if the bird flu does come to the u.s. do u think were prepared?
536157
The news media will do anything to raise ratings. Including over-hyping every single thing to scare people into watching. \n\nRelax, this whole bird-flu thing will blow over soon enough.
329889
There have been at least 10 influenza pandemics over the past three centuries (some just as deadly as 1918) and theoretical models have concluded that one will inevitably happen, sometime…eventually….in the future….at the some point.  There is absolutely no conclusive evidence as to when it will happen or if it will even happen in our lifetime.   \n\nRegardless if we are overdue for a major flu pandemic, this does not imply that the public should automatically “overreact” on media reports of the bird flu.  Those affected by the virus have all lived or worked in very close proximity to infected poultry. In almost all cases, domestic poultry were left to freely roam outdoors in close contact with wild aquatic birds and other wildlife.  But those in metropolitan cities are showing the greatest concern.  It is the continuous overreaction of the public which causes momentum effects in the pharmaceutical industry (and other industries for that matter).  The hype has been more about selling Tamiflu than anything else.  This is partly due to sensationalism in the media, but it's mostly due to a lack of education on effective prevention and treatment methodologies for specific diseases.  Tamiflu does absolutely nothing to cure the bird flu and never has.  It merely decreases symptoms and only under certain conditions.  Most credible scientists agree that a catastrophic pandemic such as those in the past are highly unlikely in developed countries.  This is 2006, and our methods of communication and science are light years from that time. The same technology that allows humans to travel so quickly around the globe also provides better medicine and better protection. So how in the world does anybody make the giant leap of faith that 103 deaths will translate to millions based on what we know about the H5N1 strain?    \n\nThe bird flu itself is a tragedy for the people of Asia and the livelihood of many bird handlers. Even more tragic is how an epidemic among birds has been used to orchestrate public panic and divert us from addressing other more pressing health issues. More than half a billion people suffer from malaria, nearly 10 million have tuberculosis, of which 2 million will die in the next year. Thirty million have died from HIV/AIDS and more than 40 million are infected. Yet bird flu seems to be the most pressing health concern we hear about on mainstream media.  It is a great irony that we spend more time worrying about what might be, rather than what is.  We do need to have a strong foundation for research, and there is no question that an elaborate worldwide infrastructure for epidemics must be in place before a pandemic.  I think understanding the evolutionary functions of mutating viruses is paramount in pandemic preparedness.  If the current hype helps in the building of these fundamental mechanisms, so be it.  What we DON’T need is a deceptive plot at the expense of public awareness to help inflate the stocks of a pharmaceutical company. If the current hype on Birdflu and Tamiflu is not a hoax, then I don’t know what is.
238804
It is my understanding that several US government agencies will be involved in handling the bird flu virus, contingent on how widespread it ultimately becomes. I don't believe FEMA is one of them. The most obvious choice is the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. In any event, under the present administration, I wouldn't trust FEMA to handle the common cold.
693339
Well I am, I think our FDA need to be ready for it, other people in other countrys have reported death with it. Everyone one come in and out of the USA, so yes we all need to be worried or at least conserned.
153836
It is not likely at this time.  In order for the present bird flu to cause a pandemic it must:\n\n1.) mutate to become a human virus not a bird virus\n2.) Have a vector to infect humans\n3.) Be virulent enough to cause disease in humans.\n\nCurrently, the bird flu virus is still just a bird flu virus.  Historically, a pandemic of the flu arrives 3 times every decade.  We are overdue for our pandemic, but medicine, and vaccinations and public health surveillance are better during these times than they ever have been.
196144
you have nothing to worry about. if a chicken comes down with H5N1 it will be culled as current policy holds. and dont worry, so will every other chicken within a certain radius. The virus dont stay in the chicken for long after death. its spread by its poo anyway. And then additionally you'll be cooking it anyway, so yeah, no worrys. eat away
554824
if a bird flu south at 45 degrees I think so
503347
Yes i think there will be. As to how bad it will be - no-one really knows, but it is always best to prepare. To prepare, you should stay upto date with any flu shots, because it gives your body a dry run if you will. Also having a few extra tin goods wouldnt hurt, so you dont have to leave the house so often. But apart from that, there is not much you can do, but follow any extra instruction given to you by the authorities
248590
No, not unless your in Egypt or some country where they have the bird flu..if it's in your town you'd no about it, I wouldn't worry but if you want to be sure go to the doctor..that was sweet of you to put the bird out of pain...God bless
221980
Hmmm, not sure what you mean about resolution, but one of the means by which the US gov't has proposed to use in case of bird flu is martial law.  Everyone will be restricted to their houses until the virus has died off.  \n\nThe Bush administration was criticized for such a plan, and I'm not sure how effective it would be, but there's one plan for you!
8595
Yes. In 2003 there was a patient who was diagnosed with avian bird flu in New York.
285043
I have heard stories of killer bees being a huge threat, a huge flu season for the last three years, so I'm a little skeptical about this bird flu.\n\nThat being said having an emergency plan for any contingency is ALWAYS a good thing.  The old Boy Scout motto of being alway prepared comes to mind
636068
The bird flu is nothing to panic about right now if you are a smart consumer. The bird flu is still in asia and has not been rapidly spreading in the USA. You will not catch the bird flu is you properly handle and cook all poultry. The only way you can get it is if you go over to asia and handle an infected bird. Other wise you are pretty safe safe! Scientists are working on a vaccine right now so hopfully the bird flu epedimic panic will soon fade away!
774992
This is all news to me.  Considering the population of America has now reached the 300 million mark, they better be prepared for the majority.\n\nTake Care
339094
I am in the health care field and I would like to tell you that this is ridiculous.  The media is going around scaring people again.  The bird flu has less then a 3 percent chance of ever mutating into a human virus.  It may come here and be something like the west nile virus, killing a few elderly and young.  This reminds me of SARS again, a virus being overblown when in actuality it is almost harmless.  Wake up people and learn things for yourself instead of listening to whatever the tv says.
258778
Most of our info is very speculative as of now, as when it comes to future mutations of the bird flue, all we have are our fears. Really, we're worried about a recurrance of the Spanish Flue, which killed millions in the early twentieth century. As of now however, there has been only one case of bird flue transmitted between people, the rest has been from bird to poultry worker (total infected is around 100 people I believe). The big deal is, from the infected we've seen, it has a 50% mortality rate, and this is before it's even fully evolved to attack humans.\n\nHowever, a good deal of this is speculation, as it is easily possible that many more have been infected and fealt no adverse effects, or nothing more than a cold. All the cases we now know about were severe enough to warrant hospitalization, but what if there are many more that never had to go to the hospital, and so we never learned about them?\n\nBut, with 2 mutations left to go to be fully suited to attack humans, the avian flue (H1N1) it can't be long until we know for sure.\n\nTo prevent this, people are attempting to quarentine and kill ay infected birds nd poultry, but as you can imagine, this is easier said than done. We're also stocking up on Tamiflu, which some say is our best shot at an antiviral for fighting this thing.\n\nThe Spanish Flu ended when it burned itself out. It moved so quickly that it killed off the more suceptable humans, and the tougher ones became immune. It had nowhere left to go, and died off. If the avian flu is anything like it, the same will happen, though our use of antivirals may hamper this.\n\nThese pandemics are a natural part of population control and evolution. Who can say what we do to our species when we do all we can to fight it, and keep it from having an impact upon us?
385669
why in the world do you think that any one would be "DUE"\nan attack in the US.???????