Canada Bird flu

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 medclinician wrote:

 ops144 wrote:

but why is everything "cause for concern"

ive not read one bit of good info from this good doctor?

I would comment that we need in all incidents to consider a broad spectrum of sources before we make any preliminary conclusions. There is an interesting term I have heard Ops, which I think is fairly significant in posts as wells as sites - that is spin.  I assume spin meaning how information fits into a particular person's over all viewpoint. 

It is wise to consider both ends of the spectrum. Example being a famous archeologist who had a particular formula on the pyramids in Egypt. It seemed to fit perfectly except for this one corner of several stone blocks on one face of the pyramid. They found him at midnight, by kerosene lamp, chipping away at the stone blocks with a pick axe, to make the blocks the right size to make his formula correct. 

There are numerous physicians here, and some of the most qualified are the most conservative. If there are not clear negative results on Avian tests, then you begin to get nebulous explanations, and at the same time, this must be given a little credibility. Things are not always as bad as they look and often there are non-sensationalist explanations which may account for some "outbreaks."

There are numerous reports and data on Candian birds with less virulent Avian. As yet, (and time may prove otherwise) we do not have a confirmed instance of virulent Avian here in Canada. 

Low path Avian can take out birds and people. Low path Avian is endogenous in some populations. Low path Avian could mutate to a more virulent form and cause a worldwide Pandemic. Could. Hasn't yet. But could. 

I appreciate the "skeptics" here who do not fuel the fire and are not afraid to speak up and state what is obvious; insufficient data. 

However, in closing, I will repeat, America's top agency doctors and disease control organizations are not alarmists. In fact, they are quite the opposite. You can rely on the fact, that if they are going to say "not if but when" this is  saying - we are due for an Avian epidemic. You should consider, however conservative, the huge amount of real data and sometimes sensitive information behind this statement and it is serious.  

Dozens of times I have had to step back from some of these reports and say - okay - there is not enough data here to confirm this and it would be pure speculation to go out on the limb and assume there is some sort of coverup. We need to wait for more information. 

Let's keep on eye on the test results. Let's really keep on eye for human H5N1 cases in Canada. And beyond that, when we have human transmisssion in those cases, it's time to put a human flag in Canada.

Thank you, medclinician.  There is a fine line (sometimes) between questioning the facts and being an alarmist.  I like that latter term, but all too often there are alarmist posts.  So at times I do the same as with a tv or radio station, and turn away from the posts for a mental health break.

Fortunately we have freedom of speech, but sometimes it gets a bit hairy with the alarmist stuff.

Great commentary, medclinician.