Of all the places to find bird 'flu in the UK, I don't think anybody expected it to be in an intensively farmed turkey population, supposedly kept in a biocontrolled environment. Suggestions that the virus was imported in meat from Hungary seem to make more sense than a wild bird somehow getting into one of those massive barns and dying. If there really was H5N1 endemic in the UK wild bird population, you would hope that somebody might notice! Dead swans, dead pigeons and the like...Even so, it raises important questions about how these farmed birds are raised and what they are fed on. It is not just bird 'flu which could transfer from farmed birds to humans, causing disease, some antibiotic resistance is also thought to have originated from farmed poultry. Prophylactic treatment with antibiotics can create resistance in bacteria such as Campylobacter species, which do not harm poultry, but which cause food poisoning in humans. Obviously there are ethical issues with factory farming, but there are also scientific issues realting not just to animal, but also to human health.

Oh brilliant. Just when everyone had kind of got a handle on H5N1 they find H7N3 in Norfolk! Cue mass confusion.


H7N7, a very similar strain,  was responsible for an outbreak of avian influenza in the Netherlands in 2003 which killed one person and infected around 80 others. It is a mild infection, generally causing conjunctivitis, and in a few cases influenza-like-illness. There was very limited person-to-person spread but this was easily contained. So not a lot to worry about I shouldn't think. Incidently, Jonathan van Tam, quoted in the BBC article above, was one of the speakers at the Royal College of Physicians Pandemic Influenza symposium in March.  He was really interesting and a nice guy too.

So I named the pigeons Mabel and Arthur. I think pigeons need old people names. Maybe because they are grey? I don't know?

However, my detailed study of the growing family (look I tire of gastrointestinal bacteria) took a disturbing turn tonight.  I'm sure Mabel sneezed! My shocked, some might say kneejerk, reaction was to assume avian influenza H5N1. I wasn't far wrong either.

Still want to move to Cellardyke Gareth?

I jest, of course. We are essentially as safe this evening as we were yesterday. Influenza is not yet dangerous to humans, unless you make a habit of going around kissing birds. In which case I suggest you stop. Yes, you, the man at the back. I've got my eye on you.

EDIT: Oh the irony.

And finally...

Call me an optimist if you will, but occasionally I like to tune in to "science" programmes on the tv in the hope that they might make me interested rather than angry. Wrong again.
I watched the Equinox special on Avian Influenza tonight and athough parts of it were very interesting, some of it fell into the easy traps of science reporting.


I don't mind so much when it is adverts that contain bad science, after all it is in the interests of the company to promote certain aspects of their product. But programmes which exist to inform the public should make sure that they nail the basic facts first.

Ok, I'm done ranting now, it's safe to come out from behind the sofa.

Handed in the Bird flu essay today. At least that's one assignment done, four to go. Not bad going I suppose, maybe once I have done a few more I can get some semblance of a life back.
Having said that, I went to the EUSA AGM last night with Tom where yet again we failed to ban the sale of Coca-Cola in shops. We did however agree to twin Edinburgh with Birzeit University in Palestine which was highly controversial (in the tone).

Going home this weekend because on Saturday I'm going to see ALICE COOPER!!! Can you tell I'm excited? I've only had the tickets since April...I'm away to paint my nails black and "goff up".

I have 1000 words for my bird flu essay. Go me! At this rate, if I can stop with the procrastination, I should have the other 1000 in no time. Thenthere is just the small matter of the Immunology essay. Oh and the lab report. And so on and so forth. In other news, I don't care how much of a slagging I get from Gareths' website, I LOVE these guys!!
Also, just discovered Cabbage has a journal, posted an angry comment asking why she never told me. The fact I never told her I had one is totally besides the point. Sorry!
Think I might stick the earplugs in and head for bed, try and ignore the explosions. My back really hurts today and I'm skating tomorrow so I need to conserve energy. Also there is the small matter of getting up for church so for that to happen sleep is needed.

Nobody panic, I'm still here...

I've been at home for the past month or so, due partially to a massive mouse invasion (bed, wardrobe, bookshelves - you name it, they left droppings on/in it!). I don't use LJ at home and since I was commuting to work/uni I had no time anyway.

I've been back in Edinburgh for a while now, just getting everything back to rights in my room etc. and getting my head round uni. I missed Edinburgh, especially because I can arrange things at very short notice and don't have to answer to anyone before I do!

A quick round up of the exciting things I have done since my last update:

1. Turned 20 (not as fun as it sounds)
2. Met up with people from Glenalmond for drinks (more fun than it sounds)
3. Went to Uni
4. Went to work
5. Got my hair cut
6. Gained a cousin

It's so much fun being me. I lead such a great and exciting life.
This weekend I'm away with the whole family (Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents etc.) to celebrate my Granparents' 80th birthdays. I have an essay on Bird Flu* to write but thankfully I now have the Precious (shiny lappy!) to take with me and work on. I'm so cool.

*We're not all going to die, at least not this year, so stop bulk buying Tamiflu, it isn't a vaccine and is of limited use anyway. /rant