NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4881850.stm

I just heard the confirmation that this swan did indeed have the H5N1 strain, blamed for human deaths.

I knew it would get here, it was just a case of when. Now the question is, will this news change how you act/eat or anything else?

I blame the Queen seeing as she owns all those bloody swans.

I didn't realise that she was THAT evil....


Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was important for people to realise that "this is not a human-to-human virus, it is something that is transmitted to poultry".

"It is only if humans are in direct and very intensive contact with poultry that there is any risk involved."

OKAY, so WHAT kind of direct and very intensive contact do they mean? If I meet a chicken and just say hi! is that OK? Does the problem start when I want to take it out for the evening or only if we get down to the nitty gritty and the feathers come off?

No tongues

No tongues

oh!? really? bugger thats no fun then...

OKAY, so WHAT kind of direct and very intensive contact do they mean?

I am guessing aviosodomy is right out.

I am guessing aviosodomy is right out.

I am wondering how it can possibly be safe to EAT poultry if you aren't allowed to have direct and very intensive contact?

I am wondering how it can possibly be safe to EAT poultry if you aren't allowed to have direct and very intensive contact?

There aren't many viruses that can survive cooking.

Unless you eat your poultry raw..

No more swan sushi then...

I just heard the confirmation that this swan did indeed have the H5N1 strain, blamed for human deaths.


AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGHET!

;)

My history teacher said that we sould lock ourselfves in our house, taping up our windows and doors and expect to have to survive for six weeks without anycontact with the outside air.

I guess i won't be seeing him for six weeks.

No more swan sushi then...


Oh god no! ANYTHING BUT THE SWAN SUSHI!

Im going to carry on eating Chicken, Turkey, goose etc, and i twill benefit me because shops wont be able to give them away. I already know some people who have stopped eating poultry

Lets just hope they save the Ravens; or our nation will fall

No more swan sushi then...
Oh but thats my favourite :(

Oh but thats my favourite :(

I quite like raven stir fry, but you have to catch them at night, because the beefeaters get pretty ticked off at you otherwise.

i read ages ago they had enough vaccines - basically enough for 20% of the country. Which is two times more than what they need should there be an epidemic.
So, am i bovvered?

i read ages ago they had enough vaccines - basically enough for 20% of the country. Which is two times more than what they need should there be an epidemic.
So, am i bovvered?

Look at this face...is it bovvered?

Look at this face...is it bovvered?

Holy crap balls. you been here since Dec 03.

Old school, amazing.

Dunno why i'm quoting.

yeah....but am I bovvered though?

And I like the term 'old School' It conveys a certain aroma of cabbage and wham! mixed with a hint of 'Frankie goes to Hollywood' ......very evocative.:p

i read ages ago they had enough vaccines - basically enough for 20% of the country. Which is two times more than what they need should there be an epidemic.
So, am i bovvered?

Completely wrong I'm afraid, as yet there is no vaccine that is guaranteed to work if a pandemic occurs as we don't know what form the mutation will take. A few speculative vaccines have been produced that might be effective but this is doubtful and they will be reserved for the vital members of society: doctors, nurses, farmers, food transporters and, most likely, politicians (:rolleyes:).

I don't know where you live but the UK had ordered enough Tamiflu for 25% of the population, not all of it has been delivered yet but we are near the top of the list for deliveries. The UK government has also put an order in for enough vaccine to innoculate everyone in the UK but this probably won't be available for at least six months after a pandemic begins. I believe George Bush was planning to build a network of vaccine producing factories in the US but I haven't heard any news on that for a while.

Completely wrong I'm afraid, ... etc

:eek:

Well that totally put me in my place.
Guess i should be bovvered.

:eek:

Well that totally put me in my place.
Guess i should be bovvered.

Maybe I should have left you alone. :p

Maybe I should have left you alone. :p

NO! say some more stuff!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/Anarking/aigbirds.gif

Just about sums up the worries at the moment.

Well, if it kills off the ageing population, then Blair and Brown won't have to bicker over pensions, and we will live in a New Labour utopia!

Or at least it will confirm that I really, really hate birds. Either's good.

Well, if it kills off the ageing population, then Blair and Brown won't have to bicker over pensions, and we will live in a New Labour utopia!

Or at least it will confirm that I really, really hate birds. Either's good.

Why am I always the bearer of bad news? :(

At the moment it looks like the virus is similar to the 1918 virus, it targets the young and healthy. It works by causing the immune system to 'overcharge', for want of a better word. The very young and the elderly could well be the least at risk.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/Anarking/aigbirds.gif

Just about sums up the worries at the moment.

Meh. It could be very nasty, it could be fairly light. The estimates for the number of fatalities if a pandemic occurs range from 5 million to 1.5 billion, we simply don't know what'll happen.

Looks like it's time for American isolationist policy...

Meh. It could be very nasty, it could be fairly light. The estimates for the number of fatalities if a pandemic occurs range from 5 million to 1.5 billion, we simply don't know what'll happen.

Bah, empty threats from venal politicians.

Bah, empty threats from venal politicians.

Those aren't from politicians, the 1.5 billion came from a specialist Russian virologist. Most scientists don't expect it to reach anything like that level but the fact is we really can't predict what'll happen.

Looks like it's time for American isolationist policy...

You could try mounting Patriot Missile batteries on your coastline and shooting down all incoming birds. ;)

Those aren't from politicians, the 1.5 billion came from a specialist Russian virologist. Most scientists don't expect it to reach anything like that level but the fact is we really can't predict what'll happen.

Okay. I'll try again.

Bah! Empty threats from publicity hound scientists scrounging for research grants.

I'm waiting to freak out until someone with a normal strain of flu virus gets it...then it can morph into a super-flu and transfer from human to human, but if it gets to that point, by the time we realize it we'll prolly all be dead anyways.

Long live His Magesty Zazu!