BIRD FLU – A PANDEMIC, OR FEAR MOTIVATOR?

Nations are in panic mode while World Leaders are floundering in confusion, looking for answers, and vaccines supplies to avert the possible threat of global human devastation. The public appears helpless as each person becomes affected in some way and it does not matter where you live in this world no one is exempted. This plague may kill millions of people and alter the very fabric of global society. Contamination will happen it is only a matter of time, but is this strain of bird flu virus that scientists fear? At the moment no one knows we must wait and see as it unfolds.

But what is the motivation behind this bird flu hysteria that American’s fear more than terrorism? And what do we know about this global threat?

Very little is known, the news that is becoming public is shaded in mystery, just enough information is being released to keep the public in panic of the unknown. We are being told bird to human transmission is happening but only with persons directly handling the infected animals. Human to human transmission is very low and unlikely the World Health Organization (WHO) claims. But is this true?

In Vietnam authorities reported the first recorded case of human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus. A 14-year old girl was infected by her brother with a strain resistant to Oseltamivir, a generic version of the well-known Tamiflu anti-flu drug. This is the very antidote that nations are currently stock piling, claims state it will be effective for the H5N1 virus, but it won’t. Will the public avoid taking the Tamiflu drug? No the demand is very high and the U.S. has announced plans to increase its Tamiflu stores from 2 million to more 20 million treatment courses. The drug is on back order from Swiss manufacturer Roche as dozens of other governments have requested the drug.

The public is trying to avert getting the bird flu by taking seasonal flu shots, but it will not work for this virus, but due to the feeling of helplessness demand is high. This year four companies are currently approved to produce seasonal flu vaccines in the United States, and together they are expected to deliver about 90 million doses -- about as many as have ever been used in a single season.

On October 7, 2005 President Bush (the burnt Bush, not the burning Bush) met in the White House with the major vaccine makers discussing how the U.S. can avert a possible pandemic of this deadly bird flu. Executives from Glaxo Smith Kline, Chiron Corporation, Merck & Co, MedImmune, Inc., and Sanofi-Aventis discussed how production could be ramped up to produce greater quantities of the bird flu vaccine in a shorter period of time, quoted by a White House spokesman.

Earlier this week the Senate passed $3.9 billion in spending targeted toward buying increased supplies of antiviral medications like Tamiflu. Experts consider such drugs a stopgap measure only if vaccine is unavailable. Bush is seeking a larger spending package to stockpile the vaccine, drugs, and medical equipment like respirator masks.

Sanofi-Aventis/Pasteur, signed a government deal in August to deliver $100 million worth of vaccine against the avian flu strain H5N1. But this falls short it is only a small percentage of what would be needed to vaccinate the U.S. population in the event of a pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that an avian flu pandemic could kill as many as 200,000 Americans. And this placebo vaccination has not proven that it will even work.

 In Vietnam 41 bird flu-related deaths have occurred, it was combated by vaccinating millions of domestic birds. Do you think it will help? Not at all, the vaccine does not work, but someone is making a lot of money here. In total this virus strain has sickened more than 120 people and killed more than 60 in Southeast Asia.

The Sun, UK, reported another human-to-human death has occurred from the bird flu. Medics believe that a mother became infected as she nursed her dying 11 year old daughter in hospital. If this is true maybe we are not being told everything. We are lead to believe that human-to-human transference of this virus is very improbable, the truth maybe cloaked in hopes of preventing mass hysteria?

The scientists who re-created the 1918 Spanish flu say the killer virus was initially a bird flu that learned to infect people. It killed more people in six months than were killed in the four years of the First World War. It killed more humans than any other disease of similar duration in the history of the world, says Alfred W. Crosby, who wrote a history of the 1918 pandemic. And, notes The New Scientist, when the re-created virus was given to mice in heavily quarantined laboratories in Atlanta; it killed the mice more quickly than any other flu virus ever tested.

What to do with this knowledge? Not only has the virus been physically re-created. But its entire genome has now been published for the whole world, good scientists and terrorist scientists, to see. Critics said it was shortsighted to resurrect such a killer disease, warning that the genetic blueprint could potentially be used to create a bio-weapon, and that the flu samples in the lab could be lost, stolen, or accidentally released to the public. ''They are throwing open a door that should remain shut," said Edward Hammond, US director of the Sunshine Project, a group concerned with the proliferation of bio-weapons.

This Mr. Bush, will be of mass destruction.

Alarmingly, they find that today's bird flu is the same highly pathogenic H5N1 virus and it’s starting to learn the same tricks, but how can this be, was it just lying dormant waiting to be re-released? Maybe so, it appears that this is the same strain with the unique capacity to jump the species barrier causing severe disease, with a high death rate, in humans. The1918-1919 Spanish flu killed some 50 million people -- including 675,000 Americans, and most of the victims were healthy people in the prime of life. How many this one will take no one knows yet. Scientists worry that global outbreaks of H5N1 may occur at the same time with the human influenza and the viruses could exchange genes when a person is simultaneously infected with viruses from both species.

Since December 2003 the bird flu has been in only Asian countries – Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia, but now this deadly strain has quickly reached European countries.

How long will it take to enter North America no one knows, but until then the public remains in fear. It enters without a passport or a Visa and the wealthy or military powers might offer no protection.

If we re-examine this situation, how long have the powers that be known of this virus, has this virus been observed brewing for years? I believe it has, and it would not surprise me in the least that the recent oil crisis was set up as smoke screen, diverting public attention of this global virus.

A lot of money is being generated and many will benefit from this viral attack, the drug companies having flu vaccines and in a way it will re-stimulate the economy. Personal freedom may become lost; President Bush plans on quarantining the outbreak and the use of martial law.

Just think about it, what and who is really is behind this virus? Read between the lines of this propaganda and draw your own conclusions.

Bird flu and Spanish flu; http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/113/110633.htm?z=1728_00000_1000_tn_01

First human to human transmission;

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005470908,00.html

Bush meets vaccine manufactures;

http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/113/110681.htm

Flu vaccine demands increase;

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/health/article-page.html?res=9C06EFDC163FF932A25753C1A9639C8B63

1918 Spanish flu virus re-created;

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002565356_krauthammer17.html 

The Influenza Genome Sequencing Project released;

http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2005/10/06/scientists_re_create_1918_flu_pandemic_virus/

BIRD FLU HEALTH STRATEGY
The unknown of this pandemic is scary, but living in fear is not the answer. The best offense is a strong defense. Be extra cautious concerning cleanliness, hand washing and avoiding contact with persons having the flu virus. Keeping our immune system healthy is of utmost importance, because the medical system offers no hope. Eat healthy and take supplements and try remaining calm, remember stress is also a big killer.

The following supplements are directed in strengthening the Immune System.

* Ester C                     Patented form of Vitamin C

* Vitamin E                  A powerful anti-oxidant essential for good health

* Zinc Picolinate             Essential mineral for the immune system

* Selenium                  Supportive mineral for immune system

* Golden Seal             Anti-microbial that works well with Echinacea

* Echinacea                Herb known for immune system support

* Propolis                    Immune stimulant, take with Echinacea and Golden Seal

* HGH                        Homeopathic form enhances immune responsiveness

* L-Lysine                  Exhibits anti-viral qualities.

* Oral Chelatory            Used to rid the body of excess toxins, particularly heavy metals

* P5P                           Active form of Vitamin B-6

* Thymus gland   Major gland of our immune system

* Adrenal gland            stimulates the immune system

* Carnosine                Free radical scavenger, prevents lipid oxidation

* Folic Acid                 Essential B-vitamin for the body's immune system

* Methylcobalamin            Lymphocyte modulator activating T cell activities.

* Astragalus               Aids production of white blood cells

Seek a Naturopathic doctors for all your health needs and try eating as close to nature as possible, if organic food is available it is worth the extra price, limiting certain chemicals are within our power.