RE: Sorry JR, But There is More on Avian Flu... what?

[Guest guest]

I guess I made myself the apologist for this one flu strain, but for any

keeping score I only used this as an example of the manipulative and

inflammatory nature of news reportage. This latest link is more of

the same. Until this does develop into a human disease and becomes

an immediate personal risk for me, I see little benefit from pondering

how horrible it " could " be.

As I jogged past that dead bird on the roadside today, I am reminded to

pay attention to things like " West Nile " virus that could personally

impact me here and now.

If you feel better worrying, or causing others to worry about H5N1,

have at it. I don't choose to play.

=============

OK, something that I read today that I actually find of interest

was a report of how many exciting or influential scientific studies

get trashed by later studies; " Contradicted and Initially Stronger

Effects in Highly Cited Clinical Research " from Jul-13 JAMA. In the

report, of 45 studies that revealed effective medical interventions

something like a third were later contradicted either totally or in

part.

Perhaps we shouldn't make significant dietary changes based on every

medical study that comes down the pike.....

Be well... and moderate.

JR

-----Original Message-----

From:

[mailto: ]On Behalf Of Rodney

Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 2:30 PM

Subject: [ ] Sorry JR, But There is More on Avian Flu

Hi folks:

" It now looks increasingly likely that three members of a single

family living on the edge of Indonesia's biggest city have died from

the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

The bird flu deaths, if confirmed, would be Indonesia's first, and

would be all the more worrying for the lack of obvious paths of

infection, because relatives claim the three weren't in contact with

poultry.

It raises the spectre of a possible human-to-human mutation of the

virus. "

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1415468.htm

JFI

Rodney.