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One of the key lessons from the pandemics of the 20th century is that a lack of honest and public communication from governments and health officials can seriously undermine a response.
The 1918-19 Spanish flu did not originate in Spain. That neutral country had an uncensored press during the war that reported on the first wave of influenza, which arrived there in May 1918. The term "Spanish Flu" is simply a historical accident stemming from this being the first place that the pandemic was frankly reported by a free press. Many other countries, in the midst of war, suppressed accounts of this worrisome disease out of worry that such news would harm fighting morale. This decision worsened the impact of the pandemic. Misleading and inconsistent government statements and media coverage undermined the public's confidence in government and were at odds with attempts to slow the spread of the pandemic.
...During that era, newspapers' objectives were often more about furthering their governments' political agendas agendas, in what was viewed as a kind of patriotism, than about reporting the truth.
Source: The Flu Pandemic and You, Vincent Lam, M.D. and Colin Lee, M.D. From Doubleday Canada.
www.crimelibrary.com...]By the time a pandemic is confirmed, air travel may have already delivered the virus around the world.[/url] Because influenza is infectious before symptoms appear, there would be no way to positively identify people who may be infected. It's possible that a pandemic virus could start to show up in your area a couple of weeks after being identified in Hong Kong, Jakarta or Bombay.
Experts fear that civil unrest could be a tipping point for instability in a number of governments around the world "as their economies implode." There is a concern that even early on in unaffected countries, panic and chaos could erupt as the world media reports the daily advance of the pandemic. One CDC economist was asked to predict the social fallout. That was outside his realm, he replied, "Go ask the fiction writers what could happen."
Originally posted by watch_the_rocks
Thanks for upping my spirits there, soficrow. I'm off to Cambodia this Monday. Going to be helping out in the country side. And here was me thinking the Bird Flu threat had all but gone . . .
Originally posted by soficrow
I'm willing to bet 10,000 ATS points that we're already into Stage 5, maybe early Stage 6, and we're gonna see a pandemic this winter. Without advance warning. Any takers?
Important clue: Sydney- Body Bags Ready
Originally posted by soficrow
Okay. I'm not 100% sure we're in Stage 5 or 6 - but I am certain we will NOT get advance warning. Even though we should.
Anyway, my offer still stands. Takers?
Originally posted by yanchek
Originally posted by soficrow
Okay. I'm not 100% sure we're in Stage 5 or 6 - but I am certain we will NOT get advance warning. Even though we should.
Anyway, my offer still stands. Takers?
I don't know sofi. Looks like V for Vendetta to me.
Found an interesting thread on ATS.
Tamiflu psychotic health warning
Hmmm.
You wanna be dead human or alive psycho? A tough choice.