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1.31.2006 ||> Sometimes I scare even myself
From the WHO:
The Ministry of Health in Iraq has confirmed the country’s first case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case occurred in a 15-year-old girl who died on 17 January following a severe respiratory illness. Her symptoms were compatible with a diagnosis of H5N1 avian influenza.When I first heard about the bird flu, I was extremely skeptical. Remembering how we were all going to die of SARS, I chalked it up to media hysteria over something that's never going to happen.
The girl’s 39-year-old uncle, who cared for her during her illness, developed symptoms on 24 January and died of a severe respiratory disease on 27 January.
A history of exposure to diseased birds has been found for the girl. The uncle’s source of infection is under investigation.
The Ministry of Health has further informed WHO of a third human case of respiratory illness that is under investigation for possible H5N1 infection. The patient is a 54-year-old woman, from the same area, who was hospitalized on 18 January.
Iraq is the seventh country to report human H5N1 infection in the current outbreak. The first human case occurred in Viet Nam in December 2003.
I have studied it since I started this job and I believe now that it will happen. That this version of flu attacks and kills children (who are last on the government list for vaccines) is especially troubling because it means not they are safe. It will attack all of us equally and there is no best way to be prepared. Stocking up on water and wrapping your house in saran wrap will not prevent it.
And it looks like now that if it were to mutate during its holiday in Iraq, our soldiers will be bringing it home to us. Like they didn't have enough to worry about.
0 snow blossoms
