Bird Flu

[Cookiely]

When the President of the United States says that he will turn an Avian virus pandemic over to the Army and not the CDC that concerns me. First of all it tells me that the government is getting prepared and lining up all their ducks for when it strikes. Second it shows me that they are going to use the army not just USAMRID for the disease but the army to enforce quarantines. This isn't media hype.

[Windy]

Read this at the bottom of the page. Look for the person named Pyro. Pyro is a mocrobiologist and knows alot about H5N1 avian infuenza.

http://www.petflytrap.com/cgi-bin/ib312 ... 14;t=21170

Whoever that guy is is clearly misinformed. Really reactionary¹ publications like "The Economist" and "The New Yorker" and "National Geographic" have interviewed LOTS of leading microbiologists and infectious disease experts who have said that there is clearly an epidemiological link between the birds and the people with H5N1. Or is it just a coincidence that EVERYONE who has come down with it so far happened to spend a lot of time around infected birds?

Either that guy is lieing about his credentials or is woefully ignorant about his own field. Don't believe everything you read on the internet.



¹irony

[Radar]

I just dont think I would trust a microbiologist that goes by the name Pyro anyway... I mean if he had real credentials wouldnt he be using his real name to help his reputation as a scientist? Pyro sounds like a guy you would meet in a dark alley to do illegal business with...

If the bird flu does break out here in the United States I would expect whole towns would be quaranteed.. This may be the time to stock up on necessities just in case... You wont want to leave your home to go scrounging for food or water when there are people affected with it in the community... I'm not trying to HYPE this I just want to give everyone some food for thought on how we can prepare and protect our families!!! If the bird flu starts breaking out, look for the military to be moved in to quarantee neighborhoods and possibly towns... I do believe the government is getting their ducks in a row and rightly so. But 60 people dead in Asia is a far cry from a Pandemic.. Look at the HYPE about the killer bees that never really materialized. Let's not panic, but be prepared. I'm starting a quarantee supply box in my walk in closet, complete with masks, gloves, disinfectant, medicine, non perishables, hand sanitizer and vitamins... Can anyone think of anything else?

[gtalum]

Just to keep this all in perspective..

Do you all remember how last year was going to be the year of the big flu pandemic because of the "shortage" of flu vaccine? The year before that SARS was going to kill 50 million people or something stupid like that. Just remember that before you get too panicked about the alleged bird flu threat.

[GalvestonDuck]

Like I said, trust the CDC for information.

People can claim to be something they're not on a message board.

[vbhoutex]

Subtype Of Bird Flu Discovered In Texas
Thousands Of Birds Killed In Successful Containment Effort

POSTED: 4:41 pm CDT October 13, 2005
UPDATED: 8:09 am CDT October 14, 2005

HOUSTON -- While there are concerns that the bird flu could travel overseas to the United States, a subtype of the bird flu appeared in Texas last year, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday. It cost millions of dollars and thousands of birds' lives.

At a Houston bird market, live chickens are bought by people looking to prepare a fresh meal. Last year, birds from two of Houston's live bird markets tested positive for the avian flu.

"All the birds were depopulated and the facilities were cleaned and disinfected," said Max Coats, with the Texas Animal Health Commission.

Coats and his colleagues traced the infected birds back to a chicken farm in Gonzales, Texas. The farm was immediately quarantined. The flock was killed and the state set up a task force to prevent a possible outbreak of bird flu.

"Because these flu viruses, if left alone, they do change themselves," Coats said.

The virus killed 50,000 chickens and caused 40 countries to ban poultry and egg products from Texas.

A major outbreak in Texas and the U.S. was successfully avoided. The state said that it was due in part to its strict "Avian Influenza" plan.

"Our standard response is to test anything in a 10-mile radius. That's what all the circles are about," Coats said.

Their response also included telling poultry exhibitors at rodeo and livestock shows to pull their birds. That is because the virus can easily be passed with the help of humans. Just one gram of manure on a boot, clothing or piece of equipment can contain enough of the virus to infect a million birds.

"We never let our guard down," Coats said.

At a lab in College Station, Dr. Lev Gayle and his colleagues have been testing for the bird flu since the early 1990s when an outbreak in Mexico caused a scare.

"We're taking in samples and running tests 24-7, 365 days a year," Gayle said.

The lab detected the deadly virus that hit Texas last year. It was identified as a different subtype of the Asian bird flu or virus being blamed for human deaths in Asia.

Although there has never been a reported human case of the bird flu virus here, scientists admit it could happen because of the virus' uncanny ability to mutate and adapt.

"It's like a question of time that it does come up with a form that does affect humans," Gayle said. "In biology I would hate to never say never."

This month, the killer 1918 pandemic was discovered to have been caused by a bird flu that jumped to humans and then developed the ability to be passed from person to person. The question now is could that happen to the Asian flu or with the bird flu strains that hit Texas last year.

"Everything can happen once," Gayle said. "This outbreak, if it happens, is not going to happen on Plum Island. It's not going to be up in New York. It's going to be in a feed lot in Amarillo."

Scientists in Texas say they are more than prepared to deal with an outbreak.

The Texas Poultry Federation has all its members regularly test their flocks for the avian flu. Last year's bird flu was detected through this routine monitoring.

All poultry owners are encouraged to call the state if they see any signs that their birds are sick or dying. The number to call is (800) 550-2966.

Copyright 2005 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

[txwatcher91]

Like I said, trust the CDC for information.

People can claim to be something they're not on a message board.

No, he really is a microbiologist. I have met him and his boss and the company he works for. I just thought ya'll might like to hear an opinion from a real microbiologist.

[txwatcher91]

I just dont think I would trust a microbiologist that goes by the name Pyro anyway... I mean if he had real credentials wouldnt he be using his real name to help his reputation as a scientist? Pyro sounds like a guy you would meet in a dark alley to do illegal business with...

If the bird flu does break out here in the United States I would expect whole towns would be quaranteed.. This may be the time to stock up on necessities just in case... You wont want to leave your home to go scrounging for food or water when there are people affected with it in the community... I'm not trying to HYPE this I just want to give everyone some food for thought on how we can prepare and protect our families!!! If the bird flu starts breaking out, look for the military to be moved in to quarantee neighborhoods and possibly towns... I do believe the government is getting their ducks in a row and rightly so. But 60 people dead in Asia is a far cry from a Pandemic.. Look at the HYPE about the killer bees that never really materialized. Let's not panic, but be prepared. I'm starting a quarantee supply box in my walk in closet, complete with masks, gloves, disinfectant, medicine, non perishables, hand sanitizer and vitamins... Can anyone think of anything else?

I am not sure how he got the name Pyro, but that website is a carnivorous plant forum. A person started that thread about the bird flu, and he was just trying to clear things up.

[CFL]

When the President of the United States says that he will turn an Avian virus pandemic over to the Army and not the CDC that concerns me. First of all it tells me that the government is getting prepared and lining up all their ducks for when it strikes. Second it shows me that they are going to use the army not just USAMRID for the disease but the army to enforce quarantines. This isn't media hype.

The bad thing here is that if there is no vaccine the Army is going to be just as sick as everyone else.

[Cookiely]

When the President of the United States says that he will turn an Avian virus pandemic over to the Army and not the CDC that concerns me. First of all it tells me that the government is getting prepared and lining up all their ducks for when it strikes. Second it shows me that they are going to use the army not just USAMRID for the disease but the army to enforce quarantines. This isn't media hype.

The bad thing here is that if there is no vaccine the Army is going to be just as sick as everyone else.

Every cloud has a silver lining, and in this instance I think we will do better than anticipated because we know so much more now about controlling outbreaks via quarantine, masks, disinfecting then we did back in 1918. Your right about first responders becoming ill but I don't think the army will have as much problems because they will get the heads up before they are activated.

[HurriCat]

IF the H5N1 mutates to where it jumps easily from human to human, then there will be some big problems here. The real horror will be in places like India, where they have nowhere near the public health resources as we do here. NOTE: And research this for yourselves, too: People are making millions, peddling TAMIFLU and other "Avian Flu Vaccines". There is no vaccine yet, as the flu isn't yet in a form that will cause the feared pandemic. Accordingly, there is no "live target" to develop/test a vaccine upon. Further, I have read articles that some patients with this flu are already showing resistance to Tamiflu. No one can say if any existing vaccines will help against the mutated H5N1 - IF it comes. Don't get all and blow lots of money on pills and sprays. I think that it's better if you PLAN NOW, with supplies and good hygiene habits (no hand-shaking), and if you live in a very densely populated/urban area, consider a relocation plan. Sometimes this thing people have about living in huge groups can bite them in the rumps.