Time magazine's Sept. 19th issue has a very good article on the bird
flu pandemic of 1918, titled "Lessons From History". As per the
article, 30% of the world's population was infected by this virus and a
hundred million people died from it, one million of them Americans.
The bird flu pandemic has killed, by far, more people than any other
epidemic in history - more people have died from the bird flu than have
died from the Black Death Bubonic Plague or from AIDS or any other
epidemic in human history. The Time magazine article, by Bryan Walsh,
says that in just 24 weeks the bird flu back then managed to kill even
more people than AIDS has in the last 24 years. See link:
http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers...lu_lesson.html
What's worse, with the continued monopolization of our vaccine industry
(and other industries over the years), we don't even have the ability
to make vaccines any more, so if the bird flu pandemic strikes again,
we are SCREWED. Three decades ago, there were 25 companies that made
vaccines, but today, there are only 2 companies that make injectable
vaccines any more, Chiron and Aventeur Pasteur. It was last year,
exactly one year ago today, if you remember, that we lost half of our
nation's vaccine supply, this happened because the British run Chiron
factory located in England was accidentally contaminated.
I posted here, exactly one year ago, about this very problem, see link,
it's worth a re-read, because since then, nothing has changed:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.p...77ab06f?hl=en&
The most important lesson of history is that influenza viruses should
be taken very seriously, and there should be immediate action taken by
governments. The World Health Organization has been asking governments
for money and other resources, so it can fight this developing scourge,
but nobody is listening. President Bush has not said anything about
this disease, and he may not even be aware that it exists. But it's
not just him, China, and every other country involved, they have all
been less than forthcoming, and they have proven themselves to be
completely unreliable on the issue. Thailand, China, and the rest of
them, they went as far as to lie about even the existence of this
disease when it first struck their countries some 7 or 8 years ago.
Indonesia, at first went out of their way to hide the existence of the
disease, then when they couldn't hide it any more, they left it up to
the farmers to voluntarily cull their flocks, then later on they were
forced to order the mass culling/burning of chickens. At least Vietnam
has paid 10 cents to the dollar for culled birds.
There must be some leadership from governments, to encourage farmers to
do the right thing, and farmers should be paid fair value for the
slaughter their chickens.
There MUST be leadership from somewhere, anywhere, to put diplomatic
pressure at the highest level to make sure that HEALTH AUTHORITIES
DISEMMINATE ACCURATE INFORMATION & QUICKLY.
It is vitally important that the Bush administration address this
issue. The World Health Organization, the United Nations, and other
world bodies MUST get the resources they seek, the anti-viral drugs
that can mitigate this flu must be stockpiled, and vaccines must be
developed starting immediately. And finally, there MUST be a concerted
public information campaign to convince people of this coming threat,
this way cooperation among countries will be maximized.
In conclusion, our vaccine making abilities need to be upgraded. In
France, Britain, Canada, and other countries, it has been a deliberate
government policy to subsidize and encourage the creation and the
upgrading of vaccine making technology. We should do the same.
The Effect of World War 1 on the Spread of Bird Flu at Home
Half of the American soldiers who died in World War 1 died from the
bird flu rather than from the enemy. The bird flu pandemic circled the
globe, most of humanity felt the effects of this strain of the
influenza virus. It spead following the path of its human carriers,
along trade routes and shipping lanes. Outbreaks swept thru North
America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Brazil, the South Pacific and India.
The Great War (WW1), with its mass movements of men in armies and
aboard ships, aided in the rapid diffusion of this virus. Back then,
the origins of this deadly flu disease were unknown, but it was
speculated upon. At first it was thought that the epidemic was a
biological warfare tool of the Germans. Many thought it was a result
of the trench warfare, the use of mustard gases and the generated
"smoke and fumes" of the war.
A first wave of the influenza appeared early in 1918 in military camps
thru out the US. In the beginning, there was virtually no response or
acknowledgment of the epidemic in our military camps. It was
unfortunate that no steps were taken to prepare for the ussual
recurrence of this virulent influenza strain in the next winter season.
This lack of action is credited for the epidemic skyrocketing out of
control in our country by the next winter season.
World War 1 brought the virus into the US, it first arrived in Boston
in September of 1918, thru the ports that were busy with war shipments
or machinery and supplies. The war enabled the virus to spread and
diffuse. Men across the nation were mobilizing to join the military
and the cause. As they came together, they brought the virus with them
and to those they contacted. The virus killed almost 200,000 Americans
before the end of 1918. Entire fleets were ill with the disease and
our military men on the front were too sick to fight. However, the flu
was devastating to both sides, killing more men than their weapons
could.
With military patients coming home from the war with battle wounds and
mustard gas burns, hospital facilities and staff were taxed to the
limit. This created a shortage of physicians, especially in the
civilian sector as many had been lost for service with the military.
The shortage was further confounded by the added loss of physicians to
the epidemic. Even President Woodrow Wilson suffered from the flu in
early 1919 while negotiating the crucial treaty of Versailles to end
the World War.
Abel Malcolm
THE PRICE OF FREEDOM IS ETERNAL VIGILANCE
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Educate yourself & go to these links:
www.moveon.org & www.buzzflash.com &
http://ww11.e-tractions.com/truemajority/run/oreo &
www.democracynow.org
& http://www.airamericaradio.com/ & http://www.therandirhodesshow.com
