Bird Flu

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There has been an annoucement on the radio, that with the possibility of bird flu eventually finding its way to the UK, they are soon going to be advising people NOT to feed garden birds. Speaking to a nurse yesterday, she told me that she had already been given the bird flu vaccination, as had many of her colleagues.

If you have a look at various websites there are some shocking statistics at how this flu could possibly kill 100,000 in the UK. They are recommending that the elderly definitely take up the option of having their flu jobs as it is possibly the elderly and infirm that are most likely to be affected or anyone with a low immune system.

I certainly don't like scaremongering BUT should we be worried?
Taken from the BBC website

Britain to assess bird flu risk

UK farmers have taken extra measures to protect their broods
Outbreaks of bird flu in Romania and Turkey are of concern and show there is a risk to the UK, the government's chief vet has said.
Dr Debby Reynolds said a rapid risk assessment for Britain will be carried out after a deadly strain of avian flu was found in Turkey.

She was speaking after the virus was identified as the H5N1 strain that killed more than 60 people in Asia.

But the government has rejected calls for the wild bird trade to be banned.

Imports banned

Sustainable Farming Minister Lord Bach rejected Liberal Democrat calls for the wild bird trade and bird fairs to be banned because of the danger of avian flu being imported.

He told the House of Lords poultry imports were subject to strict regulation but he added those covering pet birds were not as stringent.

It shows there is a risk to the UK and this is a developing situation, which we are monitoring closely

Debby Reynolds
Chief Veterinary Officer


Reason to be fearful?

News of the outbreak in north-west Turkey came after avian flu was also confirmed in ducks in Romania. The EU said those cases were assumed to be the same strain.

The European Commission has banned the import of live birds, poultry and feathers from Romania.

Samples of the dead birds were sent from Turkey and Romania to the UK for laboratory analysis.

Reports urged

The government says it is doing everything it can to prevent imported birds bringing avian flu into Britain.

Dr Reynolds said: "Confirmation that highly pathogenic avian influenza has been found in Turkey and that avian influenza is now also in Romania is of concern."


Europe is taking steps against avian flu

"It shows there is a risk to the UK and this is a developing situation, which we are monitoring closely."

The key to tackling bird flu was to detect it early, she said.

"We have already enhanced our surveillance of wild birds, working with other (EU) member states, and we have a full public contingency plan in place for tackling any outbreak.

"
 
Really depends on the pecking!!! order :o ...................I had my ordinary/normal flue jab yesterday morning............. :rolleyes: yes I am very aware it does not cover this bird flue...........
 
I reckon the media, especially the tabloids, are shamefully using this 'scare' to make money for themselves.

It is newsworthy but the only real worry is whether the virus mutates to affect human-human contact and while it is possible, it is odds-on it won't.

Poultry workers need to be prioritised for protective measures.
 
Splash it all over the front pages (evidence today's Sunday Mail) to grab people's attention and feed their fears, make them want to buy the next day's (sister-)paper and so on, until the next opportunity to repeat the cycles presents itself.

If they (the less responsible ones) took the time to research the issue(s) and print the facts they wouldn't sell as many papers.
 
No. We shouldn't be scared about this, much less petrified. If you look at the facts, there is no immediate threat posed to us. The flu strain is unable to mutate to a human strain at the moment & it cannot be passed on through consumption of poultry either. Even the BBC news have been saying that if you look at the facts there is no need to be getting worried about the situation yet and have accused the papers of scaremongering.
 
Maurice, while I share your cynical view of the tabloid press, I can assure you that such stories don't sell papers. Now, Davids Beckham and Blunkett are a different matter, as are Premiership footballers who can't keep it in their trousers...
 
Originally posted by Colin Phillips@Oct 16 2005, 11:09 AM
Kathy, you've got to die from something!! :confused:
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You are right Colin. I just wonder if it is the Labour governments way of getting rid of 100,000 old people to save money in the pension fund? B)

(JOKE!!!)
 
60 people died of this pesky flu in the far east.

Thats 60 out of a few billion.

More people die of Flu like symptons every day through the winter in europe.
 
Originally posted by Colin Phillips@Oct 16 2005, 05:02 PM
How old is OLD, dear?

You know Brian, Jon, Derek and I are on the "wrong" side of SIX-0, apologies if I've left anyone out.
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60 is definitely NOT old in y eyes Colin. My parents are both 70 ish, and I still don't think of them as old. Nowadays 95 is perhaps classified as OLD! B)
 
You may think my priorities are stuffed but I'm more worried about the Independent's article claiming that the Gov are more than willing to ban sports events in the event of an outbreak in the UK.

Not only would we probably lose the Festival and Aintree, but Chelsea are doing great things in the Premiership! Nooooo!!!!!
 
there is no vccination as yet because the virus hasnt mutated. when it does it will take 4-6 months to develop a vaccine. so i have to question whether your nurse friend shas had this bird flu-jab?

if bird flu was to kill of as many people as reported then it would really show hwo stupid this world is and what its come to!
 
Walking in our local park today, the lake is being dredged, and a man stood next to it out walking with his dog said alot of this will be going on due to the bird flu. Evidently, the government and Defra want to clean up stagnant water areas where wild birds currently thrive.

Scaremongering maybe but is there any truth in this. Perhaps I just live near a load of weido's? :huh:
 
They seem to be making this something big and I think myself if it’s being handled as such that this is really bigger than we are lead to believe!!! And that figure from the Far East is of course fabricated? Regards the amount of deaths......

I will abstain from eating poultry in the near future or eat what I have got in the freezer and not buy any more that's for sure..

I can’t believe its not contagious if you eat a bird with this flue.... I myself would reckon you have a greater or more than even chance of catching it if eating it, it will be off my menu that's for sure................ :o :rolleyes:

I can see others doing the same as me! And a glut of poultry going on the market and then being binned as they can’t sell it................. :rolleyes:
 
Hmmm... so next time I get the flu, I must take a closer look at the ingredients in that ready meal I consumed earlier....

Obviously we are all closet cannibals ...
 
Originally posted by jft2005@Oct 16 2005, 07:03 PM
there is no vccination as yet because the virus hasnt mutated. when it does it will take 4-6 months to develop a vaccine. so i have to question whether your nurse friend shas had this bird flu-jab?

if bird flu was to kill of as many people as reported then it would really show hwo stupid this world is and what its come to!
Click to expand...

TAKEN FROM THE BBC WEBSITE
UK to buy bird flu vaccine stocks

The virus has not been contained in Asia
The UK government is to stockpile two million doses of vaccine to combat the H5N1 strain of bird flu currently circulating in Asia.
The vaccines will be used to protect key medical and emergency workers across Britain against a possible global pandemic.

The Department of Health has invited manufacturers to tender for a contract.

The World Health Organization says a pandemic of bird flu is inevitable and could cause 50,000 deaths in the UK.

It makes sense to ensure that we in the UK are prepared as we can be
It has warned that efforts to contain the spread of H5N1 in Asia have not been successful.

Latest WHO figures show there have been 54 human deaths so far - in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

Indonesian authorities confirmed the first three human fatalities from the bird flu in the country on Wednesday.

There is particular concern that these cases may have resulted from human-to-human transmission.

UK experts will be able to carry out further clinical studies on the H5N1 vaccine to learn more about how it works against the virus and how effective it could be.

Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt said: "I have decided it would be prudent to purchase a limited quantity of H5N1 vaccine which could be used to help protect those that need it most, such as NHS workers.

"It makes sense to ensure that we in the UK are prepared as we can be.

"This, alongside the purchase of 14.6 million doses of antivirals and the other public health measures we have in place, will help ensure that the UK continues to be at the forefront of international preparedness for a possible flu pandemic."

Professor Ian Jones, a virology expert at the University of Reading, said: "It's good news and builds upon the antiviral drug stockpile announced earlier in the year.

"The only concern, given that the virus constantly changes, is that manufacture can be completed before the virus drifts too far away from the current threatening strain."
 
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