Bird Flu

[tact77]

After hearing and reading the many reports about bird flu I am beginning to feel quite worried.

What does everyone else think about it? Is the government playing it down?

[sp54]

I am wavering between the Government playing it down, and the media hyping it up. :cry: I just don't know what to think and am getting more confused. I have listened to scientists and even they seem to differ between 'don't worry yet' and 'start worrying now'. I haven't heard what has been said in Brussels today yet though, so will be watching the news in a bit. Whatever, it is a cause for great concern :(

[Eeyore]

I'm not worrying about it, after all, if we worry about all of the things that might happen, we'd worry ourselves to death :)

I think a lot of it is media hype anyway, we had a similar scare last year with bird flu, SARS etc ;)

[tact77]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eeyore @ 14th October 2005 - 5:52 PM) 137793</div> I'm not worrying about it, after all, if we worry about all of the things that might happen, we'd worry ourselves to death :) [/b]

Thats exactly what my Mom said. I just think I am a natural worrier. It has gotten much worse since i had the kids.

[Eeyore]

LOL Tact, I don't have kids so that must be what it is :lol:

[tact77]

eeyore

You just wait. I now worry about everything. illness, nursery, schools (even though they haven't started nursery yet) , telly, activities... you name it I worry about it!! :bigeyes:

[tact77]

I have just checked out the prices for the anti bird flu tablets Tamiflu. If I need to buy them it would be over 500.00.

The government have bought enough to give to 1 in 4 people. They have drawn up a list already. (must get a job at the BBC as everyone there is on it, so thats what the increase in the TV liecense is for)

[Allypally]

I know what you mean about becoming a worrier once you have kids, I used to be so laid back and now I'm a jibbering wreck :sad:

[tact77]

Hi b

It has a mortality rate of 54% and yes it is only people who have come in direct contact with poultry at the moment. But they say if someone with normal flu catches it it will mutate into a form that can be caught from a sneeze. Then it will spread worldwide. See I am a major worrier!!



allypally i am so glad its not just me!

[tact77]

A quote from David Nabarro, who is charged with co-ordinating responses to bird flu, said a mutation of the virus affecting Asia could trigger new outbreaks.

In an earlier interview with the BBC, he said the likelihood that the Asian virus could mutate and jump to humans was high.

I just hope you are right b.

[Allypally]

Now you've got me worried :cry:

[tact77]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Allypally @ 14th October 2005 - 8:22 PM) 137821</div> Now you've got me worried :cry: [/b]



Sorry allypally... don't be its just me as I said a natural (with kids) born worrier.. :blink:

[tact77]

Hi B

I have tried and its an answer machine. I will try tmorrow and let you know.

[er 59]

hi tact

its understandable to worry when you have little ones take a look at www.dh.gov.uk (http://www.dh.gov.uk/)

there is a fairly good article on there about bird flu :)

[tact77]

Thanks er indoors

I have just read the article and it makes me feel a lot better. Thats the first positive thing I have read.

i know that a lot of people think i am worrying about nothin but that is just me

:blink: mad/sad as it is.

[Eeyore]

Please don't worry too much tact :)

[tact77]

Thanks everyone... am going to try not to worry anymore.

[Milano]

You should see my mom's aviary. She keeps foreign finches and I was visiting today and she has covered the entire aviary with plastic sheeting nearly all the way to the floor to prevent any wild bird droppings finding there way in there. Now thats what i call a worrier lol. Oh, and she also told me to get my christmas turkey now as they won't be safe come christmas.

[tact77]

Milano

Maybe I should move in with your Mom :hihi: :hihi:



We have already decided to have lamb for Christmas dinner.

[phantos02]

Tact, the best thing you can do is look after yourself and your family, keep yourselves as healthy as you can. Make sure the kids are bursting with vitamins and minerals and getting lots of exercise.

That way should they pick up the flu (be it bird flu or any other bug) they will be strong enough to fight it off and bounce back.

It's only natural to worry, what with the recent press coverage, but try not to let it take over your thoughts too much! Personally I don't think it will amount to anything.

Take care

P x

[tact77]

Thanks P

I have already been feeding them my Moms famous stews. They will be ready for anything. (have to feed them moms cooking they won't eat mine :hihi: )



Dg in another thread you might be the one who can teach me to cook.

[phantos02]

Mmmmm... stew... yummy. My Mum cooks a wonderful beef stew, with dumplings..

OK mouth is watering now :D

[Enterian]

I'm just wondering how log it'll be before my NFH tries to get my three hens destroyed due to the health risk.

As he's a risk to MY health, can I have HIM destroyed?

[freakyfun]

QUOTE
if someone with normal flu catches it it will mutate into a form that can be caught from a sneeze


If that is going to happen why hasn't it happened in 100 years yet?

banana
[/b]

Don't want to be a kill joy, but:

1918-19, "Spanish flu": 20-50 million deaths worldwide (estimated)
1957-58, "Asian flu": 2-4 million deaths worldwide (estimated)
1968-69, " Hong Kong flu": 1 million deaths worldwide (estimated)

"Bird flu" will go through a series of stages before a pandemic occurs .. so keep an eye out.

Phase 1: No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. An influenza virus subtype that has caused human infection may be present in animals. If present in animals, the risk of human infection or disease is considered to be low.

Phase 2: No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. However, a circulating animal influenza virus subtype poses a substantial risk of human disease.

Pandemic alert period

Phase 3: Human infection(s) with a new subtype, but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact.

Phase 4: Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human transmission but spread is highly localized, suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to humans.

Phase 5: Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans, but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk).

Pandemic period

Phase 6: Pandemic: increased and sustained transmission in general population.


We are probably in Phase 3 at the moment.
In the UK from past experience, around 25% of the population will catch the disease, though with antivirals and modern hospital treatment, only around 50,000 are likely to die (about 0.08% of the UK population)

FF

[freakyfun]

I don't think you understand.
The other pandemics were all caused by influenza viruses in birds adapting to humans.
Currently a virus (H5N1) carried by birds has now made the jump from animal to human infection.
This is phase 3 of a possible pandemic scenario.
Further mutation of the H5N1 virus could make it human to human transmittable.
Most viruses do not mutate very quickly. Unfortunately for us, influenza (flu) is an exception. Thus in a short period of time, it could make the mutations to its genes needed to become a pandemic type disease.


By the way, we don't have a vaccine - we have anti-viral drugs which may (or maynot) be effective against the mutated version of H5N1.

Plus, bird flu is not the same as SARS (i.e. SARS was not a rapidly mutating influenza virus, thus was easier to contain)

FF

[phantos02]

Oh dear FF

I had deliberately not read all of the latest press about this as I, like banana, was convinced there was nothing to worry about. Now it seems less easy to dismiss!

However I just read on bbc website that 12,000 people in britain die of ordinary flu every year anyway... which is much more than I would have guessed at.

I still stand by what I said previous about keeping yourself as healthy as you can just in case.

[freakyfun]

I think your figure puts it in perspective,

12,000 die every year of flue, only an extra 50,000 in the UK (estimated) would die from a 'bird flu' pandemic, IF it makes the leap to human-human transmission AND is found in this country.

Whilst we are in a numbers game, compare the above figures to the number who die each year from smoking related illnesses (around 100,000)

FF

[tact77]

DR. DAVID NABARRO phoned me at home today. :bigeyes:



I wasn't in and he left a message on my answer machine with his office, home telephone numbers also his email address. If I have time tomorrow I will email him my concerns. If anyone has any questions they would like answering please post them on here and I will include them in my email.

[Rainy]

I think that we've nothing to be worried about.
1) We are an Island surrounded by salt water. Viruses can't survive salt water.
2) People are not easily infected by animal viruses( remember the foot and mouth disease). The people who have died worked closely with animals and must have been bitten. You probably stand more chance of catching rabies.
3) The a flu virsus has spread rapidily amongst poorly nourished people. I can safely say our country isn't..the obesity crisis?
4) Migrating birds will not harm us either..again they fly large distances over salty water. These birds are likely to die enroute dut to fatigue caused by the flu virus amongst its population.

I won't bore you with specific scientific details, but I seriously wouldn't worry. The media are hyping it up because at the end of the day what's left? The Tory leadership..most likely to cause a narcoleptic epidemic..

I have a scientific background by they way.

[Annabel]

the virus has now been found in Greece.

I do think they might have hyped this up a bit, it has been prevalent in asia for months now and it hasnt caused masses of people to die, and in any case what on earth do they expect us to do about it? its not as if us mere mortals will be given the flu jab against it, only 'essential people'?

just dont go near and ducks or geese, is that what they will advise??? ;)

[Toots]

I am not to worried, when your number's up it's up! :P

[Neighboured]

There's a new Avian flu forum
http://thatsnews.blogspot.com/2006/02/bird...um-created.html (http://thatsnews.blogspot.com/2006/02/bird-flu-discussion-forum-created.html) The link tells you all about it and takes you to the forum. :)

[fleur]

This is a cheerful topic :( What I've learnt about bird flu some from media some from the internet. You cannot catch bird flu from eating chicken etc, Your more likely to get food poisoning from not cooking it right. According to a "expert" on radio Leicester UK is not on a migratory route and the UK also had a bird flu scare in the 1990's. I waiting for my NFH to use the bird flu as an excuse to have a go. We had the EH round last week because of a complaint about the noise from them(4 chickens). Even he laughed,asked if there was a cockeral, no, had a loook at them and said there wouldn't be any further action, I did tell him that I've also got a guinea pig that squeeks loud :bigeyes: .

[Noise Stopper]

If bird flu does arrive here, will we have to weigh up the risk of MRSA from going to get a vaccination? And as for vaccination, what about mad cow disease? (sorry getting silly now so I'll stop)

Ian :nfh1:

[Noise Stopper]

Doesn't a sheep become mutton at some point? (should know that but have forgotten) and isn't lamb supposed to be a terribly healthy option? except as a kebab of course.

Ian :nfh1:

[Miss Understood]

Here we go banana, an informative link about the different types of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies written in words even I can understand!

spongy encephaly thingis (http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/34005/page/3)

Seems there's no evidence that s********ie in sheep is transmissible to humans.

So carry on roasting that leg of lamb!

[tact77]

They have just confirmed the swan found in Scotland does have H5N1.



Neighbourhood thanks for the link to the avian flu site, it makes an interesting read. I must say everyone one on there is far more worried that I ever was. Some of them have been preparing for years.

[tact77]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(banana @ 6th April 2006 - 2:46 PM) 159127</div>
So as long as we all avoid snogging poultry or playing keepsy upsy with poultry parts - I think we're safe ;) [/b]



Thats my plans ruined for saturday then!!!

[StoneHenge]

I think it's hard to say. I mean, we haven't heard about the other European countries jumping up and down in a mad panic, so maybe it's all a bit out of proportion, or they seriously know something they are not letting on for fear of causing a nationwide panic.

I think i'll just wait and see, and hope for the best!

[c1rcle]

I had flu once & I thought I was dying, two weeks of absolute hell it was & I was fit & healthy when I caught it, I can imagine lots of old, very young & sick people being killed by it before the government pull their collective fingers out & do something about it. I have every faith in our government that they'll make a total hash of it just like they did with foot & mouth.

[coppernob]

I havn't brought chicken since Christmas, I really don't trust handling a dead bird! I was making a quiche today and as I was adding the eggs I realised/ remembered where they come from!! Where do you draw the line, if I'm still using eggs why am I not buying chicken?!!! I heard on the radio today that this isn't the first time Britains dealt with bird flu,the last time was only a decade ago but it wasn't so hyped then.CN

[Bonkers Mad!!!]

NHS Bird flu directive

[attachmentid=1250]


i think i have it :lol:

[Noise Stopper]

I have to say that having never snogged a genuinely sick bird, (though I did live in Romford for a while! :hihi: ) I feel fairly safe on this one, however I do feel that avoiding chicken is a bit strong, as long as you cook meat properly it is very difficult to catch anything from it. So if your chicken bones are not pink keep munching I say, at least until Tony B Liar and his team of Ex Purts tell us different

Ian :nfh1:

[tact77]

:hihi: :hihi: :hihi: @ Bonkers. I think I might have it as well. I am going to try and cure myself starting tonight.



cobbernob, we don't eat chicken here either. Cooked meat is meant to be fine but I don't lke the thought of touching something that might carry it. I won't be waiting for Tony Blair to tell me to stop I bet he doesn't eat it now.



:hihi: @ Niosestopper.



Banana, Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77. The current Defra helpline opening hours are Monday to Friday 6.00am to 10.00 pm and Saturday and Sunday 6.00 am to 10.00 pm. It has been in the local papers because someone found 2 dead swans.



Dibuzz I wouldn't mind having that flesh eating bug if it took a couple of inches off my waist.

[Eeyore]

I'm still eating chicken and eggs and I'm not worried at all, bird flu has been here before and a lot of this is media hype as is always the way, we had a report on TV up here at a poultry farm and the reporter was asking what precautions were being taken, was it still safe to eat chicken etc, all positive stuff came out of it, then he finished by saying to the farmer "you must be worried though" :rolleyes: The farmer wasn't.

We've been through foot and mouth before, mass culling that was entirely un-necessary, and right on the lambing season, in my job I saw hundreds of slaughtered animals, :cry: and not one had foot and mouth, it was just that they were "in the zone", so I refuse to panic over this.

[fredblog]

:thumbs:

Thank you for not ruining around, excuse the pun, like headless chickens over H5N1..although I expecting my NFHs to soon!

A large area along the Scottish coast has been ordered to house chickens as a precaution against wild bird infestation. I am affected by this but mine have been housed for months. I have stepped up my disinfecting and getting hooked of the smell of jeyes fluid :bigeyes: but a small price to pay for that extra security.

NHS 24 has apparently been undated with people ringing up asking what to do when, not if, they catch it!!!!

Be sensible and it will be an isolated outbreak.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Agricult.../AIIntroduction (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Agriculture/animal-welfare/Diseases/SpecificDisease/AvianInfluenza/AIIntroduction)

[rb2002]

My kids have kindly informed me of the symptoms of bird flu

"
"
"
"
"

"
"
"
"
"

Feeling peckish with a runny beak :rolleyes:

[Bonkers Mad!!!]

:lol:

[tact77]

:hihi: :hihi:

[Eeyore]

Best give them some Hensip then? :P

[tact77]

Canada is doing it part to fight bird flu



www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh/images/06/birdflu.htm (http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh/images/06/birdflu.htm)

[Eeyore]

:hihi: :lol: :hihi:

[Eeyore]

I bet she meant parrots-et-em-all :D

[StoneHenge]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eeyore @ 7th April 2006 - 12:06 PM) 159354</div>
I bet she meant parrots-et-em-all :D
[/b]

LOL!!!! :lol:


She should get some 'tweetment' straight away (ohh you've done it now!)

:lol:

[StoneHenge]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JM123456789 @ 7th April 2006 - 1:00 PM) 159364</div>
:hihi: You lot are on fire today...got that Friday feeling????
[/b]

You said it! In fact, I feel so peckish, I might have some cheese and quackers later.

Sorry, really must shut up now!

[Lady Penelope]

:lol: You lot crack me up!!!!!



:thumbs: LPxxx

[fredblog]

just to throw in a logistical problem. I have just sold my house...hurray moving away from NHFs :thumbs: ......I have 2 hens and as I live in the restricted zone at present how the beep am I going to move my hens? Hopefully the restriction will be lifted by then if not I will have to cull them!

[c1rcle]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fredblog @ 7th April 2006 - 2:30 PM) 159378</div>
just to throw in a logistical problem. I have just sold my house...hurray moving away from NHFs :thumbs: ......I have 2 hens and as I live in the restricted zone at present how the beep am I going to move my hens? Hopefully the restriction will be lifted by then if not I will have to cull them!
[/b]Sorry to have to say this (I assume you treat them as pets?) but you'll probably have to cull them anyway, after the way they killed off all those animals because of Foot & Mouth.

[shattered]

http://www.office-humour.co.uk/g/i/3875/

[Lady Penelope]

:lol:

[er 59]

:lol: @ ********tered



lemon and corn flavour :hihi: :hihi:

[Bonkers Mad!!!]

:lol:

[tortoise]

eggscellent!!!! :thumbs:

[rb2002]

:lol: :hihi: Please stop, my sides are sore :hihi:

[tortoise]

On a more serious note.

Our two woodpigeons who we have been feeding all through the winter and spring presented us with their new baby yesterday! He is so sweet, all grey and fluffy.

They bought him down into the garden and stood watch from the fence.

Next week I am going to put the bird feeders back near their tree and pick up the bowls I had on the floor.Our cat is going out more now and we will start using the garden so the birds will not come down so often now.

I cleaned all the bowls in the garden with a watering can and used my bugs away spray (it even kills MRSA!!) No bird flu in my garden then!! :thumbs:

When they start sneezing I will start worrying. :D

[Lady Penelope]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tortoise @ 8th April 2006 - 3:11 PM) 159540</div>
I cleaned all the bowls in the garden with a watering can and used my bugs away spray (it even kills MRSA!!) No bird flu in my garden then!! :thumbs:

When they start sneezing I will start worrying. :D [/b]



You along half the population of the UK.........my sis's doing just that today :thumbs:

[fredblog]

c1ircle..you are wrong on that!

So far only one bird has been found to be infected..there are no poultry with H5N1 at this present moment and due to the fact that the poultry owners in the restricted zone have acted quickly and house their chickens were necessary or ensure feed and water is down only under cover it is highly unlikely this will change. Culling has not commenced in Cellerdyke, nor are there any plans to do so at present. H5N1 is not spread the same way as FM and the precautions put in place should ensure is does not spread to domestic birds.

There are several zones and I found out my zone allows limited movement, the 3 mile zone is no movement in or out. Only vehicles to collect feed etc but they are disinfected..biosecuirty is the key to this infection.

It's been here for several years already!

[vintage]

"Bird Flu"
Do you know that 'bird flu' was discovered in Vietnam 9 years ago?

Do you know that barely 100 people have died in the whole world in all
that
time?

Do you know that it was the Americans who alerted us to the efficacy
of the human antiviral TAMIFLU as a preventative.

Do you know that TAMIFLU barely alleviates some symptoms of the common
flu?

Do you know that its efficacy against the common flu is questioned by a
great part of the scientific community?

Do you know that against a SUPPOSED mutant virus such as H5N1, TAMIFLU
barely alleviates the illness?

Do you know that to date Avian Flu affects birds only?

Do you know who markets TAMIFLU?

ROCHE LABORATORIES.

Do you know who bought the patent for TAMIFLU from ROCHE LABORATORIES in
1996?

GILEAD SCIENCES INC.

Do you know who was the then president of GILEAD SCIENCES INC. and
remains
a
major shareholder?

DONALD RUMSFELD, the present Secretary of Defence of the USA.

Do you know that the base of TAMIFLU is crushed aniseed?

Do you know who controls 90% of the world's production of this tree?

ROCHE.

Do you know that sales of TAMIFLU were over $254 million in 2004 and
more
than $1000 million in 2005?

Do you know how many more millions ROCHE can earn in the coming months
if
the business of fear continues?
So the summary of the story is as follows:

Bush's friends decide that the medicine TAMIFLU is the solution for a
pandemic that has not yet occurred and that has caused a hundred deaths
worldwide in 9 years.

This medicine doesn't so much as cure the common flu.
In normal conditions the virus does not affect humans.
Rumsfeld sells the patent for TAMIFLU to ROCHE for which they pay him a
fortune.
Roche acquires 90% of the global production of crushed aniseed, the
base for the antivirus.

The governments of the entire world threaten a pandemic and then buy
industrial quantities of the product from Roche.
So we end up paying for medicine while Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush do the
business.

[vintage]

Donald H. Rumsfeld Named Chairman of Gilead Sciences

Foster City, CA, January 3, 1997 - Gilead Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced that board member Donald H. Rumsfeld will assume the position of Chairman, effective immediately. Mr. Rumsfeld succeeds Michael L. Riordan, M.D., who founded Gilead in 1987 and has served as Chairman since 1993. Dr. Riordan will continue to serve as a director on the board.

"Gilead is fortunate to have had Don Rumsfeld as a stalwart board member since the company's earliest days, and we are very pleased that he has accepted the Chairmanship," Dr. Riordan said. "He has played an important role in helping to build and steer the company. His broad experience in leadership positions in both industry and government will serve us well as Gilead continues to build its commercial presence."

"In my years with Gilead, I have witnessed the evolution of one of the industry's premier biotechnology companies," Mr. Rumsfeld said. "Michael Riordan's founding vision and enormous accomplishments are evident in the VISTIDE® product approval, deep pipeline and talented team that will continue to move Gilead to develop novel treatments for viral diseases."

Mr. Rumsfeld, who joined Gilead as a director in 1988, is currently in private business and is distinguished for his accomplishments in both industry and government. Mr. Rumsfeld served as chief executive officer of G.D. Searle, a worldwide pharmaceutical company, from 1977 to 1985. During this time, his stewardship of Searle earned him awards as the Outstanding Chief Executive Officer in the pharmaceutical industry in 1980 and 1981. He also served as chairman and chief executive of General Instrument Corporation, a diversified electronics company and world leader in broadband and all digital high definition television technology.

A graduate of Princeton University, Mr. Rumsfeld has served in numerous positions of public service, including four terms in the U.S. Congress, U.S. Ambassador to NATO, White House Chief of Staff and as the 13th Secretary of Defense. In 1977, Mr. Rumsfeld was awarded the nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.