1.9 Million Projected Dead In Government Report

Well, that's reassuring. Let's see, if I take the total population and divide by .... times my age and any risk factors. Eh, why worry - I've never even won the lottery! ; )

Seriously, wouldn't a worst case scenario be like 1 in 150, or something?

A super-flu could kill up to 1.9 million Americans, according to a draft of the government's plan to fight a worldwide epidemic.

Officials are rewriting that plan to designate not just who cares for the sick but who will keep the country running amid the chaos, said an influenza specialist who is advising the government on those decisions.

In a best-case scenario, about 200,000 people might die.

But if the next pandemic resembles the birdlike 1918 Spanish flu, as many as 1.9 million could die, Osterholm said. Millions more would be ill, overwhelming hospitals.

Comments

[Imamama]

Could this be? Do you think? ... This is Bush's solution for Social Security?

[Imamama]

From the World Health Organization:
From the date of onset (12/26/2003) to today in the areas of Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand and Cambodia there have been 117 cases with 60 reported deaths.

Kinda small numbers for a "pandemic" dontcha think?

Notes

Total number of cases includes number of deaths.
WHO reports only laboratory-confirmed cases.

Employment | Other UN Sites | Search | Suggestions | RSS | Privacy
© World Health Organization 2005. All rights reserved

[callmeBetty]

Again. Multi-resistant strains of bacteria, those that cannot be knocked down by most antibiotics, are already infecting our hospitals and nursing homes.......

Hospital staff are well versed in the drill. Use of hand disinfectant and masks/gloves is the procedure used to control these infections and prevent the spread to other patients, family and staff. Use them. They work.

[Sgt. York]

Is this the new "fright fad"? I'm sure glad the comet from outerspace destroying earth "fright fad" is over... or is it? Spooky!

[callmeBetty]

Is this the new "fright fad"?

Posted by: Sgt. York | Oct 11, 2005 12:46:42 PM

If there is a fear, it 'will be' exploited by someone....... If a fear does not exist, a crisis will be created.

[Sgt. York]

- and more of the same garbage -

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Information that led to heightened security for the New York City transit system was a hoax, government sources said Tuesday
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/10/11/nyc.scare/

Lame... a stunt timed to Bush's speech.
How convenient. I'm sick of the lies.
=======================================

[farmgirl]

Imamama...dont' think we didnt' discuss this already here at farm.

and on the same issue...reported found a dead hen this morning..

now ordinarily wouldn't even mention this..we have a LOT of hens and its not unusual to find one dead..they get old, they die.

but with the avian flu stuff..we all thougth about it..and then shook our heads and said, naw ..she was old..and so burned her as per usual solution to this event.

But its interesting..i am registered poultry farmer and NOTHING from the farm bureau about any precautions we should be taking..

but good to know my people are thinking..

Yes I worry that I will get letter telling me to destroy my flock..and if that comes I will do it. But so far no info whatsoever.

I know jsut what you guys know..about nothing.

But it would solve the social security issue wouldn't it?

Am I sick or what?

[farmgirl]

I kind of like the idea of a leader who says things like "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" and that kind of stuff while leading us to prepare and prevent.

Where is that leader?

We also talked about this today..(yes, the farm porch is the 'gathering place " after the post office stop) and I noted that we dont' have a natural leader here for this community or village anymore..Used to be one. Always was until last few years..but nobody to step up to the plate and say, ok, guys this what I thikn we ought to do..

Is it like that in your communities? The so called leaders are on the payroll and those aren't the kind I talking about ..we don't need a Nagin here..we need one of the good ole boys from the feed store who people plac efaith in..

Their sons took the land, sold it off and went to city to live on oil royalties.

Its what got us together to form a water system and to put us on Rural Eelctric..and build the vol. fire department..and the community center leased for $1 a year and kept up by fund raisers..

I miss those guys.

Wonder where they are?

[farmgirl]

I kind of like the idea of a leader who says things like "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" and that kind of stuff while leading us to prepare and prevent.

Where is that leader?

We also talked about this today..(yes, the farm porch is the 'gathering place " after the post office stop) and I noted that we dont' have a natural leader here for this community or village anymore..Used to be one. Always was until last few years..but nobody to step up to the plate and say, ok, guys this what I thikn we ought to do..

Is it like that in your communities? The so called leaders are on the payroll and those aren't the kind I talking about ..we don't need a Nagin here..we need one of the good ole boys from the feed store who people plac efaith in..

Their sons took the land, sold it off and went to city to live on oil royalties.

Its what got us together to form a water system and to put us on Rural Eelctric..and build the vol. fire department..and the community center leased for $1 a year and kept up by fund raisers..

I miss those guys.

Wonder where they are?

[TheAlamo]

Is this the new "fright fad"? I'm sure glad the comet from outerspace destroying earth "fright fad" is over... or is it? Spooky!

Posted by: Sgt. York | Oct 11, 2005 12:46:42 PM

Is this the new "fright fad"?

Posted by: Sgt. York | Oct 11, 2005 12:46:42 PM

If there is a fear, it 'will be' exploited by someone....... If a fear does not exist, a crisis will be created.

Posted by: callmeBetty | Oct 11, 2005 1:28:05 PM

You guys both nailed it right on the money. Fear is a control factor, and as you can see since 9-11 they have used it frequently. Heck since it works, why would they stop?

[Isabell]

I think you are going mental over this. This is best just not to think about, you can do nothing to change it if it happens so just pretend its not there. Geeeeeeeesh!

[newswatcher]

No Farmgirl, not sick. I am an aging boomer on the edge of retirement, one of soon to be les bouches inutiles. And what an excuse for martial law this would be.

[Cindi in PA]

You guys both nailed it right on the money. Fear is a control factor, and as you can see since 9-11 they have used it frequently. Heck since it works, why would they stop?

Posted by: TheAlamo | Oct 11, 2005 2:00:14 PM

Jesus,Mary and Joesph. They used it frequently?
And just what idiots allow anyone to direct their fear? The point of any warning is to be prepared, can't do much more than that.

[Cindi in PA]

Wonder where they are?

Posted by: farmgirl | Oct 11, 2005 1:59:58 PM

they are all around us. We no longer need water systems, a general store. But we still do have leaders, willing to take a chance. At least where I LIVE.

[njcons]

Kind of a small number to be talking about using the military to quarenteen cities. Don't you think?

[ellewoods]

Don't forget, it is much easier for disease to spread in current times as there is so much more travel that occurs than in FDR's time. I think that is the concern about something like this spreading. All it takes is one person to travel to a country that has a disease, get exposed to it, get on a plane home, touch things and cough and viola!

[Imamama]

Farmgirl:

We're in the heart of soy beans, corn and ADM - our porches and coffee shops the "board rooms" of the midwest - discussions on such topics abound in these havens.

However, doesn't anybody think that the topics we need more discussion on are precisely how the virus would arrive here and in what proportions? I mean before this becomes pandemic pandemonium?

Here's somethin' to share with the boys (our's are all in the fields right now) at your next porch sit, and see what they think:

Avian influenza: assessing the pandemic threat

link: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/WHO_CDS_2005_29/en/

It's curious to see such forseight in force like this when we're still reeling from having no clue in response to Katrina and Rita.

Wow, it's like they care.....(?)

As always, we'll leave the porch light on for ya.

[TheAlamo]

What I think they are developing here is another attack on posse comitatus?
Possibility. They are sure trying their damndest to get militry control, and they seem to be very anxious about getting it accomplished.

Ever wonder why?

[Imamama]

I posted this originally on the other avian flu thread - but it was just too good not to share here as well!

From the CDC:
"On the basis of a 14th-century account by the Genoese Gabriele de’ Mussi, the Black Death is widely believed to have reached Europe from the Crimea as the result of a biological warfare attack. This is not only of great historical interest but also relevant to current efforts to evaluate the threat of military or terrorist use of biological weapons. Based on published translations of the de’ Mussi manuscript, other 14th-century accounts of the Black Death, and secondary scholarly literature, I conclude that the claim that biological warfare was used at Caffa is plausible and provides the best explanation of the entry of plague into the city. This theory is consistent with the technology of the times and with contemporary notions of disease causation; however, the entry of plague into Europe from the Crimea likely occurred independent of this event."