There was a statement on swine fever on Monday. A flu pandemic has been feared for some years and it was one of the issues covered in the report of the Intergovernmental Organisations Select committee that I chaired. http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm74/7475/7475.pdf
The UK has a leading role in the identification and treatment of infectious diseases and we found considerable international support for our efforts to improve global health systems.
I intervened on the statement. One of the issues that concerned us was the way diseases jumped the species barrier from animals to humans.
The Office for Animal Health in Paris plays an important part here and I wanted to know how they had been involved and if the Mexican authorities had used their expertise in this outbreak.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90427-0007.htm
A dire situation indeed, and one in which, not being in the medical field as of yet, can offer nothing but my prayers and thoughts to those so afflicted, and ask God to help us in relieving this vexing dilemma.
Of course, such things have transpired in the past, and over time the epidemic will end, but it is still tragic, and while it unfolds those effected need our prayers and support.
Forgive me if I sound flippant but I’m really convinced that this is just a media frenzy over a virtual nonissue.
I recognised a numnber of people are dying and suffering but everyone’s going round as if this is 28 Days Later.
Does that make me cold-hearted?
Adrian: No, I’m with you on this. For the number of confirmed infections, the seriousness of those infections and the number of actual fatalities the media, no doubt due to 24hr news, is blowing this out of all proportion. That’s not to say that this virus couldn’t yet significantly further mutate and become far more deadly but we’re not there yet.
I can’t see that the leaflets we’re all getting are likely to be of any more practical use that those wonderful/crazy (delete as per your taste) guides in the 60s about surviving a nuclear attack which included using a cupboard under the stairs as a shelter and wearing gumboots, a coat and gloves if you have to go out in the fallout!!
Lord Soley: The second link is broken. You either need to remove the extra http and/or add text before the closing depending on what you intended.
Lord’s Hansard 27 Apr 2009
Guido Fawkes notes:
“Flicking through the Budget Red Book (as one does) Guido’s eye alights on page 131. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is cutting £44 million from “animal disease surveillance through a more risk-based approach to monitoring and enforcement and by sharing costs with industry“.”
http://www.order-order.com/2009/04/deregulation-before-swine/
Clive, when exactly did Parliament first become aware of the outbreak in Mexico? Reports suggest as long ago as Bebruary. Public spending cuts of this nature while pouring money into the coffers of pharmaceutical companies seems at odds and must anger you.
I do not think that you should be putting tissues in a bin
as the germs can multiply you should either flush them or burn
them.
This should be taken seriously. Pandemics do occur – usually every fifty years or so and we are overdue for one. The initial outbreaks here are likely to be limited but they can re-occur in the autumn/winter during our flu season and that may well be our most vulnerable time.
The UK does have good defences on this but it also relies on public common sense.
I’m sorry about the ineffective link – I’m having trouble getting it to behave itself – maybe it’s got the flu!
Sorely Old: As its your birthday today…
Fears that the Taliban might treat swine flu with oinkment have forced the owners of Afghanistan’s only pig to seek a safe house. However, there is anecdotal evidence that Taliban members suffering from bird flu are responding to tweetment.
Ref: Clive Stafford Soley, Baron Soley (born 7 May 1939)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Soley,_Baron_Soley
Afghanistan’s Only Pig Quarantined in Flu Fear
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=7508617