The Birds Are Coming, The Birds Are Coming!

At the risk of losing a few brain cells, I occasionally check out the corporate-owned media to see what weapons of mass distraction are being unleashed upon the masses. To take society's fear temperature, if you will. The latest non-threat, that might be a threat one day, that we should prepare for in case it happens in the distant future is the avian flu.

Here's what the Associated Press had to say about it today,

Scientists fear the H5N1 virus, which is difficult for humans to contract, could mutate into a form more easily transmitted between people and lead to a pandemic.

The risk of infection for most people in Europe is close to zero, said Zsuzsanna Jakab of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

The agency gave two guidelines for people to minimize the risk of being infected: Don't touch dead or sick birds, and only eat poultry and eggs that are well prepared.

Here's what the Center For Disease Control has to say on the subject

Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but several cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997. The risk from bird flu is generally low to most people because the viruses occur mainly among birds and do not usually infect humans. However, during an outbreak of bird flu among poultry (domesticated chicken, ducks, turkeys), there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds. The current outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) among poultry in Asia and Europe (see below) is an example of a bird flu outbreak that has caused human infections and deaths. In such situations, people should avoid contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, and should be careful when handling and cooking poultry.

For more information about avian influenza and food safety issues, visit the World Health Organization website. In rare instances, limited human-to-human spread of
H5N1 virus has occurred, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person.

Okay, let me get this straight. The risk of human infection is close to zero. It is difficult for humans to contract. Since most of us don't handle dead or sick birds in our lifetime, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM????????? I thought the risk of salmonella poisoning made people aware that raw chicken is NOT a delicacy. Birds have a disease in China and Europe and I am supposed to quarantine my parakeet?

The Business Section of today's BBC may shed light on all of this tomfoolery,

Bird flu drug sales boost Roche
Drugs firm Roche has seen third-quarter revenues rise 17% helped by a jump in sales of Tamiflu, which is seen as the best treatment for bird flu.

This is the follow-up to my post a few days ago entitled "Drugs Anyone?", in which I suggested that the pharmaceutical industry invents diseases in order to scare the holy bejesus out of people. Works like a charm every time!