Bird Flu Pandemic...

Like SARS but even more troubling.

Millions of people could die around the world if bird flu spreads out of control, and most countries are totally unprepared for such an event, the UN's World Health Organisation says.

"If there was a flu pandemic tomorrow we would not be ready. The clock is ticking and when the pandemic strikes it will be too late," said WHO spokeswoman Christine McNab.

Despite warnings at the United Nations by US President George W. Bush and French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin calling for international cooperation to confront the "first pandemic of the 21st century", the international community was far from prepared.

My grandfather got the Spanish Flu in 1917 or 1918 while training on a submarine for combat during WWI. Apparently, he was very ill for a long time, but he survived [otherwise, you wouldn't be reading this].

The effect of the influenza epidemic was so severe that the average life span in the US was depressed by 10 years. The influenza virus had a profound virulence, with a mortality rate at 2.5% compared to the previous influenza epidemics, which were less than 0.1%. The death rate for 15 to 34-year-olds of influenza and pneumonia were 20 times higher in 1918 than in previous years (Taubenberger). People were struck with illness on the street and died rapid deaths. One anecdote shared of 1918 was of four women playing bridge together late into the night. Overnight, three of the women died from influenza (Hoagg).

The mortality for 15-35 year old is what is interesting here, like SARS, that killed 50% or so of those over 65, relatively healthy young people died too.

So we, as individuals, have also to plan a possible course of action since governments in an environment like this would be completely overwhelmed.