How many are really afraid of the bird flu?

[Trish5768]

At first, I have to admit, I was not to impressed but lately its really scaring the bejeebers out of me. So what do you all think?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

JMO, but I believe this is being hyped way out of proportion. For it to become easily transmittable between humans, it has to mutate -- which could happen. But when and how bad it will be no one knows. It irritates me that the media keeps hyping the threat of a major pandemic when the evidence for it is just not there.

 

[mainewmn]

At first I was really not concerned at all. But lately with the reports of the government responses and media hype about this whole thing its getting me a bit worked up.

 

[DisneyPhD]

JMO, but I believe this is being hyped way out of proportion. For it to become easily transmittable between humans, it has to mutate -- which could happen. But when and how bad it will be no one knows. It irritates me that the media keeps hyping the threat of a major pandemic when the evidence for it is just not there.

ITA! Every flu season it seems the media just trys to scare the crap out of people, as if we don't have enough to be concerned about to start with.

 

[Tinks]

Oooooh! I'm in the minority on this one! I am concerned! I'm not too worried for this year, or maybe even the next....but eventually it will happen. I also follow the "whaddya gonna do about it " theory, too, so I don't dwell on it.

Maybe I worry because I know we'll be transferred to Singapre in a couple of years and Asia is a hotbed for this virus. Who knows

 

[MamaLema]

I'm not worried about it. Media always hypes things up constantly.

I remember when there was the SARS "epidemic" in Toronto and CNN was showing people with masks walking around the city and saying the city was in quarantine.

Me and DH got a good laugh about that as we were always out and about in the city and never saw ANYONE with a mask on. And the streets were filled with people going about their business.

I'm not in denial but don't always believe the media.

 

[nativetxn]

It is my opinion that the media is hyping this up now that Katrina is no longer front page news.

It aggravates me that the media is willing to cause panic just for ratings.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

 

[graygables]

I'll worry when it mutates, but hopefully, they'll have a chance to make enough vaccine/meds to counter it by that point.

Y2K taught me a valuable lesson about worry and media hype! (I just used up the last of the 2000 vintage picante sauce! )

 

[grlpwrd]

Y2K, last year's influenza vaccine news, the unconfirmed stories about rapes/murders during Hurricane Katrina, etc.

I don't believe the hype. The media should be reporting the news, not be making it.

 

[luvwinnie]

I was interested in this before the media hype, and to be honest I thought it was getting too LITTLE attention...now it's too much. The thing is if the govt doesn't prepare for the WORST, you know everyone who kept saying "oh, it's no big deal" will be the ones to turn around and blame the govt. for not doing the right thing.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Not sure I believe all the hype so for now..not worried.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Never even heard of it. I live under a rock.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Something to remember about the 1918 pandemic. It did not kill the old and the very young, but the group that should have faired the best (teen and 20s). The theory is that when it combined with the influenza (via mutation) that it looked like a previous flu, thus the older people had some immunity and the young got it from the mothers. They figure (based on age with immunities) that the previous one was about 30 years previous. This could be the case if it happens again, and many of us could have a partial immunity already. I will worry about it only after it mutates and is transmitted from human to human.

 

[Nancy]

I'm not worried. If and when my Mom gets a flu shot then I'll worry about it.

My Mom works in a hospital ER, she has a heart attack, 2 bouts with cancer and chemo and just recently had a badly infected gallbladder that required emergency surgery. She has never had a flu shot, most that work in the ER with her don't get them...when they get worried and get theirs, then I'll get nervous.

 

[JennyMominRI]

It's a bit scary to me as I don't have much of an immune system..If there was an outbreak here I would have to take some serious precautions

 

[Trish5768]

bumping for the evening crowd

 

[Figment22]

I would have to say that I am concerned about it but in the back of my mind I keep remembering the "epidemic that never was", the Swine Flu of 1976, which was also supposed to be a pandemic and never happened. You know what, I figure it's all in God's hands.

 

[happybratpack]

I am concerned, not panicked at this point. However, I'm VERY worried about the situation with my traveling to China and my daughter being there.

 

[Sparx]

Not scared. IF, and I say IF, because I am not convinced it will happen, but if it does make its way to america, I will be scared. But now, no.

 

[kasar]

I do think about it but I'm not too worried. If it happens here there's really not that much you can do about it anyhow. I would not want to be quarantined though, that's for sure!