A report from the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences says the UK government is failing to take advantage of scientific developments in the fight to prevent a flu pandemic
More at
OH MY LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If we’re one of the most prepared countries in the world……… right, I’m going to cry now!
Nice cup of tea? (there, there, CALitV, what can we do?)
This ends of history sure seems no fun. Want a virtual biscotti, or, just borrow my crying towel?
CR…..yes please….sniff……the lot if you would….
We all have these low ebbs. They’ve passed, so far.
(If we’re ever stuck offline, pretend I do this a couple more times for ya too, okay?)
c(_) ← cuppa
I’ve started a “diary” “over there”, just to try things out It’s at http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=129
Anyway.
What are the changes we’d like to see in the UK?
Check out page 13
“In particular it is not possible to give meaningful predictions of the likely mortality that will result from future pandemics, given that H5N1 has a much higher human lethality than any previous influenza virus seen (currently greater than 50% of those treated).
Furthermore there is a complete lack of scientific knowledge about whether the current avian virus would be likely to become less lethal if it became transmissible from person-to-person. It is not even possible to estimate a meaningful upper bound on lethality. The Department of Health’s use of 0.37% and 2.5% case mortality scenarios for planning is solely based on mortality seen in the 1957 and 1918 pandemics.”
Three cheers for the Royal Society & Academy of Medical Sciences, it’s good to see this in writing all we need is the Government to listen…
My main thing is that there is a vaccine (smithKline) out and a couple of countries in Europe are stocking up. I know that it will not give immunity for what ever monster this things mutates into BUT because the base strain is the same, it should give SOME immunity. It should be the difference between life and death.
My main concern is that we dont have any immunity to this strain because it’s jumping from Birds directly to humans. So why is the UK not vaccinating it’s population? Or at least stocking up? It’s cheaper than Tamiflu and you have a better chance with it!
Oh well…….
Anon_22, have you met (and influenced ;-) any of the Royal Society team?
Crazy American Lady in the Village – at 11:41
So why is the UK not vaccinating it’s population? Or at least stocking up? It’s cheaper than Tamiflu and you have a better chance with it!
The GSK vaccine uses the current recommended strains from the WHO, which are unlikely to work with new pandemic strains. Plus that vaccine does not give enough immunity unless used with their ‘novel’ adjuvant, which we know nothing about and has not pased any regulatory processes. I wouldn;t touch it with a you-know-what…
uk bird – at 14:13
I know some of them, not enough to influence them to a significant degree, unfortunately.