Living Where The First UK Case Has Been Confirmed *UPDATED* (Bird Flu)

Member Name: dadofthree

Product:	Bird Flu
Date:	07/04/06 (114 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ummm....

Disadvantages: Everyone will die, if not of bird flu then of a panic attack

It's here, it's official. Living in Dundee I am all too aware that it is down the road, and that the authorities are already being criticised for slow reactions... despite now cordoning off areas for miles around. But is this really the end of the world?


*update*
It's been a few days now, and the effects are starting to sink in. Thankfully only 1 bird appears to have been confirmed as having the deadliest strain, and the panic seems to have subdued. But as a 'local resident' (I live 5 mins walk from the edge of the cordon zone), its starting to affect my life.

Simple things you wouldn't think about. You can't get a home shopping delivery from Tesco because they're not allowed to take poultry through the zone. A minor inconvenience, but a poingnient reminder that this is still fairly serious.

No birds can be transported, dead or alive into or out of the zone. Signs have gone up advising that any dead birds should be reported immediately. Given the flack they took for taking over 24 hours to collect the now infamous 'swan', the authorities have guaranteed they will treat any dead bird as 'urgent'.

Its settled down somewhat now, and the panic has subdued so we are generally getting the idea that the newspapers latest reports of a 'dead sparrow in a road' are actually likely to be nothing. Still, its almost like a simmering pot waiting to boil over when something new comes in... it's like living with a volcanoe thats threatening to erupt.


*back to the original review*
For those who are unaware, Bird Flu is a killer Disease that has only recently been confirmed as having transferred to humans (today as I write this in fact). No human cases have been reported in the UK, but we now have our first confirmed animal to have carried and then died of the disease.

To make matters worse, the Newspapers tell us the one they have found in Scotland is indeed the deadliest strain of the disease... oh great.

As per normal, the Newspapers have glamourised Bird Flu into something that it's not. They've named 2007 as being the year in which massive deaths will be recorded across the world as birds pass the disease to humans while migrating, spreading the horrible death. It'll be the next Black Plague.

But lets stop and look at the facts here. There is no doubting that the disease is a nasty one, and its certainly a killer. In theory it can be carried by birds for thousands of miles during migration, so may be unstoppable should it begin to spread. This is terrible news for birds, but there are questions over the validity of the human deaths related to this disease. Depending on where you read your information, you will find that the strain that killed the humans was in fact marginally different to that found in the birds. Some say this has enough queries to question if it is the very same virus, or something similar that has infected humans directly. Sure, the Newspapers have come up with what they say are examples, but nothing thats been scientifically proven. So is there a need to worry?

Well yes. Despite no 'confirmed' cases, there is certainly worry in the air. With something like this, I ignore the newpapers as they often blow things out of proportion. But it worries me that one dead swan can lead to miles of area being cordoned off as a safe zone. Why would the authorities do this if there was no risk?

Even if it never transfers to a human and is proven to be some other similar virus, it could still devastate the country. If it enters the food chain, we may see hundreds of thousands of animals slaughtered (remember Mad cow disease?) This will lead to a shortage of chicken on the shelves for instance. Not a massive problem, we'll just import it right? Well erm... no. You see, the EU already has Bird Flu in many countries, so everyone will be trying to do the same thing... I think prices may hike.

My worry is the lack of knowledge being given to us. I like to consider myself well read when it comes to issues such as this, but nobody can seem to clarify which animals are actually affected by this disease. Indeed, at least 3 species of Bird are being tested in Scotland amidst mounting belief that they too will have the dreaded disease. In truth, I believe this is just because nobody really knows.

So, I sit in my house, a few miles from the big tape of the cordoned off area and wonder in the back of my mind if I am going to require my family to evacuate from the area. I doubt it will come to that, and my concern is not too sincere, but it is still there. I suppose I know what it feels like for an American in Tornado season, something bad is definitely out there, but you don't know how bad it is, or if it is actually going to reach you.

To this extent I feel that any government moves to ensure stockpiles of a relevant vaccination are welcomed. They are going to ease my mind as much as anything else. I also think more factual information should be published in the newspapers to show us what this is really about, and what is really known about this 'deadly' virus.

Bird Flu seems to have the potential to kills us, if not through the disease itself, then by the panic ensuing from the speculation that it might.


*further update*
In the comments for this review, some have called the validity of the statement that its not proven it transfers from birds to humans into question. I stand by my case. As time goes on I do begin to falter, and I am open minded about anything like this so the more facts I am presented with, the more I feel my mind and opinion may change (and hence this review). However, at this stage, I have yet to find a non-media related resource that verifies that it is scientifically proven that this disease transfers directly from birds to humans.

As I say, I continue to monitor the situation and anyone who can provide me with this evidence will certainly be listened to. Give me a website - not just so I can update this review, but also to settle my own mind. Living this close to the cordon, the more facts I can get about the situation, the happier I will be. I am never a panic person, but if something bad is about to happen, I don't want it to be a surprise....

Summary: We will all die anyway, but I would like some peace of mind.