 years old (spawning that much beloved story, Annie who was orphaned by young parents who died in that epidemic).

Current speculation is that adults over 40 may have been exposed to a flu that was similar enough to the 1918 strain that they were protected from it, and that those under 40 had no immunity.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Actually, the horrible thing about the 1918 pandemic was that it disproportionately struck adults under 40 years old (spawning that much beloved story, Annie who was orphaned by young parents who died in that epidemic).

Current speculation is that adults over 40 may have been exposed to a flu that was similar enough to the 1918 strain that they were protected from it, and that those under 40 had no immunity.

Oh man, well in 5 to 10 years I will be over fourty so I don't have anything to worry about. I guess we can go to WDW again after all. (still joking Free4Life11)

Let's see what other doom and gloom end of the world stuff has the media jumped all over.

Y2K,
Sars
Flu shot shortages
Gas prices (leading to frenzy, has anyone seen the prices today, we had 2.30 around here, much better.)

 

[Tigger_Magic]

The key word in all of this is speculation because that's all that's been offered so far. There is no evidence that a pandemic will occur, but why let facts stand in the way of a good ol' media scare/blitz. It's "funny" how the bird flu pandemic seems to lessen in importance these days to other stories.

 

[eclectics]

Actually, the horrible thing about the 1918 pandemic was that it disproportionately struck adults under 40 years old (spawning that much beloved story, Annie who was orphaned by young parents who died in that epidemic).

Current speculation is that adults over 40 may have been exposed to a flu that was similar enough to the 1918 strain that they were protected from it, and that those under 40 had no immunity.

Interesting facts! Thanks. I haven't been paying attention to the ages of the victims of this flu but I believe the majority are the elderly? I think that is also the case with the west nile virus we have in the US. Anyone have a breakdown?

 

[MrsNick]

Oh man, well in 5 to 10 years I will be over fourty so I don't have anything to worry about. I guess we can go to WDW again after all. (still joking Free4Life11)

Let's see what other doom and gloom end of the world stuff has the media jumped all over.

Y2K,
Sars
Flu shot shortages
Gas prices (leading to frenzy, has anyone seen the prices today, we had 2.30 around here, much better.)

I'll agree with you about Y2K.

But, regarding flu shot shortages, half of our supply was wiped out last year. But the whole story wasn't just the shortage, but why there was a shortage. Addressing the "why" will ensure that the problem won't happen again.

With SARS, it wasn't a big deal in the United States, but it was in Asia. It's the reason my Uncle wasn't able to fly to the U.S. to come to my wedding. Just because it doesn't happen in the U.S. doesn't mean it isn't news.

For me, the jury is out on gas prices.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

eclectic:

if you are talking the reg flu, I just read some stats on that: about 36,000 die annually, 90% of those are the elderly, I believe a large majority of the remaining 10% are immune compromised or have health issues

if you mean the bird flu - sorry - you may return to your regularly scheduled post!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I'll agree with you about Y2K.

But, regarding flu shot shortages, half of our supply was wiped out last year. But the whole story wasn't just the shortage, but why there was a shortage. Addressing the "why" will ensure that the problem won't happen again.

With SARS, it wasn't a big deal in the United States, but it was in Asia. It's the reason my Uncle wasn't able to fly to the U.S. to come to my wedding. Just because it doesn't happen in the U.S. doesn't mean it isn't news.

For me, the jury is out on gas prices.

Well I think they were all actual stories, but media hype feeding on the fears of america made the stories bigger and bader then they were.

Yes the flu shots were cut in half, but the hype made people who wouldn't of cared go out of their way and stand in line for days for fear the couldn't get them. The lack of the shots made them more in demand. It seems like something like this happens every year.

SARS was a big deal in Asia, but the media made it a big deal here (or just the possiblity, rather like this OP post.)

Gas, part real, part hype.

My point is the media jumps all over things and feeds on peoples fears stating wrost case senrios.

Keeping a level head is important in all situations. Real or percived ones.

 

[C.Ann]

Better get Oprah's show cancelled too.. Right now she's doing a "doomsday" scenario on global warming..

 

[minnie56]

I think it's possible...perhaps even likely.

We all need to pay attention to this one..Avian flu is already being spread with the migration of birds.

Burying our heads in the sand is nice...but not smart.

This is an appropriate forum for any and all discussions...even those outside of the 'perfect world Disney' that I love as much as the next person.

 

[minnie56]

I thought the show enlightening. I am guilty of much of what they talked about and I have 2 daughters who will be here long after me and their children after that. Anything that makes us 'think' cannot be bad can it??

 

[Disneyrsh]

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Then I guess you would advocate cancelling all news show and putting all newspapers and news oriented magazines out of business as well?

I think getting rid of the veritable diarrhea of news outlets would be an EXCELLENT idea.

I think 'the news' is for people who need more drama in their life. Seriously, I can't affect 99% of what's going on on the nightly news, why sould I let it make me miserable? If there's 'news' that's going to affect me, then it'll make itself known soon enough.

You can't do a dang thing about the bird flu other than worry about it, you know. So why bother?

Hakuna Matata, man.

 

[C.Ann]

I think getting rid of the veritable diarrhea of news outlets would be an EXCELLENT idea.

I think 'the news' is for people who need more drama in their life. Seriously, I can't affect 99% of what's going on on the nightly news, why sould I let it make me miserable? If there's 'news' that's going to affect me, then it'll make itself known soon enough.

You can't do a dang thing about the bird flu other than worry about it, you know. So why bother?

Hakuna Matata, man.

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While I will agree that a large portion of the "news" is news that we can live without, it's naive to think eliminating all news sources would have no negative impact on the general population.. Sticking ones head in the sand may be a comfortable way to live, but without at least "some" knowledge of what is going on around you it's likely that sooner or later you will suffer serious consequences - healthwise; financially; freedom wise; etc..

 

[DisneyPhD]

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While I will agree that a large portion of the "news" is news that we can live without, it's naive to think eliminating all news sources would have no negative impact on the general population.. Sticking ones head in the sand may be a comfortable way to live, but without at least "some" knowledge of what is going on around you it's likely that sooner or later you will suffer serious consequences - healthwise; financially; freedom wise; etc..

Isn't there a middle ground?

If a reilialbe news source made a report simlar to the OP topic they would have to pay the counsecques of it. There is freedom of speech, but there also insiting a riot, slander and other things like that. Or the natural consequces that people don't belive or listen to you any longer. (Sun other tabloids etc...)

I agree being informed isn't a bad thing. Feeding on the fears of America, not good.

WHO (World Health Orgainzation) Getting on this problem and dealing with it, good thing. People who can't do anything about it freaking out. Bad.

As a wise person once said. Wash you hands!

 

[eclectics]

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While I will agree that a large portion of the "news" is news that we can live without, it's naive to think eliminating all news sources would have no negative impact on the general population.. Sticking ones head in the sand may be a comfortable way to live, but without at least "some" knowledge of what is going on around you it's likely that sooner or later you will suffer serious consequences - healthwise; financially; freedom wise; etc..

If the news starts to get to me, I either simply change the channel or pop in a DVD (Disney of course !) CNN is always there when I want it.

 

[LightBurnsBlue]

It's too early to say that a bird flu pandemic would cause mass chaos in the Unites States.

As is, the facts are scary. Scientists have always believed that humans could not get bird flu. From 2003 - 10/24/05, 112 people have become infected by it (from being in contact w/ infected birds) and 60 have died. The death rate is about 55 percent. The World Health Organization is saying that a pandemic is very, very likely.

However, for a pandemic to occur, the bird flue needs to mutate to be transmissible between humans. Right now it's only spread from bird-human, not human-human. No one knows exactly what that new flu virus will be like...it might be very deadly like the 1918 flu (which scientists now think may have been derived from a bird flu)...or it might not be so bad.

So...we can't really know. We just have to prepare. How? I'm not sure yet...haven't gotten that far into my avian influenza research paper!