Effect Measure has two excellent posts about where we are in the Bird Flu story. This is how they describe the overview in Part I:
So it is time to pause and take stock, not so much of what we know but what we remain unsure of. There's a lot. Given the long interest in the influenza A virus and the new powerful methods of modern molecular biology, there is a surprising amount of basic stuff we don't know. This is not an indepth treatment but more like looking at wildflowers from horseback.
Part II is here. And, while you're over at Effect Measure, don't miss this post that should inspire you to get out there and force your local government to put a PanFlu Plan in place. And this one that gives you a real-life example of why you should:
Firefighters in the West Midlands said today they had been told to stop attending incidents involving birds as fears grew over avian flu.
Firemen claimed the bird ban had been announced to all stations just days after the first case of the deadly H5N1 virus was discovered in France.
Deputy chief fire officer Vijith Randeniya told staff in the leaked memo: "We are not to attend any calls to stranded or distressed birds even if requested by the RSPCA [Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]."
The move could mean crews refusing to attend fires at pet shops and farms and homes with aviaries and pigeon lofts.
Educate. Agitate. Organize. What are you doing to help?
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