World on verge of deadly pandemic, U.S. official says

Associated Press ^ | 2/20/05 | Associated Press

[Judith Anne]

Wow! If you do get any information, please FReepmail me or ping me, I'd appreciate it.

I don't think Avian flu, or H5N1 is in the US at this point. I don't think it even transmits efficiently between people, although some (very few) cases have occurred in Viet Nam.

[abner]

Will do. We just thought it was really bizarre for the story to come out that this kid died within hours of playing outside and then they said he died of the flu.

[abner]

Here you go.

[IrishCatholic]

Ebola has a high lethality but a medium/low transmission. Basically it burns itself out of the population by killing the hosts before widespread transmission. So, while scary and a killer it is not as bad as a killer influenza. As long as you don't have it of course.
Even with the flu vaccine how many people do you know get the flu every year? Have you had the flu? Now imagine a flu that you come down with in the morning and are dead by the night. Then imagine your children and neighbors too. High transmission and high lethality means this killer burns through the population faster than it burns itself out.
In 1918 it spread around the world. Now with air travel the flu in Hong Kong can be in Kansas in 24 hours. Now you know why Hong Kong killed millions of chickens and Vietnam is killing all its ducks right now. For the flu there is no third world countries.

[avoCAdos]

...Don't need to capture them. Birds are highly migratory creatures. This could spread worldwide in six months, easy...

Beg to differ here...but there would have to be unprecedented numbers of of road-crossings for chickens and poultry to be considered "highly migratory."

[CONGHUNTER]

Tis the season. Seams like another pandemic scare is broadcast around this time of year every year. It must be "financial grant renewal" month for all of the university labs out there that need some reason for living. Thanks for the warning now shut up. I'll make sure that I don't come down with cancer due to drinking 300 gallons of soda in one sitting. lol.

[bitt]

Thanks for the warning now shut up?

[Judith Anne]

Thanks, sorry to get back to you so late. I couldn't read it because I didn't want to register...but I'm alarmed to hear about that case.

I've not heard of any ordinary flu killing anyone so quickly.

[Judith Anne]

I apologize for getting back to you so late. I clicked on your link, but I don't want to register. But that is a really disturbing report, I don't remember hearing of any ordinary flu that could kill anyone that quickly...thank you for the information, I'm going to tuck it away, and if I hear of any other cases like that, I'll ping you.

[steve86]

I didn't register either but does this refer to the same cases?

There have been reports of two clusters of 3 deaths. One cluster was of 3 boys in Eastern Pennsylvania. All three died between February 7 and 15. One was a fifth grader (11M) in Bregy elementary school, another was a sixth grader (11M) at the Bala Cynwyd middle school, and the third was a freshman (15M) at the Nazareth Area high school. All three Eastern Pennsylvania students suddenly died after coming down with the flu.

[steve86]

Don't worry about it; there are social misfits on every significant thread.

[Judith Anne]

Hi, I just got back from reading about H3N2 (California) flu and the same article you quoted from on CurEvents forum...very interesting, and I had the same question.

[flashbunny]

I believe you. Since I started taking garlic tabs, I haven't had more than a sniffle that went away the next day. It's probably one of the best kept secrets for staying healthy.

[bitt]

:)

[litehaus]

"Why then is it given priority over the other diseases?"

An outbreak of loud PCness in this country?

[Grut]

Could be appropriations time, too...

Forgive my ignorance but what does that mean?

Scary predictions as a way to get a bigger budget/subsidy.

[Centurion2000]

bump

[CONGHUNTER]

"Thanks for the warning now shut up" was to the author of the article not to you. Sorry for any misunderstanding.

[bitt]

that's nice. now, head's up.