November 20, 2005 Perpetuating Avian Flu
Are we all bracing ourselves for the Avian Flu pandemic?
Trailers for a documentary over here in Hong Kong are saying that it could kill 1 in 4 when it does strike. Hong Kong is pretty much screwed if it strikes.
Apart from there being no cure, Hong Kong’s resilience to the simple flu is being diminished each year. Trigger happy doctors assign antibiotics to a workforce that’s eager not to lose any productivity to illness. There is no cure for the flu virus, Avian or otherwise. We are never cured of the flu virus. We simply produce antibodies to help us deal with the virus. But the effectiveness of these antibodies is diminished with increased use of antibiotics. We’re in this mess because of overuse of antibiotics in animal feeds, because virii get stronger with each use.
Forget 1 in 4. The rush to antibiotics in Hong Kong and other countries will only make the Avian flu stronger. Once it adapts and mutates, over the long run, 1 in 2 might be a more realistic prediction.
Tags: Random Thoughts
- 5 comments
- Posted under Blog
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Dicey
said
Still I believe HK will cope better with Avian Flu than other countries. When SARS lunged out the people were able to pull themselves togehter and pull the country out of the mud.
Of the topic: Isn’t the book your reading (The Masqerade) a guide for the RPG? There are actually novels of each clan and a TV series. It’s easier to understand them when you’ve read the RPG guide beforehand.
Greets,
Dicey
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Eshin
said
I’m not sure about HK coping better than other countries. SARS was a knee-jerk reaction. Panic inspired. If I wave a stick around, it doesn’t necessarily mean waving a stick around keeps bears away from my flat. Likewise with SARS, it sorta just disappeared. I still don’t have a satisfactory explanation for what it was, how it came, and where exactly it went.
Still, it was a good test run but I’m thinking HK folk will be the first to run for their antibiotics.
Regarding the book… didn’t know there was a TV series. Cool stuff. Yeah, the book is the RPG.. just bored and reminiscing. Anyway, the book was inspired by the numerous film and shows on vampires either way.
You a fan?
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Dicey
said
…for antibiotics or a cheaper counterfeit version of Tamiflu namely Tamyful. Gwah! Gwah!
I do not want to sound geeky but I used to play the RPG. And I still like Vampire movies… except “Van Helsing”… bah!
There’s also a player’s guide for Asian vampires who do not drink blood but ki. I thought that was pretty cool since they also have a setting book for Hong Kong with the whole mystique and dark package: feng shui, dragons, ancestors, triads and evil Susi Wongs from Wanchai.
But psst, you did not get that from me.
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Eshin
said
You must have loved Underworld then.
Or is that what you’re referring to?
It’s funny the attitude RPG’ers take towards revealing their hobby sometimes. It’s almost like you need to have a secret handshake or something.
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kipper
said
Blade borrowed quite a bit from the Vampire setting. Van Hellsing was crap, completely agree with you Dicey.
Nadim: RPG’ers take that attitude because of the baggage and misconceptions that come with the territory, as you’re well aware I’m sure. Not at all helped with the ev*ng*lic*l christian witchhunt of the 80s associating D&D with devil-worship and the like. Much like what they are trying to do with computer games at the moment.