Are you ready for a flu pandemic?

Never mind giving up your civil liberties to combat the threat of terrorism, the biggest threat to Britain according to the National Security Strategy is a flu pandemic. The London bombings in July 2005 by Islamic terrorists killed 52 people and around 700 people were injured. Taking this into account, the government alarmingly has warned this week that a possible flu pandemic could cause deaths of up to 750, 000 people in the UK. Unlike seasonal flu epidemics, pandemics occur irregularly; the 1918 Spanish flu was the most serious pandemic in recent history which was responsible for the deaths of over 50 million people. However now that more and more people can travel around the world quickly through the effects of globalisation, a pandemic could spread rapidly across the globe as the outbreak of SARS showed. With this information, one could go either way, either believing cynically that it's a stunt by the government to increase fear in order to control the people further, or develop obsessive compulsive disorder and never leave the house in fear of catching the flu. Either way, if we learn the lessons of history, we should at least be prepared in the event of a flu pandemic.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• flu
• pandemic
• national
• security
• health
• anarchism
• globalization
• liberty
• terrorism

[Sarcasm83]

Man, I've been sick in and out for 2 weeks now. Nothing really bad. Every once in a while I get a fever, sore throat.. then it calms down to a cough/runny nose and then comes back again.

I should go to a doctor... and at least here, in Finland, there's been ALOT of this going on. I mean, pretty much everyone I know has been sick or is sick right now.

Still not actually worried about a pandemic - but yes, of course it's POSSIBLE. It always is.

I even have a few oxygen masks :D (Collect em)

[vigilant006]

If this bird flu takes effect. Flu Jab will do nothing. this bird flu will be deadly if it happens. if your in city . git out fast when it happens of stay in your house. lock down! does the goverment have a roll. the goverment are very busy! trust me

[Musicmania1968]

I am sick now, I had the flu jab couple months ago, but, I have a bad cold and chest infection, 3rd time this year I have been sick, as I say, I am totally sick of being sick. I think I got it on the train other day, or a bus I was on, right on top of xmas, typical!

[Daveflex]

i would say do not use vaccines.. the flu jab will only help h5n1 develope inside your body!.. pandemic is the topic in most film and tv shows now too,,, "they" are getting us ready for a mass culling..

[dcabrer1]

The bird flu pandemic is what going to possiblity kill 100+ million in the near future not SARS. That is what people are concerned about right now.

[Tallandhuggable]

it's so strange that no one else is talking about this!