A Bird’s Eye View: The sick, the dying, the dead

The first reports of the swine flu outbreak came from Mexico 10 days or so ago. Now the number of humans reported affected is several thousand, although not all have been confirmed. In fact, the number confirmed as we went to press was 257 worldwide up from the previous day’s 147. In Mexico, where the virus is believed to have originated, authorities suspect that there have been 150 deaths from the flu but only 12 have been confirmed. In the United States, 109 cases were confirmed on Thursday with one death, and this number is anticipated to increase by the time this column is published. And the swine flu is spreading fast. It has already reached the United States, with over 20 confirmed cases until now, as well as 10 countries around the world such as Canada, New Zealand, Israel and Spain. And there is no end to where it will go. The United States has proclaimed a national health emergency, while the EU has issued a travel advisory to recommend that humans not travel to the United States and Mexico.

There might be two reasons for this outbreak. If the disease occurred naturally, it may be basically attributed to the bad quality and cheap food with which pigs are fed. The same thing happened when mad cow disease broke out. It was proved that ground chicken given to the cows for food was the reason for that disease. However, taking into consideration that the initial laboratory results on the swine flu epidemic show that this flu has the elements of DNA from Avian flu, human flu type A, human flu type B, Asian swine flu and European swine flu, there is a small chance that the flu has occurred naturally.

As far as authorities can find out, the first victim lived near a pig farm near Mexico City. But it is almost impossible that human and animal viruses from four or more continents suddenly recombined in a new flu during a non-flu season that spreads from human to human with a 10 percent fatality rate. Consequently, the new flu could be a lab-created advanced biological warfare DNA genetically engineered virus that either escaped accidentally from a lab or was deliberately released. In any case the reason behind this outbreak is the human being who, for reasons of profit or human insanity, has created today’s dangerous conditions. In the meantime is it by coincidence that the World Health Organization has stockpiled flu vaccines produced by Roche, Tamiflu and others? Is it by coincidence that Cheney and Rumsfeld own many shares of the company that produces Tamiflu? Maybe yes, maybe no.

Let’s go to another subject now: The number of human fatalities in Iraq since the invasion of that country in March 2003. The Iraqi Ministry of Health has recorded civilian deaths as of 2005, and announced that 87,215 Iraqis have been killed in violence up until February. According to the Associated Press, since March 2003, more than 100,600 Iraqi civilians have been killed. And our question to you humans is ’Was it worth it’? If the invasion had not taken place, Saddam Hussein would still be in power, but also 100,600 humans would still be alive.

Ponder our thoughts dear humans for your benefit.