TVSquad

If ABC really wanted to scared me, they'd make a movie about Bears.

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Ohh, honestly. Infectious disease is a reality that we shouldn't ignore, but after all the coverage SARS and West Nile got, compared to the actual impact of said diseases... Well, I'm skeptical. Why perpetuate a culture of fear?

Oh yeah. Money.

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would the disease be worse if it caused you to talk and act like foghorn leghorn permanently or if it caused you to die??

these are the questions i need to know the answer to...

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Bird flu has not come to USA yet and still many people are scared almost to death. I do not want to say that bird flu is not a large scale problem but it seems that people are only paying too much attention to their fear and we are turning a blind eye to the sufferings of those people related to the poultry industry. Suffering huge losses, several farmers in India have committed suicide (http://www.southasiabiz.com/2006/04/bird_flu_and_human_tragedy_in.html) and if the situation becomes worse then most probably we will see more deaths from India and other South Asian countries.

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Does anyone have a link to ABC's preview/trailer for Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America trailer? I wanted to show a friend so he could get a laugh....

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This movie should NOT be allowed to be aired. It along with the big news networks are using scare tactics to divert Americans attentions away from more important world events that ARE worthy of our concern. According to the World Health Organization Bird Flu (Avian flu H5N1) has caused the confirmed deaths of 113 people WORLD WIDE in the last 3 years. Over 36,000 people die of Seasonal Flu EVERY YEAR in the United States alone. The H5N1 virus does not transmit well or survive human to human contact very well at all. Only those in third world countries doing VERY unsanitary things around poultry that are infected, are likely to contract this disease, and then your chances of DYING of it, are again unlikely if you have any available medical resources. The people who have died of Avian Flu had to work pretty hard to get it, and then were living in conditions where they could not receive proper medical treatment. This alone are common sense factors that would tell ANYONE with a brain bigger than a bird's that Avian Flu is not going to cause a pandemic in this, or probably any other country. Shame on ABC (a so called Family network) for trying to scare people unnecessarily.

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The Avian flu virus is a very serious topic. 113 deaths is high for a virus that mutates every season; which is too frequent to create a stable vaccine. With every mutation, the odds become better (worse?) for it to mutate into a human-human transmission. Forecasters predict several mutations by the time the seasonal migratory path hits the US.

I would hardly call European nations "third-world" countries. It has already been detected in the EU and has had an impact on the poultry industry there. Unsanitary conditions or not, when was the last time you visited a chicken coop in the US? Or followed the entire processing line? Or visted an Asian market/community in a large Metropolitan city? Yes, it could be worse, but human-poultry interaction in the US is still common, and it's not just in rural areas.

Here, several poultry companies are already cutting costs, reducing travel, halting any new hires in preparation for even just a scare, not necessarily a pandemic.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a "world is gonna end" kind of guy. However, I have done a lot of research into this and pay very close attention to the news due to my line of work; my job rides on the outcome (as do tens of thousands of others.) I'm not going to stick my head in the sand and I would encourage everyone to do their own research.

Is the movie going to be little over-the-top? Probably. But it's also a frightening realization of how unprepared we are to handle a major catastrophe.

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Anyone who listens to the "experts" worst case scenario needs to seek a credibility check. This is coming from a bush crony that has no experience in science. Think about the data: about 2/3 of people that have gotten infected by the virus die. If (really when) it mutates to be able to pass from human to human like a normal flu here are the worst case scenario: a flu affects 30% world wide, if the mortality rate drops from the current rate to 50% and the population in the US is 300,000,000. That means in the US alone that 45,000,000 dead is worst case scenario. This number does not include those that get sick and die from opportunistic infections which is significant. Now this hasn't happened yet, but that is the scenario. This virus is highly mutable right now as it burns through all of the chickens and other birds. This will be the case for years and while that is happening its ability to hit the mutant form that spreads from human to human and come in contact with a human is the only variables. As long as the chicken farmers in china and other asian countries live with their chickens that close contact is what and where the pandemic will ignite from.

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in response to razib. i am not an alarmist, but look at what was said. "Only those in third world countries doing VERY unsanitary things around poultry that are infected, are likely to contract this disease, and then your chances of DYING of it, are again unlikely if you have any available medical resources." (that is incorrect for one reason: bird flu in humans, so far, has almost a 50% fatality rate, even when treated at sanitary hospitals). now, if you had done your research then you would be a little more scared. continued infections in 3rd world countries is exactly what this movie will be talking about. the US shouldn't be scared of bird flu in birds, other than the devestating economic affect bird flu in birds will have on world-wide poultry industries. the US should be scared of the world-wide pandemic that would start in one of these unsanitary, bird-flu affected countries. who cares if bird flu comes to america in birds? i'll tell you one thing, i will care if bird flu comes from people that have spread it, and it mutates in a 3rd world country. the virus that could emerge in the next few years from one of those countries will make its way to the US; that is inevitable. we must irradicate it in all countries or it will eventually mutate, just like all viruses; including the human flu virus, which mutates every single flu season, in every single year that we have.

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This is just taking what we know and putting it on the extreme side. I'd probably kill myself (or someone else) if the events actually came true. ABC being right, a disturbing thought.

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People, get over it. It's a movie, therefore, I hope it's entertaining. If along the way I learn something, great...if not....just show me a good time with an interesting plot. I'll be watching. If American Idol is the only other option that evening.... then I rather get the FLU!

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I tend to agree with the "alarmist" crowd. I've watched the whole avian flu thing closely over the past 4 months and have deduced that my personal stockpile of 4 months supplies for my family of 5 is not an "over the top" reaction to this real (potentially low)possibility. If this movie that is considered by some to be irresposible prompts a good number of individuals to prepare for such an event where otherwise they would have not, I'm all for irresponsibility. I for one do not want to be the only family in my neighborhood with access to life sustaining supplies in the event of a worst case scenario!

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Doesn't anyone see the airing of this movie completely irresponsible on the part of ABC? It is ideal to say that everyone who will be watching this movie on a saturday night will have done their research and know that the bird flu is or isn't a threat to us here in the United States. But let's face it people, not everyone knows when or where the bird flu will strike and whether or not its a threat to us even now. I question that the scientists studying this flu even know. My point is, its irresponsible of ABC to air a movie which may in fact cause hysteria among the people that see it. There are alot of people out there that believe everything they see on tv, fiction or not. Let us not forget how history can repeat itself. How quickly we are to forget what hysteria arose when people had no idea where the AIDS virus came from and how it was transmitted. We must remember that it is the responsibility of the government and the CDC to inform us about deadly diseases, NOT a made for ABC-TV movie.

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I think that ABC should be ashamed to get involved with such scare tactics. Don't we have enough to worry about? Avian Flu is very real and there are many people who will be panic stricken after watching this movie. And, many people aren't intelligent enough to sort out what is fact and what is fiction. I, myself, won't be watching this movie. And, I'm very disappointed and disgusted with ABC and Disney for presenting such a movie to the gullible public!

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I am not sure what to think at this point, maybe that is a dangerous place to be at. I have read, and seen articles and have done my own research on the bird flu. For now, I am at a watch and wait sort of speak attitude. What can we do about it? How can we avoid it? Protection, has anyone given us any ideas or information? I have decided we will no longer be eatting chickens, and poultry for a while. We will stick to beef and what not. Stray cats (I have told my children NOT to go near them (they eat/catch wild birds). I guess, the only thing left is to so as I have always been doing. "Wash your hands." I think the most scary part of all of this is that we have children. I am sure concerned about myself, and my husband but I am more concerned about my children. I don't think that we will be watching the movie because I know how upset that my 3 girls will be. They don't need to be caught up in the media's rage about this. Yes, it's serious. But added more stress will only cause people to get sick and have weaked immunity. We all know what high level stress does to you. Probably just about more damage then the bird flu will ever do.
So in a calm, collective and watchful manner I will face what many of the human race will undergo. Making plans, saving money, doing all the "responsible things" to do to get prepared.

That is all we can really do, is wait and be prepared.
It's better to be prepared then to be unware.

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Hey folks,

Avian bird flu is a total crock -- gov't inspired scare tactics, same old propaganda.

Don't sweat the bird flu. It's probably more dangerous to talk on your cell phone while driving. If you like to worry, worry about that.

http://barnesworld.blogs.com/barnes_world/

Hank Barnes

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Think about the data: about 2/3 of people that have gotten infected by the virus die.

I just read the WHO statistics - if there are 203 confirmed cases, and 113 confirmed deaths, how do you get "2/3 of people that have gotten infected by the virus die"? My math skills aren't top-notch, but that would appear to be over 50%.

I'm not an alarmist, either - and most of us don't come into close contact with poultry. I'll be far more alarmed when it jumps from human to human. It's still cause for concern.

That said, the movie is out to earn viewers and money for advertisers. It's a timely topic, and a ploy that's likely to succeed. Watching it just may prove cathartic, if it's really over-the-top. I don't recall that "The Day After" caused any particular panic. Made people think - and that's a good thing - but didn't make them run screaming into the streets or anything.

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Trust me. The potential of a pandemic soon or in the near future is real. The scientists and public health officials are not making this up. However, as with anything, prevention and knowledge will help everyone; every person should make it thier business to keep informed about the local planning and prevention efforts that state, city, town and federal official are engaged in. The movie may be a sensationalistic interpretation of communicable diseases...however, it can happen.

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Ok People LISTEN UP!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't want people to take this MOVIE as fact. Neither do I desire for them to take it as "never could happen" I realize there are always a lot of "What IF ssss" But please bear in mind the following facts. (NOTE this Post is rather Long but it has a lot of REAL Facts.) Please take the time to read all of it.

Consider this:
HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria kill 6 million people every year; nearly 2 million deaths are caused by TB.

Yet, TB is curable, but it still kills 5000 people every day!

TB is a disease of poverty; virtually all TB deaths occur in the developing world, affecting mostly young adults in their most productive years. TB especially affects the most vulnerable, such as the poorest and malnourished.

TB is a leading killer among HIV-infected people with weakened immune systems; a quarter of a million TB deaths are HIV-associated ? most of them in Africa
Global TB incidence is still growing at 1% every year because of the rapid increase in Africa; intense control efforts are helping incidence fall or stabilize in other regions.

2 billion people ? one third of the world's population ? are infected with TB bacilli, the microbes that cause TB. 1 in 10 people infected with TB bacilli will become sick with active TB in their lifetime; people with HIV are at a much greater risk

TB is contagious and spreads through the air; if not treated, each person with active TB infects on average 10 to 15 people each year.

TB is a worldwide pandemic; though the highest rates per capita are in Africa (29% of all TB cases), half of all news cases are in 6 Asian countries ? Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines.

Almost 9 million new TB cases occurred in 2004 ? 80% of them in 22 countries.

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is a form of TB that does not respond to the standard drug treatment. MDR-TB is present in virtually all 109 countries recently surveyed by WHO and partners.

PLEASE LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS:

? The ABC Movie ?Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America? is a movie, not a documentary. It is a work of fiction designed to entertain and not a factual accounting of a real world event.

? There is no influenza pandemic in the world at this time.

? Also, it is important to remember that H5N1 avian influenza is almost exclusively a disease of birds. The H5N1 virus has not yet appeared in the U.S.

? Should the H5N1 virus appear in the U.S., it does not mean the start of a pandemic.

? An additional point to remember is that the next influenza pandemic could be substantially less severe than what the movie depicts or that occurred in 1918. For example, the influenza pandemics of 1957/58 and 1968/69 caused so much less illness and death than did the 1918/19 pandemic that many Americans at that time did not distinguish them from seasonal influenza and were unaware that a pandemic was underway.

? While the movie does serve to raise awareness about avian and pandemic flu, we hope it will inspire preparation ? not panic. There are steps individuals, families and communities can take to prepare. You can keep a supply of food and medicines on hand in case you have to stay home, you can practice good public health measures like frequent hand washing and staying home when sick. There is good information available on .

? The film does depict scenarios that could unfold should a severe pandemic ever develop, including limited availability of antivirals and vaccines as well as the potential for disruption of supplies, medicines and other essential services.

? The film also illustrates the expected months-long delay in developing an effective vaccine against a pandemic strain of influenza once it emerges. This is why, at the President?s request, the Congress approved funding for the Department of Health and Human Services to make significant financial investments to improve the technology for vaccine development and to build up our domestic vaccine production capacity, to ensure more rapid availability of vaccine for the population in a pandemic.

? The film highlights an important aspect of planning ? individual and community planning and cooperation that will be so vital to sustaining communities and neighborhoods during an extended wave of an influenza pandemic. HHS has developed an extensive set of planning documents, including planning checklists for businesses, schools, health care providers, community organizations and states as well as an individual and family planning guide. All of these materials are available at www.pandemicflu.gov.

? While the H5N1 virus has not yet appeared in the U.S., and there is no influenza pandemic in the world at this time, it is important for all Americans to be informed about this potential public health threat and some of the steps individual Americans can take to protect themselves and their families in the event of a pandemic.

I have taken the time to give you some QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Below;

Many people in the movie are seen wearing surgical masks. Will masks protect me?
Surgical masks are recommended for health care workers who are subjected to repeated exposure to multiple patients. For health care workers performing certain medical procedures on infected patients, N95 respirators are recommended. Surgical masks are also recommended for patients who are infected to help reduce the potential for spread of virus when these people cough or sneeze. HHS will continue to review and update as needed its public health guidance on the use of masks and respirators by healthcare workers and by the general public.

The movie shows the virus spreading in many ways besides coughing or sneezing, such as handshakes, kissing, sharing drinks, etc. Is that correct?
Influenza virus is primarily spread by airborne droplets that reach the eyes, nose or mouth but can also spread by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching one?s face. This highlights the importance of learning and practicing good personal hygiene, including:
? Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
? Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
? Put used tissues in a waste basket.
? Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue.
? Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
? Stay at home if you are sick.

The film indicates that there will be a shortage of Tamiflu (or other antivirals) in a pandemic. Will there be? And if so, what is the government doing to prevent that?
HHS is stockpiling enough antivirals to treat 25% of the U.S. population should a pandemic occur in the U.S. This figure is based on historical data from past pandemics indicating that roughly 25% of the population would get sick in a pandemic and would benefit from antiviral treatment if started early in the course of illness. To date, the U.S. government has purchased 26 million antiviral treatment courses and expects to have on hand a total of 81 million treatment courses by the end of 2008.

In the movie officials quickly find out that there is no vaccine available when the pandemic occurs nor will any be available for many months. Will we have vaccine available if a pandemic occurs?
There likely will be no vaccine initially available that precisely matches the pandemic strain when a pandemic begins. Because influenza viruses continually evolve and mutate, it is not possible to develop a vaccine until after the pandemic strain actually comes into existence. Only after the strain emerges, is isolated and characterized can a vaccine be developed and manufactured. Based upon current vaccine production processes and capacities, it will take at least 6 months to begin producing pandemic vaccine once a pandemic strain occurs.

HHS has been developing and stockpiling an experimental ?pre-pandemic? H5N1 vaccine that may offer some level of immune protection should the H5N1 virus mutate into a pandemic strain. Having a stockpile of this vaccine for up to 20 million people, may help delay or lessen the initial impact of a pandemic while vaccine against the actual pandemic strain is developed and produced.

However, HHS is making significant financial investments to improve the technology for vaccine development and to build up our domestic vaccine production capacity, to ensure more rapid availability of vaccine for the population in a pandemic.

Many neighborhoods were quarantined in the film. Even the Governor of Virginia quarantined himself, his staff and his family from the rest of the world. Will the government quarantine people in a pandemic?
The purpose of quarantine is to separate people who have been potentially exposed to a contagious disease and may be infected but are not yet ill to stop the spread of that disease. The last large-scale quarantine measures that were imposed in this country were used in the early 20th century to contain outbreaks of plague, yellow fever, and smallpox.

Today, quarantine typically refers to confining potentially infected persons to their homes or community-based facilities, usually on a voluntary basis. Quarantine can be used for a defined group of people who may have been exposed at a public gathering, or who may have been exposed while traveling, particularly overseas. In extreme cases, quarantine could apply to an entire geographic area, in which case a community may be closed off by sealing its borders or by a barricade, known as a ?cordon sanitaire?.

In the case of pandemic influenza, quarantine may be one of the public health tools employed in the early days of an emerging pandemic if efforts are undertaken to contain the outbreak before it spreads too widely. Once a pandemic has begun to spread, quarantine is not likely to be effective in controlling the spread, and instead efforts may turn to ?social distancing.? Social distancing includes measures to increase distance between individuals, such as staying home when ill unless seeking medical care, avoiding large gatherings, telecommuting, and school closures.

In the movie, we learn that the virus is beginning to develop resistance to Tamiflu, rendering the drug useless. Could that happen? If so, why are we buying so much Tamiflu for the stockpile?
Tamiflu, and another antiviral, Relenza, have shown effectiveness in treating influenza. Early evidence suggest that Tamiflu may be effective in treating those patients who have been infected with the H5N1 avian flu virus. While there have been a few reports of Tamiflu resistance developing on therapy, there has been no transmission of a resistant virus. The resistance developing on therapy has been associated with starting the drug late or using low doses of this drug. Tamiflu, when used at proper doses and started within a few days of the appearance of symptoms should be effective treatment of this infection.

Relenza has not been used in treating human H5N1 cases to date, as it has been unavailable in many countries that have had people infected with H5N1. but experts expect it would be an effective treatment also.

HHS is stockpiling enough antivirals to treat 25% of the U.S. population should a pandemic occur in the U.S. This figure is based on historical data from past pandemics indicating that roughly 25% of the population would get sick in a pandemic. To date, the U.S. government has purchased 26 million antiviral treatment courses and expects to have on hand a total of 81 million treatment courses by the end of 2008. Of its antiviral purchases, the U.S. is buying approximately 80% of its supply as Tamiflu and about 20% of its supply as Relenza. This is due in part to product availability but also to the need to diversify the supply so as to not rely solely on one medication.

Many essential services (e.g. electricity, food, water, etc.) become scarce in the film?s scenario. Could that happen?
An especially severe influenza pandemic could lead to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts can range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

In addition, a substantial percentage of the world's population will require some form of medical care. Health care facilities can be overwhelmed, creating a shortage of hospital staff, beds, ventilators and other supplies. Non-traditional sites such as schools may need to be used for patient care to cope with demand.

The film depicted many people who simply walked off their jobs. Would that really occur?
In a severe pandemic, it is very possible that up to 40% of a business? or organization?s workforce will be out sick or at home taking care of sick family members. It is also possible that a small percentage of this amount will be people who are healthy but who may be too frightened to venture out into public.

The numbers of health-care workers and first responders available to work can be expected to be reduced as they will be at high risk of illness through exposure in the community and in health care settings, and some may have to miss work to care for ill family members.

What will be do with the overwhelming number of deceased bodies if we have a severe, 1918-like pandemic as was depicted in the film?
Addressing the possibility of a large number of deceased individuals in a pandemic is one of our top pandemic planning priorities. Currently, we are working on modeling studies to try to determine as clearly as we can what we could possibly expect in terms of numbers of deaths over the course of several pandemic waves. Until these studies are done, we won't be able to speculate on details of what we might or might not expect. We expect this work to be done in the next few months.

Regardless of whatever estimates are developed, it is highly unlikely that in the 21st Century in the U.S. that we would ever resort to mass graves. We are working with many government agencies (e.g. VA) as well as the private sector (e.g. the funeral industry, the cemetery industry) to develop guidance for states, local communities and others that maintains the dignity of the deceased, honors family wishes, and respects religious and social customs.


Deciding who gets vaccine was a major question in the film. In a real pandemic, how will you decide who gets vaccine first?
The greatest risk of hospitalization and death?as seen during the last two pandemics in 1957 and 1968 pandemics and during annual influenza?will be in infants, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions. These individuals, along with health care providers, who are critical to maintaining a health care system in a pandemic, would likely be the first individuals to receive the first supplies of vaccine. However, in the 1918 pandemic, most deaths occurred in young adults, highlighting the need to remain flexible on determining priorities for vaccination groups based on the epidemiology of an emerging pandemic.

As part of planning efforts, two Federal advisory committees?the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee?have made recommendations for prioritizing critical populations that might receive the first supplies of vaccine. These recommendations can be found in the HHS Pandemic Plan, which is available at www.pandemicflu.gov.

In the movie, the Virginia governor's son dies because he cannot get diabetes medicine; other drugs are not available in pharmacies.
Essential supplies, including medicine, may become unavailable during a pandemic. As part of effective planning, individuals and families should talk to their doctor about how to maintain adequate access to prescription medications.



So now you have all the facts. Think about it people It's a MOVIE. And good news doesn't make the $$$$$.
Just like the MOVIE thats due to air this month about the Da Vinci Code, based on Brown's book IT'S FICTION!!!!
Go to for the truth about the DiCinci Code before you JUMP over the edge.

GET THE REAL FACTS BEFORE YOU PANIC!!!!

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Sorry the link for the DaVinci Code didn't make it in the last post here it is again.
http://www.exposingthedavincicode.com/

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