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| Science & Technology |
| WHO failing to report human-to-human transmission of H5N1 bird flu virus |
| 2006-07-25 |
| Statements published by the U.N.'s World Health Organization (WHO) concerning bird flu outbreaks have not been candid, say critics who accuse the organization of being less than truthful to the public for fear of causing panic. Although cluster outbreaks have occurred in Asia, Turkey, and Iraq this year, WHO refused to admit that they could be caused by human-to-human transmission, even though it was aware such transmissions were possible years earlier. Following an Indonesian outbreak that was difficult to conceal, WHO spokeswoman Maria Cheng finally admitted that there were "about a half dozen" instances of human-to-human transmission. WHO maintains that these clusters occurred due to group contact with a common infected animal source; however, no other agency has been allowed to examine the evidence to determine if WHO's conclusion is correct. WHO stated that "even if human-to-human transmission did occur, it was in a very limited way," and immediately reassured the scientific community that it did not extend beyond the immediate community. Scientific evidence has shown that the H5N1 strain, which is deadly to humans, can be passed from person to person. After genetic data leaked from a conference, Researcher Dr. Henry L. Niman was able to determine that although WHO did not give incorrect avian flu data, it withheld important truths. Extensive viral mutations had occurred to a greater extent than WHO implied. Certain nations will not allow WHO to have access to or publish their genetic data, in order to have an advantage in developing vaccines that may soon have worldwide demand. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #3 pihkalbadger: Influenza is the nuclear weapon among diseases, as far its impact on the modern world. Nothing else comes anywhere close to what a killer flu can and will do. "Can", because flu experts at WHO predicted 300 Million fatalities in the first six months before being ordered by non-medical WHO bureaucrats to downgrade that number to 3 Million. "Will", because serious flus and killer flues are periodic. They will come as surely as hurricanes. I have interviewed survivors of the Spanish flu, and their descriptions were horrifying. There is very little even the US can do to reduce what will be the eventual death toll. Our only effective technique is avoidance, because at full capacity, only 1/10th of our population can possibly be vaccinated in six months after we have the actual virus. Scientific evaluation of the existing H5N1 strain show that it is far deadlier than H1N1, the Spanish flu. H1N1 killed 16-28% of its victims, H5N1 is maintaining a 50-60% kill rate. Survivors have severely scarred lungs, and no "mild" cases have been detected. In addition to horrific human losses from the disease itself, there is expected to be an extended period of starvation due to the massive kills of birds and farm animals around the world. The economic cost is impossible to predict, and could cause the collapse of many economies around the world. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-07-25 21:14 |
| #2 "Certain nations will not allow WHO to have access to or publish their genetic data, in order to have an advantage in developing vaccines that may soon have worldwide demand." Nooooooo, really? WHO (LOL!) would be so crass and self-serving? |
| Posted by: cruiser 2006-07-25 20:22 |
| #1 "finally admitted that there were "about a half dozen instances of human-to-human transmission", When it gets to 6 odd million, 6 odd thousand even give us a call otherwise shove your scaremongering gawd more people were killed by falling cows last year(possibly). |
| Posted by: pihkalbadger 2006-07-25 20:14 |