2007-03-04 11:04:03 · 6 answers · asked by Kim L 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
I agree with him. The bird flu, just like everything else, is a lot of media hype, that has had some people really freaking out. To be totally honest with you, judge what you read in the papers and what you hear on the news. What is reported is not necessarily the truth. I know this for a fact.
2007-03-04 11:10:16 · answer #1 · answered by cajunrescuemedic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. As several people have said Y2K was not a problem because many people worked to keep it from being a problem. That has nothing to do with pandemic flu.
Unfortunately bird flu is not media hype. The virus has actually had very little media coverage. Right now – over the past six months – the fatality rate has been 78%. Those aren’t very good odds, are they?
Our usual seasonal flu most often kills the very young, elderly or frail people with chronic illnesses.
H5N1 avian flu mostly strikes healthy children, teens and young adults. The vast majority of the patients are under the age of 40.
There are no shots – vaccine - for avian flu. We cannot make vaccine until the virus begins to pass easily from person to person. It will take at least 6 to 9 months to produce the first vaccine, and at first only small amounts will be produced. The first vaccine is planned to go to healthcare workers, fire fighters, police, and others who keep our society safe.
Pandemics happen. We have had at least three or four pandemics during each century for the last 300 years. In 1918 between 50 to 100 million people died. This is possible with the current avian flu.
We will likely be told to stay in our homes during a wave of flu so and officials have said that we should have nonperishable food, water, medicines, baby food, pet food, etc.
We can't stop the virus from causing a pandemic, but we can get prepared for it.
2007-03-04 18:12:21 · answer #2 · answered by starlight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Y2K did happen, but most of the world's computers had been prepared for it. As for the bird flu, for MOST people, the bug doesn't cross from animals to humans. He's probably right about the flu. Still, are you healthy? If so, then you will probably survive it well. Do you have other health problems that make you susceptible to respiratory illness, then be sure to take the shots or other preparations whenever possible. Of course, your doctor will keep closest tabs, so ask him to call if you if there is risk or a possible remedy comes available.
I'm not worried and I have asthma. I take the vaccinations when they become available and avoid situations that might be a problem when colds and flus go around. You'll do fine.
2007-03-04 11:17:08 · answer #3 · answered by Rabbit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The two are totally unrelated. One is a computer problem the other is a virus that people catch. Now I don't think the Worrying will make any difference. True someday there will be a bad virus that will wipe out a large number of people. By a large number I mean one in four to one in six range. That is a given it has happen in the pass an will again weather we worry about it or not. The one that we do not see coming is the one that will hurt the most. It is best to know a little about viruses and hygiene for protection and leave the worrying to the Scientist
2007-03-04 11:17:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The two events have nothing to do with each other. The bird flu may or may not become a pandemic but it's probability is totally independent of y2k.
2007-03-04 11:12:35 · answer #5 · answered by Bullwinkle Moose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is the deal with you and the bird flu?
Don't worry about it. You are stressing yourself for no good reason.
2007-03-04 12:37:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋