However, if we fail to prepare, we will be preparing to fail. I was part of a task force 10 years ago, developing plans for a H5N1 pandemic and it was decided not to proceed.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Hopefully governments might have learnt their lesson as a result of Covid, @punkdoc. We can live in hope...
We have lots of wild birds in the garden here. Their poo is on tools, wheelbarrow, shed door, hedge... I'm trying to remember always to wear gloves when feeding the birds or working in the garden. I guess we might be advised to stop feeding wild birds eventually.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I heard someone from the RSPB the other day saying that song birds were not really affected by the current bird flu. The issue is with wild and domestic fowl Duck, Geese Chicken etc. They were advising the public not to feed in parks etc but said feeding songbirds in the garden would not spread the disease. He didn't explain why though. I may have misunderstood but I thought most flu originally came from the far East because of the tendency for people to buy live birds keep at home for a while before killing and eating. So presumably this is always a strain of bird flu that mutates to infect humans.??
With a fair wind I've probably got another 20 years left on this earth. I'm not going to spend any of that time worrying about what MIGHT happen to me through things I cannot control.
But secretly I quite like the idea of something beyond our control acting as a selective force to curtail the unlimited expansion of the human race.
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
World population growth is rapidly flattening out and is likely to decline in the next 50 to 100 years. The shrinking and ageing of the population and an insufficient workforce to support the elderly is becoming a very big problem in many countries in eastern and southern Europe, Japan, China, Korea et al.
I agree that there’s no point worrying about what might happen, like natural disasters and pandemics, but ‘we’ should try to learn from previous ones to prepare for the “big” one.
It won't be long before right to die legislation is revised in many countries. I hope they do it here before my time comes. The more expensive care of the elderly becomes, the more attractive a proposition it becomes for governments.
It's not about worrying/panicking, it's about sensibly preparing. We are doing nothing, which could mean half of the population dying. Sensible planning and research could significantly reduce the harm.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Anyone who thinks that covid is not a serious disease, needs to listen to the Author Michael Rosen about his experience and the long term impact it has had on him. Remember too Kate Garaway's husband who is still recovering. I know these are extreme cases but they are a reminder that this virus can affect whole body systems.
Luckily the case mentioned, was animal to human transmission. So far there have been no cases of human to human transmission, but as we know, viruses are constantly mutating. Some scientists believe, when that happens, it will be a genuine apocalypse.
There will always be the "Woe, woe and thrice woe" brigade who spout the worst possible scenario as being the most likely. As you say "Some scientists believe....."
Posts
I was part of a task force 10 years ago, developing plans for a H5N1 pandemic and it was decided not to proceed.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
We have lots of wild birds in the garden here. Their poo is on tools, wheelbarrow, shed door, hedge... I'm trying to remember always to wear gloves when feeding the birds or working in the garden. I guess we might be advised to stop feeding wild birds eventually.
I may have misunderstood but I thought most flu originally came from the far East because of the tendency for people to buy live birds keep at home for a while before killing and eating. So presumably this is always a strain of bird flu that mutates to infect humans.??
But secretly I quite like the idea of something beyond our control acting as a selective force to curtail the unlimited expansion of the human race.
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
The more expensive care of the elderly becomes, the more attractive a proposition it becomes for governments.
We are doing nothing, which could mean half of the population dying.
Sensible planning and research could significantly reduce the harm.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
who is still recovering. I know these are extreme cases but they are a reminder that this virus can affect whole body systems.