Guest guest Posted June 26, 2007 Report Share Posted June 26, 2007 Well, if there's any fear mongering going on it's the fault of the media with its sometimes overly alarming headlines. The people involved in the actual work with H5N1 are definitely not fear mongering. We don't know whether or not a pandemic due to this virus will occur, but we do need to know what to do if it does happen.Don <DCFrench@...> wrote: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=996022007Note the comments posted at the bottom of the article. It would beinteresting to find out what percent of the population agree with thepeople who think the expression of concern about avian flu is allabout fear-mongering. My suspicion is that it is quite high. So, willwe be better off without these people who will be unprepared for thepandemic when it comes, or should we try to change their minds (fatchance!)? . Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2007 Report Share Posted June 27, 2007 Overly alarming headlines? Can you give an example of one, ? All I have seen is a frightening underplaying of the threat in the media. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=996022007 > > Note the comments posted at the bottom of the article. It would be > interesting to find out what percent of the population agree with the > people who think the expression of concern about avian flu is all > about fear-mongering. My suspicion is that it is quite high. So, will > we be better off without these people who will be unprepared for the > pandemic when it comes, or should we try to change their minds (fat > chance!)? > > > > > > > > . Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 The Scotsman is an unreliable newspaper. It has published fiction as news in the past, much like a tabloid, tho it does not do so often. That said, I can find no other account of this conference online. As for preparation for a pandemic, nothing has changed: all of the articles in our site files still stand. Those who do not prepare for a pandemic may be shocked to discover that they are among the first to be buried. ***** International summit on bird flu amid rising fears of pandemic JOHN ROSS () AN INTERNATIONAL summit on bird flu opens in Scotland today, amid growing fears that the deadly virus could cause a pandemic. About 30 experts from 15 countries will gather in Aviemore for the two-day event following a similar meeting in Nairobi last year. It has been organised by the Avian Flu Task Force under the United Nations' international convention on migratory species, and includes delegates from Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. They will review outbreaks of avian flu around the world, which have led to the deaths of 191 people since 2003, and examine issues including the surveillance of wild birds in relation to the disease. Delegates will also discuss contingency planning and response strategies for outbreaks and what information is needed to understand potential infection routes and further local spread. Professor Colin Galbraith, director of policy and advice at ish Natural Heritage, who is a member of the task force, said: " Bird flu is one of the biggest international challenges that exists today. It knows no boundaries. Scientists across the world must work together to understand the nature of the disease and to contain any outbreaks. " It is crucial there is ongoing contact between countries and we share and learn from each other. The range of delegates and countries represented is a reflection of the seriousness of this issue across the world. " In Scotland, we have a valuable contribution to make in terms of our contingency planning and in relation to the monitoring of wild birds. " More than 300 people worldwide have been affected by the avian flu virus, with 191 deaths since its discovery in Asian poultry stocks in 2003. To date, there have been three confirmed cases of bird flu in Britain. In February, 159,000 birds were slaughtered on a Suffolk farm belonging to Bernard s after the H5N1 virus was discovered. In April 2006, a dead swan was found on the slipway of the harbour at Cellardyke in Fife. The death of 15 chickens on a farm in Conwy, North Wales in May, was caused by a less virulent strain of avian flu -H7N2. Last week, a four-year-old boy in Cairo tested positive for bird flu, bringing to 37 the number of people in Egypt infected with the virus, including 15 who died. Most of the fatalities have been women or girls whose families raise poultry and who had daily contact with chickens or turkeys. Egypt is one of the countries most affected by the H5N1 strain outside Asia as it lies on a main route for migratory birds, which are believed to have brought the disease. The Czech Republic's first case of bird flu in poultry was reported in Prague last week; about 1,800 turkeys died in the outbreak. Until now, bird flu has been detected there only in wild swans. Earlier this year, three outbreaks occurred near Moscow. > > http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=996022007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Naturally the media underplay the danger. They are afraid of attacks by the " conservative " media who regard bird flu as stuff and nonsense, and want no money taken from war budgets to prepare for it. The experts do indeed take this flu seriously and have done what they can to warn people. But few people will heed their articles. When Laurie Garrett began warning people of what was coming, she said that she just wanted to say " I told you so " after the flu was over. She expected to be ignored, and this is now what has happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Thanks for the heads-up about the Scotsman, Lee. I wasn't aware of their reputation. > > > > http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=996022007 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Hi all, Dr Gilhooly rang me tonight, he was absolutely great to speak to, the ish Conference will be on 25th of April at Glasgow University from about 10am to 4pm. It is hoped Dr Berkson will be there and Dr Lentz - plus others. I asked if they might want patient testimony and this is possible, it sounds so exciting. I have asked Dr Gilhooly for some leaflets to give to all of the local GP's, let's get em moving!!!!! He is also doing a study on psoriasis, and is enrolling patients now, this is all wonderful stuff and he sounds like a great guy!! I hope some of you will be able to come, I do have a couple of spare bedrooms!!!:-)))) Celia celia@...www.dawsholm.dandie-dinmont.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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