Is Bird Flu Hyped?
The news media reports about the Bird Flu pandemic almost as much as it reports about the mess in Iraq. I understand that Bird Flu is a problem for birds and the people who handle birds. I understand it is a concern for poultry farmers. I understand the concern that it is spreading from Asia toward Europe. As long as poultry is well cooked though, there is no concern for consumers of poultry. I am curious why ALL the media attention in the media. I am suspicious. Almost two years before the US lead coaliton war on Iraq, CNN did a special, "Iraq, the unfinished war." When I first saw the advertisements for that special I wondered..."Hmmm, what White House PR machinations are behind that?" Viola, look at us now!
The hype about bird flu seems to center on IF bird flu changes genetically so that it can pass from human to human, we have a serious problem. Yes, it will be serious. IF! And that IF seems to be hype. Friends remind me of the flu pandemic at the end of WWI and that this is something to be concerned about. I agree, IF, if the genes mutate there is concern. IF. Not when -- IF!
Pharmaceutical companies are working on vaccines. Good. WHO and other organizations are keeping an eye on it. Good. So, why the media hype? And my suspicious little mind is not sure why, just suspicious. When the media starts a drum beat I wonder who and what is behind the drummer.
- Shannon Agan's blog
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It's an interesting
It's an interesting suggestion. Who would stand to benefit most from hyping up bird flu? The big pharmas? Government?
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Yes it's total hype
I raise poultry (chicken and quail mostly) and alot of other types of birds. I have raised birds all my life and I have my birds state tested EVERY year for AI & PT (avian influenza and pollerum thyphoid) I have never in my entire life had a sick bird. I have never known or personally heard of any of the THOUSANDS of other bird raisers I know of having one either and I do know ALOT of poultry raisers. It's total hype. Even the man who used to test my birds says it's nonsense to get worked up over it. Even if a bird gets ai (bird flu) and dies theres a good chance that it never spreads it to even one other bird and the owner will never have known of it and after it's come and gone with that one bird ai never shows it exhisted in your flock. So yes, its all for the media to have something to talk about. It's 100% hype and it is KILLING the poultry industry! I just came back from a trip from south alabama and north florida where there are tons of giant poultry farms and so many have had to close down, this media crap has just ruined their businesses.
I think the media is so liable for ruining these businesses and of course in the end WE lose out too. With each farmer that goes under the price goes up and in this case the companies helping hype this get to line their pockets a bit more. It's sickening.
not sure it's hype
I JUST attended a talk about health tonight, and this subject came up. Researchers at Harvard as well as all over the world are very concerned with the bird flu. Currently, there is no medication to help it. The OTC stuff they talk about has been given in such quantities in Asia already, the newer strains are becoming immune to it.
If a new medication is not devised and the spread of this stopped, there are great fears of what will happen with this in the next 1 to 3 years.
This information was presented by someone who has absolutely nothing to gain from it, other than concern for his fellow citizens. We all want to pretend there are no real threats to our health, but in truth, there are so many, we are bound to have SOME sort of pandemic that will kill many of our friends and family in the near future, unless we start doing something about it now. If not this one, then maybe the next, or the one after that.
We keep ignoring all of the warnings, hoping it is all hype. But what if it's not?? Shouldn't be safeguarding ourselves and our families now?
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