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Vaccine Effective Against Avian Flu
FiReaNGeL writes "Researchers announced they have genetically engineered an avian flu vaccine from the critical components of the deadly H5N1 virus that completely protected mice and chickens from infection. This virus has thus far killed 80 people, devastated bird populations in Southeast Asia and Europe and caused for billions in damage through the world." Here's hoping it works on us, too.
Not only do we not need an Avian Flu specific fund, the money already dedicated to the purpose was too much. There are litteraly thousands of more deadly illnesses out there, currently active, and currently transmitible between humans. Why should we spend billions on this one virus that has thus for only shown the potential for danger?
The first world nations don't need to pledge to do anything on this yet. There is nothing to do yet, Avian influenza is not a threat, it only has potential to become a threat. It would be almost criminal to spend so much on a thus-far fairly begnine virus. First world nations need to have a little perspective before dedicating billions to the media's current favorite "crisis".
No, I think the normal reaserch budgets will be more than sufficent to look into Avian Flu for the moment. Those extra billions would be much better spent in a miriad of other places.
If forums teach us anything, it is that logic and critical thinking should be required courses in the public schools.
The problem is, what happens when the power goes out because everyone who works at the powerplant is dead, infected, taking care of sick family, or unable / unwilling to come to work?
Same with the ISP, the hospital (which has no medicine anyway), the grocery store (which has no food anyway), the gas station (which has no gas or goodies to sell anyway).
People don't realize how much our society relies on JIT, Just In Time delivery. Most stores have less than a week of food on hand and it is constantly replenished. Most gas stations have less than a week of gas onhand. Most hospitals have less than a few weeks medicine on hand.
If the bird flu becomes human to human transmissible, it won't be pretty, and we won't be sitting at home surfing the `net with a Starbucks. Hopefully we'll have food, water, and electricity.
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Avian flu is now endemic amongst birds in South Asia, and was reportedly suspected to be endemic amongst birds in Turkey (which I still find bitterly ironic)
It may have only killed 80 people so far, but thats over 50% of the 150 or so people that have been infected. If the mortality rate is as severe when the virus mutates into a form more transmitable between humans then we're in real trouble - estimates of 150,000,000 deaths worldwide would ensure that someone you know personally will die.
There arent many professionals in the field that believe we can escape an imminent birdflu pandemic. So, in short, yes - it is likely that this will turn into a pandemic and we should all be as prepared as possible for that.