Flu Pandemic Warning Very High

Maybe I'm about half a conspiracy nut. I don't go crazy over everything I see and hear. But I'm always leery of government and how they handle information - just can't get past the idea of thinking they share or don't share information for other than obvious reasons.

So, naturally, I'm getting real leery about how much they are beating this drum. Is it simply being prudent? Or do they already know something maybe we don't? Ever feel that way? Or am I a full fledged conspiracy nut and never realized it? ; )

The likelihood of a human flu pandemic is very high, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt warned Monday as he sought Southeast Asian cooperation to combat the spread of bird flu.

Leavitt and the director of the World Health Organization are touring Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to seek their collaboration in preparing for the anticipated public health emergency linked to the H5N1 strain of the disease.

"Whether or not H5N1 is the virus that will ultimately trigger such a pandemic is unknown to us," he said at a news conference. "The probability is uncertain. But the warning signs are troubling. Hence we are responding in a robust way."

Comments

[Cindi in PA]

Dan, the more I hear the government saying it won't happen this year, the more I am sure it will.

[moonpie]

I'd rather be prudent than ignorant. I'm starting tomorrow to do everything I can to make sure my immune system is as strong as it can be, because I'm not counting on being able to get a shot - I'm not considered "high risk" and won't be at the front of the line.

[hardyandtiny]

I'm on my way to Cambodia on vacation next week. Maybe I'll be the one who starts the pandemic.

[TheAlamo]

Is it simply being prudent? Or do they already know something maybe we don't? Ever feel that way? Or am I a full fledged conspiracy nut and never realized it? ; )

It is called population control. We will see more of it with the new viruses they have made.
Until now, it was impossible for man to be contaminated by animal viruses and vice versa....but oh, the geniuses in the labratories have solved that one for us. Bird flu? Not an accident.

[Brooke]

"Hence we are responding in a robust way."

Not really! Other countries have more Tamiflu available for their citizens than our country does.

It seems to me our government is more interested in helping other countries than they are ours.
Look at the Gulf coast what has been done to clean up there and rebuild?

Than there is the news today about Iraq ripping off the US!
"U.S.-Backed Iraq Leaders Wanted for Stealing $1B"

Just once I would like to hear AMERICANS are protected from terroists and scams and ripoffs
and epidemics etc. It appears the Republican led house senate and President are NOT doing all they can domestically!!

[Isabell]

I think I already have the bird flu.

[Isabell]

Posted by: Brooke | Oct 11, 2005 7:32:13 AM

Come on Brooke! Think about what you are saying. We can't be protected from everything. For one thing we do what we please regardless of what the government recommends.

[Cindi in PA]

It is called population control. We will see more of it with the new viruses they have made.
Until now, it was impossible for man to be contaminated by animal viruses and vice versa....but oh, the geniuses in the labratories have solved that one for us. Bird flu? Not an accident.

Posted by: TheAlamo | Oct 11, 2005 3:32:23 AM

You may be right. Wasn't too crazy about them recreating the 1918 flu virus in our government labs. How long before it gets?

[jeff]

INDC says Joran is gay. True?

[homewoodmom]

Did something get loose? They're telling us but not telling us? Who knows

[mmy]

Good handwashing is KEY!! Doorknobs are loaded with germs, wash hands after touching those. When shopping, same applies for handles on shopping carts. Avoid crowded places. We can protect ourselves in so many ways that we take for granted. Educate your families and friends about good hygiene. Eat well, take your vitamins. All the stuff your mom tried to teach you. IT DOES WORK! My soapbox, part of my job!!

[micah]

Many of you were not even a sparkle in your father's eye--back in the seventies...

But there was this world wide panic over "Swine Flu". People were tripping over furniture to get to a vaccine! It was a big deal!

What happened? Swine Flu was about as lethal as the "Killer Bees", and the earthquake that was going to send California sliding into the ocean.

In other words, a tempest in a teacup!

[Imamama]

"Until now, it was impossible for man to be contaminated by animal viruses and vice versa....but oh, the geniuses in the labratories have solved that one for us. Bird flu? Not an accident."

Does anyone remember the 14th century? Or am I dating myself. To refresh - the flea bit the rat, the rat bit the man - and we all got to sing ring around the rosey...

Virus can mutate themselves while they replicate. We're not fighting the Republicans or the Democrats here folks, we're fighting nature.

So listen well to mmy and "wash your hands."

(I had forgotten the swine flu epidemic! Now that was good fun!)

[callmeBetty]

That hand disinfectant you can carry around works really well, is recommended by physicians.....

But didn't 'they' claim there would be a 'flu pandemic' last year, too? Nuthin' happened.

[*flo*]

Posted by: moonpie | Oct 11, 2005 2:17:10 AM

There are alternate anti-viral medications on the market with broad spectrum to include H5N1 strain.

http://www.prbpharmaceuticals.com/order/vira38.asp

I'm certain there are other options out there, but haven't researched.
Anyone considering a Flu Shot this year, the H5N1 virus in not included in this vaccine:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

FACTS: many providers/clinics have placed restrictions on aquiring the Flu Shot due to shortage, some stating there will be another round of immunizations should there be any vaccine left.
Some drug/grocery stores do offer Flu Shot Clinics without restrictions. Most Walgreen's in my area are offering Flu Shot Clinics without the restrictions, cost $25.00. Stating there will be clinics ongoing throughout the season.

http://healthnewsdigest.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=12&num=2461&printer=1

FYI: Check here for your area:

http://www.findaflushot.com/

How the gov't has handled this situation is obscene, I just as well pay for my Flu Shot from any private sector then have any gov't agency inject me or my family members. It is also noted, Flu Shots are covered by medicare part (B)

[Sgt. York]

RE: "Or do they already know something maybe we don't?"

Like the super-double-secret specifics on where Saddam kept that VX nerve gas? Or where Bin Laden is hiding?

[TheAlamo]

Does anyone remember the 14th century? Or am I dating myself. To refresh - the flea bit the rat, the rat bit the man - and we all got to sing ring around the rosey...

Posted by: Imamama | Oct 11, 2005 10:54:41 AM

That was not an animal to man virus. It was however transmitted by the fleas because the fleas bite people, suck their blood, thus gorging themselves full of the human virus, which was transplanted by the blood to blood scenario, when biting another human. Once into humans en mass, it was transferred human to human. The rats were just a handy carrier for the fleas when they were between humans.

[Betsy]

Well, look, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Just bought a box of N95 approved disposable masks. I'm in a higher-risk group and am supposed to be careful in public during the regular flu season. To me, all this hoopla may just be that, but I'm feeling kinda strange about dismissing it because lots of other countries are getting ready for the possibility. That makes me think it's more reliable info we should pay attention to and not just laugh off.

Maybe I'm an alarmist. Probably, but I'm usually NOT ONE, so this is different for me.

betsy

[Sly2SmoothieNJs]

Dan..........you are starting to really freak me out.but, thanks for the update....ya know the scary thing is we can even flee anywhere, the rest of the world is falling to pieces or flooded!
I have a little tidbit at my blog (nope, not promoting)about what I think is happening to earth. If you want to read something twisted and far out, I'll give you the url. It's pretty bizarre. I'll admit.
S2S

[Imamama]

The Alamo -

From Wikipedia:
Bubonic plague is primarily a disease of rodents, ... Human infection most often occurs when a person is bitten by a rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopsis) that has fed on an infected rodent...

You are right however, the flea was the carrier. Interesting to note that previously, the flea, the rat and the bacteria all had a perfect symbiotic relationship - but something went bad one day - and the rest is history.

Thanks for the correction.

[TheAlamo]

You are right however, the flea was the carrier. Interesting to note that previously, the flea, the rat and the bacteria all had a perfect symbiotic relationship - but something went bad one day - and the rest is history.

Posted by: Imamama | Oct 11, 2005 5:32:40 PM

You got me curious here. When was the relationship symbiotic?
Not disputing you...just curious!

[LB]

Drug companies & the FDA have been under pressure to increase drug testing. I was wondering if maybe the 'Bird Flu' is maybe more about proving a point about this, than an actual health threat...Notice statements here and there about drug companies asking that the government protect them from lawsuits from adverse events because of the very limited time to develop the drug, and also asking for a shortened testing period.

From the news I've seen, it's not really clear whether the drug already exists (Roche's Tamiflu) or a new one needs to be developed. If Tamiflu is the drug, then supply shouldn't be a concern. I'm sure the government can get involved if necessary, and get the patented formula from Roche or help Roche open new laboratories if they're having trouble meeting the demand.

Bird flu may be real, but I think the government's been going on and on about it to show why Tort Reform is good and longer periods of drug testing (which are in the works, but drug companies are not happy with) are bad.

[Imamama]

TheAlamo,

Yes, according to my Anatomy and Physiology, teacher Mr. J. Matheny, the flea/bacteria and rat relationship were, indeed, symbiotic.

Perhaps - as in the spread of the Avian Flu strains - heavy trade allowed for the introduction of "alien" variants of the bacteria into local populations?

I think Barbara Tuchman also discusses it in "The Distant Mirror - the Calamitous 14th Century" but I can't be sure...

[Imamama]

OK, TheAlamo, (may I call you Alamo?) my brain is racing.

In trying to find some substantiating
"symbiotic" info for you when I stumbled across this 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.

Then I read your previous posts on the "1.9 million..." thread.

You don't think.....???????

But, here's some biological rationale explaning the apparent "symbiotic" relationship (you need to have both antigens F1 and VW in order to spread infection.)

From link: http://www.worldhistory.com/wiki/Y/Yersinia-pestis.htm

"Pathogenicity is due to two antiphagocytic antigens, named F1 and VW, both required for virulence. They are produced by the bacterium at the temperature of 37°C, so this explains why insects, such as the flea, harbor non-virulent bacteria. Furthermore, Y. pestis survive and produce F1 and VW antigens within blood cells such as monocytes, but not in polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Natural or induced immunity is achieved by the production of specific opsonic antibodies against F1 and VW antigens. They induce phagocytosis neutrophils.

There is a formalin-inactivated vaccine available for adults at high risk, but it is not very effective and may cause severe inflammatory reactions. Experiments with genetic engineering of a vaccine based on F1 and VW antigens is underway and shows great promise."

More at:
http://www.worldhistory.com/wiki/B/Black-Death.htm

[Imamama]

last post on this, I promise...

"Due to circumstances not yet understood, the bacilli may multiply to such an extent that the flea's digestive tract is blocked and the flea regurgitates numerous bacilli into the bloodstream of the rodent host."

I belive that is what my bio teacher was referring to.

[teresa]

From the news I've seen, it's not really clear whether the drug already exists (Roche's Tamiflu) or a new one needs to be developed. If Tamiflu is the drug, then supply shouldn't be a concern. I'm sure the government can get involved if necessary, and get the patented formula from Roche or help Roche open new laboratories if they're having trouble meeting the demand.

Bird flu may be real, but I think the government's been going on and on about it to show why Tort Reform is good and longer periods of drug testing (which are in the works, but drug companies are not happy with) are bad.

Posted by: LB | Oct 12, 2005 12:11:09 AM

Tamiflu has been around for a few years. I suggest that if your doctor is the type that does not like prescribing this drug, get a new one. It works wonders. I have 2 rxs for it right now.