Bird/Avian Flu, how will it effect society?

**Will** · 03-27-2006, 06:06 PM

It's all a bit quiet on this front at the moment, but I'm willing to bet that there's still people out there looking for the first confirmed case in the UK.

One thing worries me though, OK so we're getting lots of vaccines ready, which may be of some use. But the biggest question is, will society still be able to function, when an estimated 50% of people will not turn up for work out of illness of fear?

WHo's going to keep all the vital utilities ticking over? What about the emergency services? Not to be alarmist, but something like this could so easily tip us into anarchy. Are there any plans in place at all to prevent this?

had_enough · 03-27-2006, 08:10 PM

I doubt it will ever amount to anything more than just a hype. If this virus is so deadly, then it should of mutated a long time ago......Nah!
Its all double speak and double think.

**Will** · 03-27-2006, 09:07 PM

Why should it have mutated already, is there a factual basis for this? I doubt it's all just hype either, considering history records that this won't be the first time there's been an outbreak of Bird Flu.

The Relic · 03-29-2006, 02:22 PM

Mutated in what way, Had Enough? To be directly transmissible between humans? Although it is possible, there have been too few cases so far in humans to make that likely. Unless, of course, you think that a god has more to do with the design of viruses than mathematical probability.

had_enough · 03-29-2006, 03:18 PM

I think that the virus should have mutated by now considering the amount of people infected....unless it is not able to do so.
Time will tell what it will do.
The real possible mutation could come from scientists, who are currently manupilating the virus, to see what makes it tick.
Reminds me of a stephen king book........and a movie which was made after that.

shenrougu · 03-29-2006, 09:15 PM

I think youll see football matches and concerts banned. Tempoarily untill the virus goes of course. Or anything else with a large number of people.

Less people will turn up for work and school, and you will see the economy recede a bit, and tourism will plummet. Who would want to holiday in an infected country? You may have riots but i doubt absolute anarchy will set in. Nothing that could be reveresed when the virus went.

David Courtney · 03-29-2006, 10:30 PM

Bird Flu will never kill as many people as the right-wing media would have us beleive. A few peasents in rural China, perhaps, but nothing widespread.

Bruv · 03-29-2006, 11:57 PM

I have been a little worried....seeing as how the Virologists (or whatever the term is) have been concerned about the possible outbreak of a widespread difficult illness.....( it has happened before) Viruses or viri dont play to any rules, they are fighting for survival.

But with had_enough's assurance I will sleep easier tonight.
Right wing viruses wont touch us lefties will they Daveboy? Oh you do make me laugh.....

shenrougu · 03-30-2006, 10:29 AM

Right wing media? Right wingers say the media is too left, left wingers say the media is too right. Its quite funny actually.
For the virus, im not too worried. In 19 and in the least susceptable age group to die of the virus.

But, I dont think it will hit britian for a long time. Having said that, foot and mouth did come unnannounced.

**Will** · 03-30-2006, 10:39 AM

Is that correct? I'd heard that bird flu is actually more dangerous to people with an excellent immune system, as it uses your own immune system against you. I would have thought people at 19 would largley be in peak considtion, thus more suseptable.

This was the last Bird flu outbreak anyway, I'm assuming they meant it applied to this one. Or I may just have it wrong all together.