Bush suddenly wakes up to threat of avian flu

Boston Globe ^ | October 11, 2005 | Thomas Oliphant

[Blood of Tyrants]

IF PRESIDENT BUSH had been awake at the switch earlier this year -- instead of, for example, obsessing about Social Security privatization schemes -- the United States would probably not find itself near the end of an international line for influenza medicine.

As it is, his sudden realization that the potential of a public health disaster looms has set of an unseemly governmental scramble that mostly misses the point.

Even now, the Bush response to repeated wakeup calls betrays a weird fixation on one of the less central questions that would be raised by the outbreak of a significant epidemic of avian flu -- whether the armed forces would have to be used to quarantine an invaded part of the country.

The most important point is that a well-governed modern society requires a sound public health infrastructure that citizens can look to with confidence if communicable disease threatens.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Can you spot the bias?

Good! I knew you could.

[Semper Paratus]

Tom Oliphant had unfettered access to the West Wing in the Clinton years and he can't stand it.

[xcamel]

Funny, I seem to remember it was the Clintoon admin that blocked legislation to protect vaccine mfgrs from frivolous lawsuits, and basically drove them all out of business, or out of the country.

[Blood of Tyrants]

PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN! I AM THE GREAT AND POWERFUL OLIPHANT!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The most important point is that a well-governed modern society requires a sound public health infrastructure that citizens can look to with confidence...

[Brilliant]

What we should be doing is finding a vaccine for chickens and turkeys. This avian flu is more likely to wipe out our poultry industry than to kill millions of Americans, and since the virus is most readily transmitted to humans by poultry, stopping chickens and turkeys from getting the virus is the most viable way to protect humans. Of course, they are worried that the virus will mutate so that it is more easily transmitted from human to human. But if the virus mutates, then the vaccine they are putting together now may not work.

[Shqipo]

Well Oliphant has a lot to fear, as to look at him he appears a hard sneeze away from physically collapsing.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

If this means I get to eat more steak, then I'm all for it!

[massgopguy]

How many chickens will be killed to find the vaccine and will PETA protest?

[SoFloFreeper]

Oliphant. Consider the source.

[FReepaholic]

...If this means I get to eat more steak, then I'm all for it! ...

Yeah, but with a Mad Cow outbreak we might end up eating Soylent Green.

[dfwgator]

I wonder how those "safer bullets" are coming?

[Rennes Templar]

What Oliphant is saying is, that yes, Bird Flu is, believe it or not, Bush' fault.

[Brilliant]

What it means is that you won't be able to buy chicken or turkey, people who are in that industry will be laid off, and the price of beef, pork and fish will go thru the roof.

Hope you like spaghetti and vegetables.

[Alia]

A most curious title... "Bush suddenly wakes up to threat of avian flu".

How did Oliphant know, and when did he know it.

[SC DOC]

While Tamiflu is moderately effective for decreasing the symptoms, duration, and severity of Influenza A and B, it is not FDA approved for avian flu, as there is not sufficient data on whether it is effective. In fact, there is some early data from Asia that avian flu is resistant to Tamiflu. Before allocating $5 Billion to stockpile enough of the drug for 25% of the US population, there should be evidence that it is going to do some good. There was widespread panic exactly one year ago over flu shot availability, with accusations of government ineptitude and predictions of hundreds of thousands of deaths from a flu epidemic that never occurred. I think quarantine and "spot" treatment to contain outbreaks is a reasonable approach, while working to develop a vaccine that will be effective for the H5N1 virus.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

I like squirrel. They're free!

[Walkingfeather]

oliphant@globe.com

[Brilliant]

Do you use a .22?

[dighton]

“Bow-tie daddy, dontcha blow your top ...”