Accrington Web - View Single Post - Bird Flu - will it be headless chickens or a dead duck?

Tealeaf · 14-10-2005, 10:25

It looks like it is finally upon us. Avian flu has now been confirmed in Romania and Turkey (thats the country) and given migratory flight patterns it should only be a matter of weeks before the first case is confirmed in the UK.At least according to the theory.
Meanwhile, the current flu vaccine offered by GP's offers immunity against only a few strains of flu virus and not against H5N1, the human variant. Even if one was available, it is unlikely that the UK, with only one flu vaccine plant, would be in a position to manufacture dosages in sufficient quantities.
So what is going to happen? Well, according to whispers down here, the goverment is preparing some pretty severe contingency plans, including restrictions on rail and road travel, closure of schools,etc,in an attempt to isolate any possible outbreak of H5N1. I don't know to what extent this is fact or just silly rumour.
I do remember, though the scares over mad cow/new variant CJD disease and a projected UK death toll anywhere between 100,000 and several million. 10 years later the toll is no more than a couple of hundred.
So what is it to be? Are we going to panic over this and run around like a bunch of headless chickens or is it going to be a non starter, a dead duck. Would the good people of Hyndburn panic anyway? And if the virus does prove highly contagious, what are you going to do?

14-10-2005, 10:25	#1
Tealeaf God Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Paradise Lost Posts: 7,220 Liked: 11 times Rep Power: 4266	Bird Flu - will it be headless chickens or a dead duck? It looks like it is finally upon us. Avian flu has now been confirmed in Romania and Turkey (thats the country) and given migratory flight patterns it should only be a matter of weeks before the first case is confirmed in the UK.At least according to the theory. Meanwhile, the current flu vaccine offered by GP's offers immunity against only a few strains of flu virus and not against H5N1, the human variant. Even if one was available, it is unlikely that the UK, with only one flu vaccine plant, would be in a position to manufacture dosages in sufficient quantities. So what is going to happen? Well, according to whispers down here, the goverment is preparing some pretty severe contingency plans, including restrictions on rail and road travel, closure of schools,etc,in an attempt to isolate any possible outbreak of H5N1. I don't know to what extent this is fact or just silly rumour. I do remember, though the scares over mad cow/new variant CJD disease and a projected UK death toll anywhere between 100,000 and several million. 10 years later the toll is no more than a couple of hundred. So what is it to be? Are we going to panic over this and run around like a bunch of headless chickens or is it going to be a non starter, a dead duck. Would the good people of Hyndburn panic anyway? And if the virus does prove highly contagious, what are you going to do? Last edited by Tealeaf; 14-10-2005 at 10:27. Reason: ...spelling....!!!..Ooops.