anyone freaked out about the avian flu??

[delfin]

So I'm having a nice, peaceful day yesterday, taking down all the Xmas stuff, when my friend calls all upset about the avian flu and a possible pandemic. Needless to say, by the end of the phone call, she had me in a neurotic, worrying state. She actually said, "if the pandemic hits here (NY), you know that people in your immediate family will die." She says this while I'm watching my girls doing gymnastics, having fun, and well, I went from enjoying a nice Sunday afternoon to totally depressed within ten minutes. Has anyone else thought about this flu this way? I told her that I have faith in our government (ahem) to employ quarantines or whatever they have to do to protect us (but in the back of my mind, I'm thinking, yeah, right.) What are your thoughts????x(

 

[jazz]

Calm down. There have been no reports of the flu in the US or any deaths or cases of people having it in this county.

Also, although there are have been some deaths in Asia, I don't have the specific number, the amount of deaths is very low. Sure, even one death is bad and tragic, but if you look at the big worldwide picture, 50 or less deaths, is hardly a pandemic.

I also heard a scientist say, sorry I don't remember his name, that it takes years and years for the virus to mutate. Also, did you know that all flues start out as bird flues.

The major world governments are aware of the possibility of a pandemic. This may or may not make you feel confident.

I think right now, you have more chance of being hit by a car in a road rage incident then catching bird flu.

Feel better? If not, put in a Cathe tape and lift heavy or do some hard aerobics and burn off some anxiety. Then relax with a little yoga or a stretch workout.

 

[pink_fortitude]

I honestly haven't given it a second thought. It could happen, it may not. Why worry about things you can't control? I can't control what the guys in the car next to me is doing any more than I can this. Don't let this interfere with you living your life and enjoying everything you do day to day. If I thought about this then I would have to worry about what would happen if I just drive down the road the post office, or worry about my kids leaving my side to be in the care of someone else. Life is too short as it is, so enjoy it! Don't worry it away.

Missy

 

[andtckrtoo]

I live in California and could spend the majority of my time consumed about "the big one", but I don't. I'm as prepared as I can be, but if and when it happens, there's not much I can do. I see the bird flu like that. First of all - the only people who have gotten the flu have gotten in directly from dealing with infected birds and not following good hygen practices. There is no virus at all at this time that can be transferred human to human. Yes, that may change, but it has not yet.

 

[delfin]

Thanks for helping to put my mind at ease. But I still feel angry at my friend for the way she said, "people in your immediate family will die" in this chilling horror-movie voice -- you know, like the killer who calls on the phone and tells you he's gonna getcha. I was really taken aback, I mean, would you ever say that to a friend???

 

[endorphin_junkie]

Panic is rarely the best way to deal with these things It's strange and mildly amusing how some people love to get in your face with the worst possible scenario, remember things like Y2K for perspective. Knowledge is power so if you find that you are worried seek out some good science based information on the subject.

I know that some people are really tripping about this, I was shocked to hear my mother say that she won't put out bird feeders next year because you never know......I don't agree with her at all but didn't care to debate it with her.

Take Care
Laurie

 

[candi]

I am concerned about this but I try not to spend my time worrying about it. It's my understanding there's really nothing we can do until the breakouts occur and maybe nothing even then. Although I don't have the same faith in our government that you do, I just try to stay as healthy as I can and have faith in my body's abilities to fight things off.

 

[MSJ]

I'll be a lot more concerned if the virus mutates so that the disease is spread by human to human contact. But I'm not really panicked about it.

Maggie

 

[LauraMax]

I'm no more concerned about the avian flu than I am about ecoli, ebola, the flesh eating disease, small pox, large pox, confectioner's sugar in my mail, a tsunami hitting the Jersey shore, an earthquake hitting NYC.......

Seriously, if you worry about every tragedy that hits the news, you'll turn into Howard Hughes.

 

[NY25]

It's the least of your concerns - by the time it mutates and jumps species, becoming contagious person to person (which it hasn't yet) they will have a vaccine or something for it. All of this hype is strictly the media's fear-mongering to keep people in a constant state of fear about something (terrorism, avian flu, the economy, next it will be your dinner salad!). Realistically, you have little to nothing to worry about. The people getting bird flu literally live with birds. Like have their chickens in their houses. You don't do that. With that said however, some global pandemic is inevitable and there is nothing you can do about it. History proves this to be true. The planet has become grossly overpopulated and unfortunately by primarily humans that have little to no concern for the planet, animals or others. We pollute, create massive abouts of refuse, slaughter animals by the millions. Many of the planets worst diseases have come as a direct result of human encroachment on wild areas or general human stupidity (i.e. mad cow - a wholly man made disease) As we have all witnessed in the last 13 months, Mother Nature can be a mighty bitch when she's pissed off. At some point there will be a global pandemic that will balance out the over-population issues. Could be the flu. Could be the result of bio-terror. Could be another virus. It will happen but no use being afraid of it. If it's your time to go - it's your time - smallpox or car crash - ultimately doesn't matter if the end result is the same.