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Bird Flu Threatens US Troops In Iraq

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7Strong View Drop Down
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    Posted: March 14 2006 at 9:48am

Bird Flu Beacon has uncovered compelling evidence of human-to-human transfer of the deadly bird flu virus in Iraq, posing a grave threat to 150,000 US troops. Laurie Grace, a co-founder of Bird Flu Beacon, has spotted four key factors that indicate human-to-human transmission. In her article, "Bird Flu Threatens US Troops In Iraq," she pinpoints these 4 key conditions:

(PRWEB) March 14, 2006 -- In her article, "Bird Flu Threatens US Troops In Iraq," she pinpoints these 4 key conditions:

The virus spreads in large family clusters.
The virus spreads rapidly.
Early cases of human-to-human transfer tend to be milder, with fewer deaths.
Mutations occur that replicate the virus more easily in humans.

"These conditions have been met in Iraq," Ms. Grace indicated. She offers supporting evidence for each condition in her article.

The threat is already serious enough to prompt the military to alert troops and instruct them on steps to minimize risk. These bold steps are the military's first public response to the spread of avian flu from Northern to Southern Iraq and to areas around Baghdad over the past month. The Iraqi healthcare system is completely unprepared to deal with bird flu in humans, making the risk to US troops even higher.

Officially there have been just two confirmed human deaths from bird flu. "The confirmed deaths are just the tip of the iceberg," according to Ms. Grace. "What's most surprising is that any cases get confirmed at all. Once poultry farmers know their livelihoods will be impacted, even destroyed, through massive culling in areas reporting human or bird infections, they become very reluctant to report possible infections. Additionally, bird flu symptoms in humans or birds are not widely known. There is also a lack of funds for surveillance and testing, lack of testing supplies and medical staff, and hazardous conditions to be overcome when transporting blood samples for testing through war zones."

Has human-to-human transfer occurred in Iraq? A World Health Organization representative, Dr. Naeema al-Gasseer, has declared that it has not. Her declaration is alarming, given her acknowledgment that to date confirmed human infections have not been tracked to infected poultry. That leaves open the strong possibility of human-to-human transfer. Over 500,000 birds have been culled in Northern Iraq alone, even though no infected birds were found at the time. That means Dr. Gasseer is assuming the deaths were from birds, and an assumption is not necessarily a fact. It really means that no one knows for sure. However, when looking at the evidence, the key conditions that suggest human-to-human transfer have been met and are detailed in Bird Flu Threatens American Troops In Iraq

There are six steps necessary for a pandemic to be created according to WHO. In stage 4 small clusters of human-to-human infections occur but remain highly localized. The evidence compiled by Bird Flu Beacon from widely circulated press reports suggests stage 4 has been reached in Iraq. That makes our troops highly vulnerable, perhaps more vulnerable to bird flu infection than to terrorists in the long run.

About Bird Flu Beacon: For factual information, thoughtful analysis, and bird flu news you can trust, go to http://www.birdflubeacon.com/ The site features the latest in bird flu news, tracking maps and graphs, and practical tips for lowering the risk of infection or dealing with bird flu if it comes to your hometown.

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tonseck View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tonseck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2006 at 9:53am
You know, this is eerily similar to the spread of the Spanish Influenza pandemic.  Wasn't a major vector for spread of the flu the return of soldiers from WWI?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 7Strong Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2006 at 10:00am
I read that also.....  very scary if she is right!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote virusil Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2006 at 10:30am
she is right,brilliant person i would say
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2006 at 12:53pm
It could be right.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Left Field Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2006 at 8:18pm

Actually, I believe i read on one of the earlier posts on this form, that the US soldiers took the spanish flu from this country to Europe during WW1, naturally it would return with the troups.

A simple question, if you were Chinese and you had the flu in your household, would you want to report it to the authorities?  If you were the mayor of a small community in rural China and you had bird flu in your city, would you want to report it to higher ups?  Think of the consequences based on people being culled and whole towns disapearing from the world map.  If this goes H2H, there is no stopping it, since most would simply feel it's a death sentence if you report it.

Does this make sense, how is the WHO going to contain it?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 7Strong Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2006 at 6:21am
Regretfully I have to agree with you LF.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote calendula Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2006 at 6:33am
Officials say Azeri dog dies of bird flu.
15 Mar 2006 13:53:10 GMT
Source: Reuters
BAKU, March 15 (Reuters) - A dog has died of bird flu in Azerbaijan, a country where the virus is believed to have caused the death of three young women, officials said on Wednesday.

"A dead stray dog has been found, and after analysis type A bird flu was discovered. The medical investigation is continuing," said a statement from the state commission tasked with fighting the spread of bird flu. It said the dog died on March 9 in the capital Baku.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Penham Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2006 at 7:59am
I work on a military base and there are rumors that the people returning from Iraq and that area will be going into quarantine for a certain time period before being allowed back in the US. Now, this is just hearsay, I have no eveidence, just hearing it from the soldiers and civilians that have worked over there. Have been hearing this for about a month now, but don't know if it has started to happen yet, or if it is going to happen at all.
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