Until now, the United States had been lucky, evading the avaian influenza, and praying that it would never reach our continent. But just like in WWII, our false hopes will soon be shattered; if a problem afflicts the rest of the world, sooner or later it will ineveitably affect America too. "We think that H5N1 (strain of bird flu virus) will reach the United States in autumn," Sergei Dankvert, a Russian scientist, told Reuters. Although the scientist could very well be wrong, he supports his claims well. "This is very realistic. We may be almost certain this will happen after this strain is found in Great Britain, before autumn, as migrating birds will carry it to the United States from there." He also explains another route in which the disease might be integrated into the United States, explaining that it could spread from the opposite direction, beginning in Alaska, heading towards Canada and, eventually, the US.
This news should not surprise any Americans with common sense. Diseases do spread (yes, even to world powers) and mutate. Americans have been lucky to have been unaffected by the disease thus far. However Americans should begin to take safety precautions when handling dead bird etc... the bird flu has spread at an uncomfortable spead globally, and fears that once it reaches the United States and mutates, it will most likey become a pandemic, killing millions. "We forecast that bird flu mutation is possible in the countries where the number of different viruses is high. This group includes the United States," informed Dankvert. Needless to say, the clock, is ticking.
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I agree with you, the clock's ticking - But not loud enough. Why isn't there more info going mainstream about how to protect ourselves. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think this is something we should take a chance on. I'm not into mass histeria and paranoia, but I'm not into hearing "I told you so" either. Maybe this web site will help out:
http://planforflu.com/?OVRAW=bird%20flu&OVKEY=bird%20flu&OVMTC=standard
I agree with you; we need to protect ourselves, but I think the website you referred me to goes way overboard. The website actually says you should stock up on materials that way you dont even have to leave your home. WOAH! Even if a pandemic were to occur, people would still have to go to work etc...the entire world is not going to shut down. I was merely saying be careful about eating meats, touching dead birds, being around sick people, lol, not lock the doors and sever contact with the human race, lol.
The United States ALWAYS thinks that epidemics will surpass us, because they always seem to. Now whether or not the bird flu will actually reach us is in question, but we should all definitely be prepared just in case it does. The news reports it, but does not show precautions to take or what could happen if you caught the flu. We need to be more aware of what is going on with it and people need to understand that we are not invincible. It's only a matter of time until something bad like that happens to the US and it definitely could happen soon.
It is only a matter of time, yet it is only talked about in other countries. No one ever mentions it comign here which is why people don't really think about it.
Debate chick,
Do you realize that the man who discoverred the H5N1 virus claims that it could wipe out half of the US population for exactly the reason you just expressed. If it gets bad and people continue to go about there daily lives, they will help the virus spread. Now we are talking worst case scenario (who knows it could be just another flu season) but experts are worried and they are saying HALF. Let's say it get's bad but only half as bad as the experts say, then were talking about one fourth of the poulation. 1 in 4 will die! That's crazy, and I'm willing to go a little overbaord to make sure I'm not 1 in 4. Eh, but go ahead and take your chances, I'll be at home.
Do you also know that the United States has the ability to quarantine those individuals who are sick? We have no laws in place banning quarantining, in fact Bush has actually been quoted as saying if the disease were to spread to the US that is what he would do.
Yeah that's right. He actually said last year that the Dept of Defense, not homeland security, would be in charge if an outbreak were to occur. (of course given HS's record, I don't want them in charge either) I forgot about that. Could you imagine, marshall law would be in place. But the thing to keep in mind is the sick aren't the only ones who would be quarantined, it would be every resident of the local area where an infected person is found. That means if the guy living down the street from you get's sick, your whole town is locked down. It's for our own good, I know, but scary nonetheless. So if you get quarantined and you half to rely on the Gov't to give you supplies since you didn't prepare yourself, you might be hurting for a while.
But I dont think there would ever be a quantine; there is an equal amount of scientific evidense saying quantines are a bad idea as there is saying they are effective. If there were a pandemic, or if were on the verge of one, I have no doubt that legislative measures would be taken to inusure that one was not put in place.
I might agree with you if trigger happy Don Rumsfeld wouldn't be in charge. Anyhow, we've killed this one. Just keep crossing your fingers, I'll be getting ready, but not hoping, for the worse.
Yes, handling dead birds has always been considered somewhat dangerous, but as far as the rumor that the virus will mutate goes, I've heard that the chance of it mutating is incredibly slim.
Oh yeah-- and I forgot to mention-- it seems to me that a lot of people such as the media and pharmaceutical companies could be benefitting from this new hypochondriac attitude of Americans.
Yes, and who owns stock in the wonder drug that will save us all? Don Rumsfeld. Let's see, he's profiting with Haliburton in the War on Terror and he's already profiting with Tamiflu in the war on Bird Flu. I wonder if Mr. Rumsfeld knows what ethics are?
Not to be rude but...the point is?
This is a great doomsdale tale, but nothing else. Would anyone like to propose a solution instead of wallowing in forecasting?
As far as Rumsfeld holding stock - I'm sure he's not the only stockholder. I could go buy Tamiflu stock. Since when was it illegal/unethical to hold stock?
well it was more of a shout out or warning than anything else. The solution is know whats going on in the world so you are not surprised and overwhelmed when it affects you.