Article

2005-02-03 Southeast Asia

Vietnam asks for international help to tackle bird flu

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Posted by phil_b 2005-02-03 6:50:45 AM|| || Front Page|| [11135 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Sounds like a job for their (the communists) HERO - John Kerry....

Posted by CrazyFool 2005-02-03 9:46:25 AM|| 2005-02-03 9:46:25 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 You help us with POWs/MIAs, we help you with the flu.

Otherwise FOAD

Posted by badanov 2005-02-03 9:58:11 AM|| [http://www.rkka.org] 2005-02-03 9:58:11 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Glad to hear the UN is on the case. No need for us to overshadow them.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-02-03 10:11:10 AM|| 2005-02-03 10:11:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 The World Health Organization (WHO) is probably the least sucky and most competent part of the UN. I know, faint praise indeed. Still, they managed to eradicate smallpox and had nearly done the same with polio up until muslim ninnies in Africa decided healthy children were an Evil Crusader Plot(tm).

There is no denying WHO is a large bureaucratic organization and part of the UN, to boot. But unlike their dung beetle diplomatic comrades, WHO has actually done some good in the world.

Posted by SteveS 2005-02-03 10:58:30 AM|| 2005-02-03 10:58:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Ok, yes, the Vietnamese government sucks. No argument on that.
But if you think that this disease couldn't possibly get over here, you're dead wrong. We're overdue for a big, ugly flu epidemic. I'd rather they get some help to deal with this (and in the process, learn about it and if it could mutate into something hideous we don't want to think about).
Put aside the ideology for a moment, guys.

Posted by Desert Blondie 2005-02-03 12:58:37 PM|| [http://azjetsetchick.blogspot.com] 2005-02-03 12:58:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 I'm with DB. IIUC this is one of the most likely sources of a pandemic. It's unlikely that anything bad will come of it, but the potential cost is in the range of Spanish Flu.

Posted by Dishman 2005-02-03 1:08:41 PM|| 2005-02-03 1:08:41 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 pandemic yes, but more likely from pigs

Posted by Frank G 2005-02-03 1:11:16 PM|| 2005-02-03 1:11:16 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Frank G - I might be wrong on this, but I thought the flu can cross species barriers from anywhere on the human-pig-bird (usually duck) transmission pathways. As in, human to bird to pig, or anywhere on those connections. I'm not putting it very elegantly, so I hope I'm communicating it ok.

Posted by Desert Blondie 2005-02-03 2:32:41 PM|| [http://azjetsetchick.blogspot.com] 2005-02-03 2:32:41 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 IIRC - the pig to human is easier to do than avian to human...that's all I was trying to convey. Closer species-wise....

Posted by Frank G 2005-02-03 2:45:16 PM|| 2005-02-03 2:45:16 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Hey, you still put it better than I did. Too much Sauza too early in the day..... ;)

Posted by Desert Blondie 2005-02-03 2:58:56 PM|| [http://azjetsetchick.blogspot.com] 2005-02-03 2:58:56 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 IIUC, pigs are considered the most likely path to humans, but the disease is still the same. This particular type of virus is considered to be a high risk.

Maybe it's a result of reading "Earth Abides" when I was very young, "The White Plague" when I was not much older, and seeing "Twelve Monkeys". Maybe my concerns are overblown. I consider this to be a risk on par with asteroids and comets, if not higher.

A significant part of my supporting OIF was opposition to the work of Dr. Taha.

Until such time as we have established isolated (non-terrestrial) populations, this will continue to be a risk.

Posted by Dishman 2005-02-03 3:59:12 PM|| 2005-02-03 3:59:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 We all should be applauding Vietnam for admitting there's a potentially serious problem here and getting help right away -- a more honest and upfront response than that of China, for instance.

Pigs are closer to humans biologically, but we eat a LOT of poultry raised in crowded conditions. Having this jump to humans, as it apparently has begun to do, is a serious health threat. And db is right - we've got two generations of people (at a minimum) here who haven't had to develop strong immune response to the nastier strains of flu. Remember - antibiotics don't help. Don't know if something lik the retro drugs for AIDS might, but it would probably take time to engineer them.

Posted by rkb 2005-02-03 4:03:01 PM|| 2005-02-03 4:03:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 Another point: by destroying its poultry flocks to prevent the spread of the disease, Vietnam will be taking a real economic hit. This is one situation where (what is to us a modest amount of) economic aid would be the best possible positive reinforcement for responsible behavior.

Posted by rkb 2005-02-03 4:10:20 PM|| 2005-02-03 4:10:20 PM|| Front Page Top

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