Bird Flu

Kaitlin'smom wrote: anyone hear about this? DH was telling me about it yesterday and now I am trying to read some up on it. Its not in the US right now but it could and it sounds scary. I am going to read more on it.

mom2tripp replied: I've been reading a lot about it and it is SOOOO scary--I mean scary like it could be like the outbreak of 1918 where 50-60 million people were killed--I'm terrified. Let's just hope the officials can contain it before it mutates and spreads--VERY SCARY

mom21kid2dogs replied: There was a big article in the AM paper about it as they are destroying a bunch of birds in Turkey because it has now spread there. It's been around for awhile, mostly in Asia. Very deadly, very scary!!

jcc64 replied: Not to sound dramatic, but you have a right to be concerned. My brother has been saying for several years now that if avian flu mutates, as it seems destined to do, we are in for a horrific nightmare. He said the possibility has caused more than a few sleepless nights for him. This from a guy who usually mocks media feeding frenzies around the "disease of the week."
I'm worried.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I'm very worried.

amynicole21 replied: It kills 55% of people who contract it

gr33n3y3z replied: I didnt see anything on it but I think I will skip reading it lol

mammag replied: I have also been hearing about it for a bit and am very worried. I don't usually get worried about these "diseases of the week" like Jeanne said. For some reason this gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. It makes me glad I'm homeschooling because if it does mutate and get here I would be worried to send them to school.

I'm praying they will come up with a vaccine before it gets bad if it does happen. Scary stuff!

A&A'smommy replied: Yeah I saw that on the news they are doing a pretty good job getting it contained they are going EVERY chicken farm.. they also said that it wouldn't be long before it got here to the states but the is the news NOT the ones getting it contained so who knows we will just have to be on the lookout... I hope it doesn't come here!!

sunshine girls replied: I read earlier that 60 people in Asia have been killed by it, I think it's mainly in Idonesia and Asia.
James told me that one of the main problems is people in Asia arn't telling officials that their chickens may be infected, because obviously they have to get rid of them. So these people arn't telling, and they're keeping infected chickens which means theirs a greater chance it will mutate and become a human spread virus.

James is freaked out by it but he won't admit it. He just acts all knowledgable on the subject, and wont eat chicked

ilovemybaby replied: I'm worried too. But then I heard on the news that other than in Asia no people have been infected ... it's just the birds. I really hope they can contain it and that it doesn't spread to the US or anywhere else!

I was just thinking how I'm so worried about Abby catching it and dying and not really worried about myself catching it... Maybe I just have too much confidence in my immune system because *TOUCH WOOD* I never get sick and when I do I'm better in less than a week.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: This just bugs me for some reason....

YES, the avian flu has killed people. On the other hand.... look at the big deal they made out of SARS? Not to be mean... but although it killed some people, it didn't kill all that many, on a grand scale.... and although I feel bad for the families who lost someone, the death tolls weren't THAT much higher than witht he regular flu.

I hope that the avian flu can be contained... but the last thing I saw on the news is that 'they' aren't even sure HOW it gets to humans.....

Sure I'm worried about it... why wouldn't I be? I'm also worried about AIDS.... but that doesn't stop me from taking my kids out... who knows... some sicko could come any time and jab one of my kids with an infected needle, kwim?

I don't mean to discredit anyone, or to step on anyone's feelings... I just think this is going to turn into another Mountain BEFORE it even gets to the molehill stage. That's just my personal opinion... if it seems offensive, that's not the intention, and I apologize in advance... and as time goes by, my feelings towards the disease will likely change... but for now, 'they' seem to have it pretty under control, and overall, I'm not that worried.

redchief replied: The best information available on avian flu can be found here:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/facts.htm

Avian flu progression is being watched closely by the center for disease control and the emergency medical community but not because there's an epidemic or anything like that. It is being monitored closely for three reasons. One, there have been reported cases of bird to human transmission and MAY have been one or two cases of human to human transmission (among family members); there are no recorded cases of bird flu extending beyond one person. Two, there is a high morbidity rate in those humans who have contracted the virus. And third, there is not currently a vaccine that is effective in preventing avian flu.

We should be concerned and encourage our government to monitor the flu closely and keep funding in place for development of vaccine if the virus does mutate and gains the ability to spread from human to human. But we shouldn't panic; Bird Flu is not sweeping the world.

MyLuvBugs replied:
I completely agree.