Interesting...

This is pertaining to the DEADLY outbreak in china over poultry (if some of you dont know, def read the article). Scientist resurrected this similar virus to understand it more and try to come up with a vaccine.

 

World Population in 1918, just shy of 2 billion. World population reached 2 billion officially in 1930. Fifty million people died because of the Spanish Flu. Let's assume that this new H5N1 "Bird Flu" is just as bad.

50 million is 2.5% of 2 billion. Current world population sits a bit above 6 billion. So, based on those figures we can expect approximately 150 million deaths, or about half the U.S. population.

Things to think about, and maybe worry about when you look at a modern pandemic in comparison to the one in 1918:
1. The world is far more interconnected now. Back in 1918, things like international flights and federal highway systems didn't exist. It takes hours now instead of weeks to be half way around the world and back again.

2. Not fun considering #1.

3. A plus. With the insane advancement of computer technology and microbiological studies that have resulted from it, the scientists have a new, better, and bigger sword to wield against disease than they did back in the early 20th century.

4. Would bird flu have evolved had we all been vegetarian and not shoved live poultry into cramped corners with one another. Just to ponder.

Anyways, good article. Reuters is mostly on the ball. Maybe we can start a 12 Monkeys forum when this all goes down.

 

Good point. The main problem is the scare of cheap *** food companies importing native chinese chicken (just like mad cow happened) to the U.S.

 

True, however once it mutates to a form that can be passed from human to human that's when the real headaches begin.

 

Lol then that brings us back to the headline where they are trying to cure it in the article.