By Vikki

August 7, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this

This is to induce fear and terror. Aren’t we fighting a war against this in another country? If folks are so concerned we’re all going to die from this, put it on the front page of the newspapers, send something through the mail. Use the Emergency brake in on T.V. Don’t waste money on trying to spread terror on television. This is infuriating and extreamly inappropriate. What if a bomb drops? What if you get hit by a bus? What if an astroid hits Earth? What about another 911?

By Erin

August 5, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this

I’ve seen at least a dozen of these commercials just today. Personally, I’m very annoyed with them- they were on during regular family programming- when my 7 and 8 year old were watching. Kids have enough to worry about these days without hearing that some disease is coming and it’s going to kill everyone off. Not to mention the frightening images and voice of doom accompanying the commercial.

In my opinion, an informative brochure sent by mail would be more effective… and more educational.

By TLSmith

August 1, 2008 11:53 PM | Link to this

Just ‘follow the money’. The brightest medical minds have stated any number of times that there is no vaccine possible for things like bird flu and SARS.. too many mutations to consider. The flu shot doesn’t work all that well.. likely makes things worse. They are creating a market for their crappy vaccines is all. I have nurse friends and family members who have seen this thing blossom over the last 30 years into absolute nonsense. The Black Plague will return before this occurs.

By LY

July 24, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

I, for one, have been following the pandemic threat and it seems to me not if…but when. How bad it will be remains to be seen but forewarned is forearmed!

By aurora

July 23, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this

We ended up not seeing Y2K problems because computer techs spent endless hours fixing the problem in computer programs.

But we can’t fix the pandemic problem.

We can’t kill every infected bird.

We can’t keep every person from getting infected. We can’t keep each infected person confined so they don’t infect anyone else (people are contagious before they have symptoms) We can’t keep every infected person from traveling & spreading the virus.

By aurora

July 23, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this

Well, it’s not what I would have written, but it is a public awareness ad. (Didn’t they used to run those free?)

They probably felt they had to do something that would have really get people’s attention.

I would say the one main reason that people aren’t paying attention is that they are not hearing about the continuing danger of pandemic anymore. The danger never went away, but the media stopped covering it.

By aurora

July 23, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this

After the tsunami and Katrina people outside the disaster area were eventually able to help.

But during a pandemic there wouldn’t be any “outside the disaster area” and each community would be dealing with their own disaster.

The federal government already said that each community would be on their own.

By aurora

July 23, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this

Sometimes the world does fall apart. Think about the people who experienced the tsunami in Asia - the people who live there as well as the tourists.

And that disaster wasn’t over when the water receded. Infrastructure was destroyed. Injured people couldn’t be MedEvaced and supplies couldn’t be delivered because planes couldn’t land.

The world fell apart in New Orleans after Katrina, and we knew that the city would flood if it was hit with a Cat 4 hurricane.

By MHM

July 23, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this

I still think a scare tactic for someone’s gain (drug co, bottled water, generator, under-ground shelter, political, etc). Why so much money for a teach us nothing ad? Better spent on teaching prevention & good health priniciples. Remember Y2K, everyone thought the sky would fall & bought a lot of unnesessary junk (me included). Also, distracts people from current US problems/issues.

By tim

July 23, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

I beleive we should be prepared should it happen, but people sometimes think it is a scam if they hear that the world will fall apart when it happens. Its good to get the word out but don’t overkill or people will not listen.

By tim

July 23, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

I will ask them if 50% of there people where not there how it would effect them. During the last ice storm we never lost power. I know ther are 3 differant lines comeing into our town. They did that so when we lost power it could be restored quickly. The last big ice storm we had about 2 or 3 years ago we lost power for maybe 2 hours. I had to think about that one. I will say before that we lost power once a year maybe.

By aurora

July 23, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Our power goes out fairly often for shorter periods of time during heavy snow, or ice storms.

We also lose power a few times a year when there are car accidents and people hit poles - we have above ground lines.

I guess if there are underground lines this might not happen as often?

By aurora

July 23, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

Do they understand that 50% (or more) of their employees could be out?

2 yrs ago it was out for 6 days after an ice storm. It took crews from 6 states to repair the damage & restore power. During a pandemic crews from other states wouldn’t be available.

4 yrs ago it was out 3 days. 5 yrs ago it was out 3 or 4 days because a squirrel got in to equipment .

Several times a yr it is out for 12/24 hrs. At least a dozen times a year surrounding areas have outages for 24/36/48 hrs.

By aurora

July 23, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

I’m not trying to be confrontational – you know it’s hard to tell tone of voice when we’re just going back and forth on comments like this.

But pandemic flu consultants are very worried that information about pandemic flu isn’t getting out to the public.

You would think that after Katrina, the government would be tripping over themselves to be sure that every one knew about a disaster and about things that they could do in advance to protect themselves and their families.

By Tim

July 23, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

I don’t know where you live but i talked to 2 people who work for 2 differant power companies and they said it is over kill. There equipment does not break down that much. If it did you would be out of power all the time. One of them said if our equipment was that bad we have not been doing our job. He said when was the last time you where out of power. I could not remember.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

JL @ 2:56 They have been trying to get rid of the virus reservoir. Hundreds of millions of birds have either died or been culled to try to prevent the spread of H5N1.

People aren’t allowed in or out of any farm with infected birds or farms nearby, & vehicles traveling in or out of the area must be disinfected.

When human infections are found, those people are isolated and their contacts given antiviral drugs in an attempt to stop the spread.

The greatest problem will be when the virus can be easily transmitted from person to person. At that point, it will not be possible to contain the virus.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this

Prevention. Some people will stay at home.

Some will be at home because they will be taking care of kids whose schools will be closed. Some will stay at home because their places of employment will be closed. Some will stay at home to avoid anyone who is infected.

Obviously if people are going to remain in their homes for any length of time they will need to be prepared - thus the ad we are discussing.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this

Prevention. Plans are to close schools because children spread a lot of virus. The length of time varies depending upon the severity of the pandemic. It would be up to 12 weeks at a time during a severe pandemic.

Many school districts are making plans to continue kids’ education either online or televised classes. This would work as long as the electric grid stays up.

Kids would be at home – not at the mall.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

Prevention. Well, this is the problem. The only prevention is to avoid the virus because there isn’t a vaccine for the pandemic strain.

There limited amounts of what they are calling “prepandemic vaccine” based on the strains of virus in 2004 & 2005, but the virus has mutated since then so there is some question whether that will work.

Also any “prepandemic vaccine” will be given to healthcare workers, first responders, fire fighters, etc. so that they can care for those who are infected.

By Barry

July 22, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

Time to take your vitamins, say your prayers and do your exercises. Or maybe just two out of the three will work for you, if you have given up on religion(s).

I was going to say something about trains or taxes, but couldn’t figure out how to make it funny on this topic

I wonder how people are going to blame this on Bush if it happens, or maybe they will blame it on “man made global warming”. It is 2008 and the boogey man is out of work because of Bush and mmgw.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this

Tim @ 12:52pm

The ad isn’t about what is happening now. It is about what will happen when a pandemic flu hits the U.S.

It looks as though the H5N1 virus may very well be the cause of the next pandemic. It has many similarities to the 1918 virus which killed at least 50 million people. Because of our increased population and faster world travel, the number of people who would die could be much higher than in 1918.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

The health department says you may not have electricity because 30% or more of our workers will be very sick. More will stay home taking care of very sick family members. There will not be enough people to repair problems in the grid.

And workers will not be coming back to work in a week. People who survive H5N1 are sick for a very long time.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

Gregory @ 10:16am

We have not made any advances in medical or social technology that would enable us to take care of the number of critically ill people we would see during a H5N1 pandemic.

We do not have enough healthcare workers, hospital beds, antiviral drugs, ventilators, medical supplies, medicine, face masks, gloves, or other supplies needed.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

During an influenza pandemic with the fatality rate of the 1918 pandemic, we would lose as many children in one season as we normally do in twenty years.

The government at all levels isn’t doing enough to raising awareness.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

This is NOT seasonal flu. This is not the flu that primarily kills premature babies, the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and people with other health problems.

This virus targets healthy children, teens and young adults.

73% of people infected are under 30 years old, and the fatality rate for these people is over 60% worldwide.

By Stephen

July 22, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

After seeing that commercial, I’m so stressed that I think I’m coming down with something. Maybe I caught it from my parakeet.

By Pauletta / Ohio

July 22, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

The comment on Vitamin D I thought was good. I’ve heard Cat’s Claw works well to prevent flu’s. I wish we used this opportunity to trade positive ideas in Ohio to help fix our possiable flu problems vs. the negative. We have enough of that in our world today. The commercial I thought could have been a bit better. I don’t care or respond quickly to those type of ads, nor do I think many people do. Praying is good, but faith without works is vain. That is why God gave us a brain to think.

By Free Speech

July 22, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

This isn’t news. Im astounded you all read this garbage and just soak it up. Infowars.com thats where to go for REAL NEWS. Like how bad our economy really is. The 10’s of thousands of coffins in Georgia the DHS has but for what reason? Stop being a sheep and open your eyes. You guys call people like me crazy and stupid. Just look for yourself, dont take my word for it.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

This is NOT seasonal flu. It is NOT about the flu that goes around each year and is just a pain in the neck. It’s NOT about the flu that causes you stay home from work for a few days & buy tissues and Nyquil.

Seasonal flu - the flu we are used to - a fatality rate of about .25%. The 1918 pandemic had a fatality rate at least ten times higher 2.5%.

The fatality rate for the H5N1 virus is between 60% and 80%. That may lower - it may stay this high when it becomes a pandemic and spreads.

By healthy

July 22, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

Take vitamin D. I have been healthy from flu since taking it 2 years ago.

By JL

July 22, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

Likely to be triggered by a mutant of Bird Flu. Then lift the ban on DDT and get rid of the virus reservoir and transmitting agent,

By JKJ

July 22, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

I think this is a sad scare tactic. Every year they warn everyone to “get your flu shot” or you’ll get sick. The only time I’ve ever gotten sick was when I got the stupid shot!!! I stopped getting the shot and I stopped getting sick. What a racket someone has going!!!!!

By K-rock

July 22, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

I agree that this ad is a little over the top but at the same time doesn’t explain prevention all that well. My kids have asked me about the commercial and for the cost ($400K) I think many of us would have appreceiated some kind of precautionary information in this ad.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this

Handwashing won’t do it. A sick person coughs into his hand & leaves virus on every surfaces he touches. Virus transfers to anyone who touches it.

Door knobs, shopping carts, keyboards, desks, pens, clipboards, subways, ATM’s, coins, light switches, appliances, countertops, phones, bathroom fixtures, remotes, school buses, pencil sharpeners, playground equipment, things @ restaurants would all be sources of contagion.

We touch our face & get infected and can’t wash often enough to stop it.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

Ashley @ 7:46 am

I believe that God wants us to use the good sense that He gave us. That means being informed, preparing in the ways that we can, and doing what we can to protect our families.

I think we are still responsible to do as much as we can.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

Despite the county health commissioner’s remarks, do you see anything in the ad that suggests going to get a flu shot?

There ISN’T a flu shot for the pandemic flu. You could not go get a flu shot for pandemic flu today if you wanted to.

The flu shots given in fall/winter will not cover pandemic flu so this article isn’t a push for fall/winter flu shots.

It is a public informational ad - not to sell flu shots.

By aurora

July 22, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

Skeptic @ 11:11pm You really don’t need to worry about the ad emphasizing Ohio. An influenza pandemic would spread worldwide. Everyone would be too busy worrying about their community to worry about what was happening in Ohio.

It’s good that Ohio is running the ads to bring about pandemic flu awareness.

By dumbohio

July 22, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Ok first of immunizations DO work…Look at polio that immunizations works, I love dumb hicks like painfultruth that spout word vomit all of the time on all of these posts. I hope he gets the flu first lol then maybe he will not insult everyone’s intelligence on here. GO BACK HOME PAINFULTRUTH AND GET OFF THE COUNTY LIBRARY COMPUTER SINCE YOU CANNOT AFFORD ONE IN YOUR TRAILER PLUS, CABLE DOES NOT REACH THERE ANYWAYS LOL!

By Tim

July 22, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

I agree we should be prepared for it. Just like anything else that could happen. One thing that gets me is that the health department makes outlandish remarks. It there news release in the paper they said the electric will go out. When I ask them why it would go out they did not have any answers. I do not know why it would either. $400,000 is allot to spend on this maybe they should use that money for research.

By MHM

July 22, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Feels like written by a drug co to scare people into getting flu shots, then tell you to get a booster in Jan, 1st one was before flu season peaked. I’ll play the odds. A better use of ad $ would be handwashing, not sharing hygeine items, & keeping a healthy immune system. If you don’t fall in certain groups, flu shots are overkill. Haven’t had a flu shot for yrs & I’m one of few at work that didn’t get the flu last yr, they had the shot. Oh, that’s right, the shot last yr was the wrong strain?

By Tim

July 22, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Should we be all that worried? The poorly cited information on their website isn’t even recent. The most recent “news release” on their site is nearly 2 years old. This adds up to wasted taxpayer monies. $200,000.00 on a commercial to advertise a disease absent the States and will be prevented due to increased sanitation in years since the outbreak.

By Papa Ubu

July 22, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Just lock the next flue pandemic inside one of the never-open art galleries in the BoringAgain District. It’ll never get out alive!

By painfultruth

July 22, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Make it simple. Just outlaw the flu in Ohio. Worked for smoking, gambling and strip clubs! Wait until they outlaw alcohol. Don’t laugh as the day is coming.

By Pearl

July 22, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

When the pandemic flu arrives I’m going out to the country to protect my family. If anyone comes close, they get shot. We will survive. God will forgive me. Get-r-dun!

By astonished

July 22, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

The folks who are griping now will be the same folks griping that they didn’t have enough information to be prepared, when the pandemic flu arrives. Some people just live to look for things to b&tch about. Avian Flu is the next likely pandemic & there is a vaccine approved. But there isn’t enough to go around. There are studies going on now to find the least effective dose. The one I know of now still has a yr left until it’s complete. So, it’s better to be prepared and knowledgable than dead.

By Gregory Wiesemann

July 22, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

It is a very bad commericial. It completly disregards the fact that in the 51 years since the last “pandemic” we have made numerous advances in medical and social technology. We are cleaner in both personal hygeine and with food preperation, the two biggest factors against any flu. Plus we do not live like sardines in big cities anymore, we have suburbs and wider living accomadations today then in 1957 and 1918. Could it happen yes, but to guarentee that it will happen is irresponsible.

By astonished

July 22, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

I’m sure the people who think this is crap are the same folks who’ll be whining when the pandemic flu hits that nobody told them. Some folks are just always looking for something to gripe about. The Avian “bird” Flu is the most likely candidate for the next pandemic flu. There is currently an approved vaccine for Avian flu. However, there is not enough to go around. There are studies going on now to determine the least effective dosing. So, yes, it is wise to be prepared and knowledgable!

By David

July 22, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

Thats wht they said in 1918 it was a military problem because the first wave was confined to the military but then the second wave hit and people were falling dead left and right. Then no body knew what to do.

By David

July 22, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

Thats wht they said in 1918 it was a military problem because the first wave was confined to the military but then the second wave hit and people were falling sead left and right. Then no body knew what to do.

By Starcastic

July 22, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

Sorry ‘tard, but when you use the word ‘sheeple’ in an argument you automatically lose any credibility you might have had. Throw in the Trilateral Commission and a few of your other favorite catchwords and you only further demonstrate your developmental handicaps. You’ve qualified as too ill0informed to vote…sadly it probably hasn’t stopped you from reproducing.

By John

July 22, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

If Ohio’s “piece” of the “advertising budget” was $400,000 it’s safe to assume the total handled out between big states and small was $20,000,000… For that kind of money, might we have come closer to a cure if it was spent on research? Big government’s motto: “It’s fun to spend other people’s money.”

By Monika

July 22, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

I think this is way overdone and designed to scare people. I am tired of “terror” and “disease” fear atmosphere. Reminds me of movie “V for Vendetta”. Also spending so much on commercial from my tax dollars… that’s a waste.

By David

July 22, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

They did very little when the first signs appeared they said it was a military issue because it atrted in the military. then all of a sudden you have people dying left and right a doctor who made over 300 house calls in one day

By c-bear

July 22, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

Welcome to the 4th Reicht. An era of corrupt government, erosion of personal privacy and liberties (patriot act, webcams, cct, etc.), germ warfare gone bad (hiv), fear factor 8th season (Republican rule), Media control, New World Order, Trilateral Commission, Council of Foreign Relations, League of Nations, Bilderburg Group, etc. (Bush Empire, Secret Societies) and the main ingredient that binds this all together…Sheeple. Your eyes have such a nice shade of wool. Welcome to ENDGAME.

By true

July 22, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

Interesting that they print it in Spanish as well, when most of the illiterate peons who are BRINGING diseases to our country can’t read in their OWN language EITHER!

By ks

July 22, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

WAS THERE $400,000 SPENT LAST YEAR ON THIS SAME CAMPAIGN ? THIS IS A RERUN OF THE PAST 2 YEARS. HAS IT DONE ANY GOOD? RADIO HAS BEEN AIRING THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.IT RINGS OF SCARE TACTICS INSTEAD OF HEALTH INFO.WHY?

By Jon

July 22, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

Wow! What a group you all are. I hope your views are not representative of all of OHIO, although I fear they may be… Folks, this isn’t a “right wing conspiracy,” nor is it something cooked up by the pharmaceutical companies. In fact, most people who work in the public health arena are quite liberal, dare I say card carrying members of the democratic and further left parties. It is just this kind of apathetic, and dismissive response to the issue of pandemic influenza that has prompted the ads!

By RG

July 22, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

What a surprise that this morbid piece of crap is running so close to election to take focus off real issues facing us today and to try and acheive societal paralysis through more fear tactics. Which by the way the gov has seemingly gotten really great at since 911. That and the legalized drug pushers disguised as pharmaceutical companies trying to regain some of their lost revenue due to all lawsuits for the drugs they have pushed through that have already caused numerous deaths.

By ashley tomas

July 22, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this

there is nothing to worry about if we pray hard enough God will protect us.

By BIG D

July 22, 2008 7:43 AM | Link to this

The whole thing is crap ! Just take care of your self, avoid crouds, wash your hands… All the things that Mama said when you were a kid. etc..etc…etc.

Just use your head for something other than a hat rack

GOOD LUCK, BIG D

By Don

July 22, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this

Hey BigBoy ever heard of karma?

By BigBoy

July 22, 2008 4:53 AM | Link to this

It's time for a flu epidemic. We need a "thinning of the herd" of baby boomers to save social security.

By Nigel Thomas

July 22, 2008 1:01 AM | Link to this

Good article. Don’t forget about getting business managers to prepare their businesses as well. We need to keep Bird Flu at the forefront of every business manager’s mind. It won’t go away so better start preparing.

Nigel Thomas For free references and tools go to Bird Flu Manual Online or, if you need more comprehensive tutorials and templates, consider Bird Flu

By Riverat

July 21, 2008 11:55 PM | Link to this

I’m more afraid of the $400,000 of taxpayers money spent on the ad in economic hard times!!! I will run and hide in the basement from stupid politicians, and hope it’s not contagious

By aurora

July 21, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this

This virus has killed hundreds of millions of birds. It also infects mammals including people. Now many people are infected from birds. There is also human-to-human transmission. Indonesian officials are saying 25% of their human infections do not arise from birds.

At this point it doesn’t appear that there is sustained human-to-human transmission. Scientists are watching the virus & it is acquiring the changes needed to make this happen. Once sustained human-to-human transmission occurs, there will be a pandemic.

By aurora

July 21, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this

The reason the either the health depart spokesperson or the author of the article talks about fear is that it is difficult to get the public’s attention, & they are hoping that this commercial will do it. Think of an official who is watching Katrina in the Gulf, is convinced it is going to hit New Orleans, and can’t get people’s attention.

A pandemic is not a possible incident. We will continue to have pandemics. We have had at least 3 or 4 pandemics each century for centuries.

By dave

July 21, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this

I am more afraid of the $400000.00 spent on this ad in economic hard times!!! I will run in the basement and hide from stupid politicians.

By aurora

July 21, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this

We won’t have a vaccine for the pandemic strain for at least 6 - 9 months, & the antiviral drugs that might help will be in short supply. We won’t have enough ventilators or other medical equipment. Healthcare providers will be infected at a rate even higher than the public so there will be a shortage of healthcare providers as well.

By aurora

July 21, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this

This doesn’t have anything to do with immunizations – there isn’t a vaccine for this flu if you wanted one. A vaccine can’t be produced for the pandemic strain until a pandemic begins.

The secondary infections that killed people in past pandemics will still kill today. We can expect at least 30% of us to become infected (probably many more) and our healthcare system cannot handle that many patients. Most pandemic flu patients will not be admitted to the hospital because beds won’t be available.

By aurora

July 21, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this

The commercials aren’t about the seasonal flu we are used to seeing each fall and winter. They aren’t about the flu that grand mom got last year – the flu that chicken soup and Nyquil usually take care of.

They are about an influenza pandemic which by definition will be a new virus. No one will have immunity so disease will be widespread.

The 1918 influenza pandemic killed over 50 million people worldwide.

By Skeptic

July 21, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this

I think we do need to be prepared and mindful of such emergencies, especially with global warming changing the environment. However, I wish the ads didn’t emphasize OHIO’s pandemic flu…. what will the tourists think when they watch tv in their hotel rooms? It sounds like Ohio has some huge problem. The new state slogan was Ohio Means Business… now Ohio means the flu?

By ReadyMom

July 21, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

Please go to www.GetPandemicReady.org for information on Pandemic Flu and Home Preparation.

Pandemic Influenza is a very real threat for which there are major preparations being made on a national level and within the business sector. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information being filtered down to the general public. I applaud the Ohio Department of Health for taking the initiative to get the information out to their residents!

By andy

July 21, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this

It seems very few of those responding went to the Health Dept’s web site. It is impressive (http://www.ohiopandemicflu.gov/). One of the items discussed at the website is there is NO vaccination for the Avian Flu (the most likely pandemic, it seems to make an annual appearance in Asia). The site IS an impressive array of good health habits, stockpiling tips, and information about how the Ohio Dept of Health would respond to a pandemic. Recommended reading for anyone that works with the public.

By mskiles314

July 21, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this

I, for one, welcome our new Flu overlords.

By tlc

July 21, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this

I believe about as much of this as I did the swift boat veterans for truth and the new ad for staying in Iraq indefinitely. It has been the right wing’s agenda to make the American people afraid of everything, they do this as a control technique and sadly it works…look at Bush 04. Good health is common sense not scare tactics. Pandemic flu was the result of illiteracy , pooor sanitation and overcrowded cities…or did I forget that’s where we will all be if Bush’s policy is not changed!!

By c

July 21, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this

I have seen WAY TOO many movies about vaccines gone bad, and far too many where the only survivor was Charleton Heston. How’s that for bleak. Sure the ad is alarmist, what ad isn’t. I know I have been worried about less than shiney floors, or pie crusts that aren’t flakey, or what would happen if the neibors found out I secretly switched thier coffee to Folgers Crystals.

By Old Guy

July 21, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this

I really believe that health organizations have picked up on the pandemic idea in order to raise more money for their departments. County health departments especially seem to be trumpeting the threat.

By Beth

July 21, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this

It’s a little alarmist. I know flu can be deadly & I believe in immunizations, but this is just a bit over the top.

By tom

July 21, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this

This is such a bunch of baloney. These folks are trying to pander you into getting their immunizations when in fact there is no evidence these do anything to reduce the mortality of such events. In the earlier times these pandemic flu cases led to a lot of secondary infections which are largely controllable today. This is all about somebody keeping their jobs and funding. Folks, if you want to worry about something, worry about this year’s heating bills, not this crap.

By LK

July 21, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this

“Pandemic flu has occured naturally throughout history”, NATURALLY being the word of the day! These things will continue to happen because it’s the course of nature. The medical “profession” wants you to believe that injecting toxic chemicals into your body will help. There is no guarantee any immunization will keep you from getting any disease and the side effects from these shots could harm you at any time.

By Tim

July 21, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

I just love the way that we start with striking fear and possibly starting a panic over a possible incident. History shows this may happen again, but not nessecarily. If its an attempt to get immunizations, then say so with a what if, not another “the world is going to end!” speech. We have way too much to worry about like the economy and the election than something that Might Happen. What is next months ad, the asteroid that will hit?