BO, I think its something to worry about when it ever happens. But those who usually get the vacs first will be health workers, police and those in the front line, this will of course include vets as in animal doctors not the running kind and after that the most vulnerable.
The thing that will worry me most is if they do start to panic and stop all large public gatherings and this may of course include races.
Can't wait to get my cheap chicken though as folks stop buying it.
Fear we may end up not going to the local egg farm soon.
Great place, hens all over the place pecking your feet, outdoor fridge where you help yourself to eggs, put you money in the door tray of the fridge & help yourself to change. All done on trust & often get double yokers.
But in Germany they've banned keeping hens outdoors, probably not long before that happens here.
As I understand it the government is ordering large stocks of Tamiflu - enough to does every person twice. But it will take some time to build up the stocks. And it is not a vaccine, it is used to reduce the effect of flu once you catch it. Effective if used in the first couple of days of the illness and can save lives. I believe the top priotiy is health workers and other essential workers and then anybody who is ill, starting with those most severely affected. But available to everybody if there is enough available.
There isn't a vaccine because the mutation that jumps easily from bird to human isn't with us yet (if it does happen) so vaccine suppliers and labs are on alert to do this work uf the situation arises.
(CAVEAT: I'm only repeating what I heard on the radio, I don't work in this field).
I heard there was a vaccine, company called Roche or something? Anyway the share prices have risen for certain drug co.s. Apparently some director was on tv saying he had some at his home as was 'allowed'. This was just somethign i heard form colleague, so it may well be a bit wrong!
From what I read in New Scientist, they wouldn't be able to make Tamiflu or other antivirals fast enough anyway, as they use chicken's eggs to grow it in.
You lot think you've got problems? I live on a campus surrounded by ducks, with a great big fountain in the middle of the lake to aerosolise the duck shit! I think York was designed so the students were miner's canaries for any bird-born bug! :P
The basic cause seems to be birds living too close together and people living too close to birds.
The media love to create panic but they don't seem too concerned about the diseases which kill thousands in developing countries and which are basically left untreated (Aids, TB, malaria etc). If one percent of Aids victims in Africa gets treatment now what chance do they have when and if the flu pandemic occurs?
They use chicken eggs to grow the flu virus in. How do i know... i work at the place they grow and where they will test the vaccine. so i know i'll be one of the first to get any vaccine they make.
There is research going on into the diseases burnt out mention but unfortunately the dept of health continue to cut funding in vital areas of research and clinical trials of any vaccine etc is very expensive and take along time.
Lets get this straight. To protect us from bird flu we need to kill all the chickens but then we don't have any eggs to grow the virus in so we can't make the vaccine so we can't protect ourselves.
Terrorism, SARS, global warming. Always keep the public in fear, makes it easier for them to bury bad news and hide the drums of war that are beating theyre way towards Iran.
Just one problem with that argument... people really DID blow up the underground. And what if the flu pandemic isn't just a scare story. It has been known to kill millions in the past.
Have you seen the story in the US at the present that flu is being released by the federal govt so that can create a clamour for flu jabs and a secret microchip is beign injected with the flu vaccine? Not that far away from the 'keep us in fear' conspiracy...
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Next question?
BO
The thing that will worry me most is if they do start to panic and stop all large public gatherings and this may of course include races.
Can't wait to get my cheap chicken though as folks stop buying it.
(Cheap joke)
BO
there ist one
Great place, hens all over the place pecking your feet, outdoor fridge where you help yourself to eggs, put you money in the door tray of the fridge & help yourself to change. All done on trust & often get double yokers.
But in Germany they've banned keeping hens outdoors, probably not long before that happens here.
Now that would be convenient...
cant think of a greater way to spread the bugs
except maybe the undergroud
As I understand it the government is ordering large stocks of Tamiflu - enough to does every person twice. But it will take some time to build up the stocks. And it is not a vaccine, it is used to reduce the effect of flu once you catch it. Effective if used in the first couple of days of the illness and can save lives. I believe the top priotiy is health workers and other essential workers and then anybody who is ill, starting with those most severely affected. But available to everybody if there is enough available.
There isn't a vaccine because the mutation that jumps easily from bird to human isn't with us yet (if it does happen) so vaccine suppliers and labs are on alert to do this work uf the situation arises.
(CAVEAT: I'm only repeating what I heard on the radio, I don't work in this field).
does = dose
uf = if
priotiy = priority
(Must do better)
And no it isn't the chocolate company either!!!
You lot think you've got problems? I live on a campus surrounded by ducks, with a great big fountain in the middle of the lake to aerosolise the duck shit!
I think York was designed so the students were miner's canaries for any bird-born bug! :P
The media love to create panic but they don't seem too concerned about the diseases which kill thousands in developing countries and which are basically left untreated (Aids, TB, malaria etc). If one percent of Aids victims in Africa gets treatment now what chance do they have when and if the flu pandemic occurs?
I am afraid I don't have the answer.
BO
There is research going on into the diseases burnt out mention but unfortunately the dept of health continue to cut funding in vital areas of research and clinical trials of any vaccine etc is very expensive and take along time.
Lets get this straight. To protect us from bird flu we need to kill all the chickens but then we don't have any eggs to grow the virus in so we can't make the vaccine so we can't protect ourselves.
Is this a chicken and egg sort of problem?
BO
We're doomed I tell ye, doooomed!
:-))))
BO
Terrorism, SARS, global warming. Always keep the public in fear, makes it easier for them to bury bad news and hide the drums of war that are beating theyre way towards Iran.
Just one problem with that argument... people really DID blow up the underground. And what if the flu pandemic isn't just a scare story. It has been known to kill millions in the past.
Have you seen the story in the US at the present that flu is being released by the federal govt so that can create a clamour for flu jabs and a secret microchip is beign injected with the flu vaccine? Not that far away from the 'keep us in fear' conspiracy...
Here's a version of the flu story.
And here is a good version of the 'terrorism is just an excuse to go to war' argument.
Avian flu has just arrived in Britain.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4365956.stm
A parrot in quarantine has died. Isolated from te general bird population. Which is how quarantine is supposed to work.
So far there is no suggestion that avian flu is 'loose' in Britain.