What bothers you more, the growing problem of antibiotic resistance or the bird flu and why?

Question

you hear all about bird flu, yet nobody seems to know or be bothered by the fact that bacteria like staphylococcus and tuberculosis are becoming stronger and stronger and some are not even affected by our strongest antibiotics.
but on the other hand bird flu could cause a potentially HUGE epidemic and kill thousands.

i asked this question before and only got 2 answers.... what's your opinion?

Answer 1

I'm more concerned about the antibiotic resistance. Nowadays, the TV news says we're in an epidemic when only a few people have gotten said disease (in this case, bird flu). It's nothing like the real epidemics (flu and otherwise) that we have had in our history (even in the 1900's!) Bird flu will eventually fade away like most everything else they predict. However, we have always had a need for antibiotics, and up to this point, we have perfected them... then we realized that the germs were adapting. That means that we're going to be fighting for ways to save ourselves from the same things, forever. If germs mutated in a way that would render antibiotics uneffective tomorrow (and science has shown that they can and will mutate fast and without warning) our whole world would end in a state of chaos. It would be like before we had antibiotics, only with stronger germs and billions of people wondering why they can't be cured anymore. It's a scary thought.

Answer 2

The growing problem of disease resistance to antibiotics will have a greater long-term consequence for the reason you're saying -- the bird flu is just one virus.

And it bothers me that some diseases seem to get preferential (muscular dystrophy over Labor Day weekend, and AIDS nearly the rest of the time) funding and treatment, resources that are, to be frank, being wasted when there are diseases that we KNOW can be cured or treated and little's being done that I see to streamline access to those medicines.

Once our medical establishment becomes more concerned about overall health of people rather than quick fixes, there will be enough resources to deal with potential epidemics because we'll be working on curing the diseases, not their symptoms. And even we non-doctors and physicians can help with that by leading better, healthier lifestyles.

I hope this helps and doesn't sound too much like a rant, but your question raised a big concern I have. Have a terrific day!

Answer 3

Actually, to me the problem with antibiotic resistance actually scares me. With doctors pacifying patients giving out antibiotics like candy for the least little thing, and coupled with the fact that patient compliance in the proper taking of antibiotics is also a problem can be even worse than bird flu. At this point, I believe that bird flu is mostly media hype. I wonder what will be the next media hype. I can remember people literally freaking out because of Lyme Disease, some to the point of getting rid of their beloved pets. To me the most danger to us now, is a terrorist group exploding a nuclear weapon, or something else in a highly populated place. That has more potential to harm and kill than bird flu. Best of luck to you.

Answer 4

Definitely antibiotic resistance. The problem is people like to be medicated. I worked in a pharmacy for years, and could not get some people to grasp the concept that antibiotics are useless in the treatment of viral illnesses, especially colds. The doctors who unnecessarily prescribe are just as stupid. The thought of a bird flu pandemic, or epidemic rarely enters my mind. See link.

Answer 5

I think a lot of people worry more about the bird flu because it could be potentially transferred by chickens (which we eat) and there is no cure. True, staphylococcus and tuberculosis are mutating and are becoming harder to stop, but there was a cure at one time. So when people hear "Tuberculosis" they don't think "Uh oh! Incurable!" I think educating the general public about these matters would help research and heighten awareness.

The bird flu would be much easier to transfer I think if it was to mutate.

Answer 6

I believe that the bird flu concerns me more. This particular avian flu is only five mutations away from the ability to infect humans. The problem with the avian flu is that all vaccines are grown is chicken eggs. The flu infects the birds right, therefore, we will be unable to mass produce a vaccine. Yes, there are other ways to create vaccines, but it is expensive to mass produce vaccines this way. There is always going to be bacteria that are resistant to medications, and yes, this is becoming a problem also because MRSA is becoming vancomycin resistant and there are not many medications that can treat this without causing harm to humans. I believe these issues hold equal weight of bothersomeness to me.

Answer 7

The antibiotic issue troubles me more, because it affects treatment of many more illnesses. Doctors have been bad to prescribe antibiotics for things that don't need them...and their patients are even worse about taking them properly...I know several people, right now, who have 'leftover' antibiotics at home from a past illness...they felt better so quit taking them...next time they feel bad, they'll take those leftovers *shakes head* before seeing their doc again...

We (humans) are our own worst enemy in this situation...whether it's laziness, or expense (drugs can be $$) something needs to be done, before we start coming up with more and more illnesses that antibiotics can't touch, because the "bugs" have gotten too strong and resistant.

People...if a doc gives you antibiotics for something...take them as prescribed until they are GONE. Even if you feel better before you finish them...do not stop taking them (unless doc tells you to) and DO NOT take any leftover antibiotics that you have or a friend offers you, if you become ill. You're just making things worse for us all, if you do.

Answer 8

Antibiotic resistance.

You simply cannot get away from triclosan these days, and it makes me nuts to see it used in so many places. People don't understand that when you kill off 99% of bacteria, you're leaving the strongest 1% to reproduce. It's like forcing an evolutionary hand. And the tin-foil-hat-wearing part of me wonders if pharmaceutical companies are turning a blind eye to it, because in the end, it makes them more money.

Answer 9

antibiotic resistance...

because it only means that diseases are now getting stronger as compared to the antibiotics that we humans are developing.

First, we'll be having more epidemics - the likes of bird flu - than develop new antibiotics to fight it.

Second, most of what we eat are also contaminated with chemicals or pesticides....now surely this helps in the deterioration of our natural antibodies to guard our system from harmful bacteria...

third, polution is geting worst and we are all having things at an INSTANTANEOUS speed. Your noodles, buying of some stuff...everything in instant mode....so we are going to die....INSTANTLY too....

Answer 10

Most definitely, I am more concerned about antibiotic resistance.

For one, because it means that we will lose our ability to fight things like bird flu when they come around.

For another, because bird flu (and epidemics like it) are nature's way of thinning out the population - much like wildfires thin out the forest. Yes, it may kill thousands, but when you look at that number as a percentage of the overall population, it's pretty minor.