Hi, as much as I cannot stand fear-mongering, and seriously folks, I hope that this topic hasn't put a downer on your day...I was just wondering if anyone is a bit scared of the possible occurrence of the next pandemic.

I got to thinking of this because not too long ago, we were sitting in a French restaurant that also caters to corporate clients (like pharmaceutical companies and Canadian Health officials). We sat right by the conference room and even with the wooden panels closed and separating us we could still make out the discussion taking place. They were discussing H5N1. It was pretty damn scary. Parts of the discussion that stood out in my mind were:

1918 Spanish Flu - The Spanish Influenza pandemic is the catastrophe against which all modern pandemics are measured. It is estimated that approximately 20 to 40 percent of the worldwide population became ill and that over 20 million people died.

1957 Asian Flu

1968 Hong Kong Flu

More on the facts about these pandemics that did occur can be found on www.hhs.gov/nvpo/pandemics/flu3.htm.

The speakers talked about where they would be storing the bodies of the victims when (not if) the Bird Flu strikes. They actually named the places in our city, like the arenas and gymnasiums.

They couldn't stress more about the fact that if you feel flu-like symptoms coming on, you should stay home, so as to not infect others and spread the virus.

Speculators are predicting that within 18 months H5N1 will be in North America.

The Globe & Mail (March 4, 2006):
"A single H5N1 virus invading a chicken will make 10,000 copies of itself in about eight hours. In about eight hors from that, those 10,000 copies will have produced 10,000 copies. In 24 hours, the bird contains 10 billion viruses, of which a billion will be mutants.

Most of the mutants will have gained no advantage from mutation,but one of them might evolve characteristics that allow it to attach itself to a human cell. in fact one of them probably will."

We'll be purchasing canned and dried food items little by little. In the meantime all we can do is live our lives to the fullest and take the necessary precautions.