Oh boy!
So how many dead would you like Jos ?
The 1918 pandemic-caused by bird flu H1N1-killed 20 million humans.
I would like none dead, but lets get this into perspective - the big 1918 pandemic is all over the media, profits of doom are being given headlines and the mass media are having a field day. Still, this is, at best, a
potential disease to affect the masses - the current death toll is in the mere tens. As I compared to before, just to take the simple example of malaria - millions are actually dying of this today, year in and year out. It rarely makes a centimetre of column space in the newspapers, let alone the front page. Shame there is not such a big outcry over these continuing (preventable)diseases which affect the (less developed) world. So, prey tell me, why does a small scale disease that might, just might, mutate and have impact on Europe, as well as the rest of the world, come to dominate the media, whilst others are neatly forgotten.
As for the 20 million figure, that is about the same number that is killed by malaria every handful of years.
The owners of the 150 million of chickens which have been slaughtered , so you can sleep easy in your bed deserve a little bit of your consideration surely?
Sorry, it is not being done so I can sleep easy in my bed, I assure you I already do.
And the WHO are working hard to make sure you stay alive-"what a waste of money" seems a bit churlish if you don't mind me saying so.
I don't mind you saying, but we are all entitled to our opinions and I don't see anything 'churlish' in my views. Maybe I'm wrong and maybe I'm not, but (1), I would prefer funds to be allocated to mass diseases that are already inflicting the many, rather than to a big 'if'. However, to be honest, I don't debate the need to investigate and have strategies in place to tackle this disease (so perhaps I was harsh on the WHO), but I would absolutely say the role of the media and the 'hype' is way over the top and, as already argued, misplaced given other diseases worldwide. (2) they are working hard to make sure I stay alive? Thanks, but I would prefer they work hard to keep a few million in less fortunate parts of the world alive too.
Carry on twitching Andrew-but stear clear of Zootheras this autumn!
Hopefully, all the Zootheras will have a mild form of H5N1 and feel a little tired and so halt their migration here in Lithuania rather than winging it all the way to the UK, then having perked up return to the native lands to the east