# They got the bird flu in Turkey now. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 13, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081 "2005-10-13T16:00:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/1 "2005-10-13T16:00:18Z")
> **[Bird Flu in Turkey Is Same Deadly Strain as Asia (Published 2005)](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/13/international/europe/bird-flu-in-turkey-is-same-deadly-strain-as-asia.html)** > > The announcement today by the European Union's top health official intensified concern about a spread of the virus. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/2 "2005-10-13T16:12:10Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/13/international/europe/13cnd-flu.html?hp&ex=1129262400&en=9b5c1e1ea75d2946&ei=5094&partner=homepage](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/13/international/europe/13cnd-flu.html?hp&ex=1129262400&en=9b5c1e1ea75d2946&ei=5094&partner=homepage) What’s that, nervous laughter? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/3 "2005-10-13T16:13:26Z")
no, I think it’s the combination of “bird flu/Turkey” that makes him laugh about a highly contagious fatal disease. ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/4 "2005-10-13T16:13:37Z")
Oh … Okay, sorry, the humor part of my brain was temporarily deprived of oxygen, as all of it went to the worrying part of my brain. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/5 "2005-10-13T16:21:53Z")
> [@Arwin](#): > > Oh … > > Okay, sorry, the humor part of my brain was temporarily deprived of oxygen, as all of it went to the worrying part of my brain. **Trunk** , you’re not right. And I like the way you think. If this sonfabitch mutates to favor humans as well as birds, we’re gonna be so screwed the only sensible thing to do will be to laugh our asses off as the Grim Reaper works up a lather in the biggest bumper crop he’s had in centuries. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/6 "2005-10-13T16:24:16Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > no, I think it’s the combination of “bird flu/Turkey” that makes him laugh about a highly contagious fatal disease. Bring it on. There’s ONE question that has to be asked of the doomsayers and one only: “how is this massive media induced panic any different than the one last year about the bird flu, or the one the year before about SARS, or the one the year before that about the Beijing flu, or the one the year before that about a different bird flu?” I laugh at your puny Bird Flu germs and especially their infestation of Turkey. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/7 "2005-10-13T17:22:55Z")
Wesa all gonna die! ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/8 "2005-10-13T17:30:54Z")
Thanks for the warning. Just to be safe, I’m having tofurkey at Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/9 "2005-10-13T17:32:59Z")
> [@Plynck](#): > > Thanks for the warning. Just to be safe, I’m having tofurkey at Thanksgiving. There’s never been a better time for this phrase: “That’s a fate worse than death!” ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/10 "2005-10-13T17:38:03Z")
Won’t somebody think of the birdies? ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/11 "2005-10-13T17:43:16Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > “how is this massive media induced panic any different than the one last year about the bird flu, or the one the year before about SARS, or the one the year before that about the Beijing flu, or the one the year before that about a different bird flu?” **Trunk** , I really, really, really hope you’re right. My bro’s a doctor. He’s not an alarmist, generally likes to debunk media myths. He’s never once reacted to any of the media pandemic alarms, but he’s taking this one very seriously. He sent a mail out to everyone he knows saying ‘start washing your hands more often, wear gloves when possible, keep surgical masks handy (if this thing does hit, all stores will sell out of them in no time,) get a flu shot and see if you can get a 5 day prescription for tamiflu to keep on hand.’ None of these precautions are particularly difficult to abide by, and better safe than sorry. Hopefully this time next year you’ll be making fun of me for having a store of unusued surgical masks and out of date tamiflu. I will be quite content to be made fun of under those circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/12 "2005-10-13T17:46:45Z")
> [@Leviosaurus](#): > > **Trunk** , I really, really, really hope you’re right. I’m always right. Besides, if 60 million people do start dropping dead, are any of you really going to find it appropriate to come back here and call me on it? _ **cough, cough** _ What the hell was that? ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/13 "2005-10-13T17:55:08Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > _ **cough, cough** _ > What the hell was that? Please, I asked you to turn your head before coughing. Again. Does it hurt when I do this? ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/14 "2005-10-13T17:57:53Z")
> [@Leviosaurus](#): > > …get a flu shot… I can’t imagine they’ve come out with an updated flu shot that would protect against the ‘bird flu’, have they\*? \*_Whoever ‘they’ are._ ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/15 "2005-10-13T18:05:25Z")
> [@Leviosaurus](#): > > My bro’s a doctor. He’s not an alarmist, generally likes to debunk media myths. He’s never once reacted to any of the media pandemic alarms, but he’s taking this one very seriously. He sent a mail out to everyone he knows saying ‘start washing your hands more often, wear gloves when possible, keep surgical masks handy (if this thing does hit, all stores will sell out of them in no time,) get a flu shot and see if you can get a 5 day prescription for tamiflu to keep on hand.’ _Roche_ may be making [Tamiflu](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/10/13/MNG39F7MNG1.DTL&type=health) harder to get than anticipated. **Leviosaurus** , does your brother advise these precautions for everyone, or just medical personnel? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/16 "2005-10-13T18:08:17Z")
> [@Leviosaurus](#): > > **Trunk** , I really, really, really hope you’re right. > > My bro’s a doctor. He’s not an alarmist, generally likes to debunk media myths. He’s never once reacted to any of the media pandemic alarms, but he’s taking this one very seriously. He sent a mail out to everyone he knows saying ‘start washing your hands more often, wear gloves when possible, keep surgical masks handy (if this thing does hit, all stores will sell out of them in no time,) get a flu shot and see if you can get a 5 day prescription for tamiflu to keep on hand.’ > > None of these precautions are particularly difficult to abide by, and better safe than sorry. Hopefully this time next year you’ll be making fun of me for having a store of unusued surgical masks and out of date tamiflu. I will be quite content to be made fun of under those circumstances. \>\>DMark proudly wears his tin foil hat and stands up\<\< Thanks for the tip!! My SO has to get a flu shot next week and I am going to insist he get us both a prescription for **tamiflu** (see the fda site for more info). Washing hands often is a habit we already have. Call me paranoid, but having see the wonderful precautions our government has made in crisis of late, I think it best to cover my ass all by myself, thank you very much, and be prepared. So like you **Leviosaurus** , let them laugh at me with my outdated package of tamiflu and alcohol wipes and masks…this is one disaster coming down the tubes that I want to be prepared for. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/17 "2005-10-13T19:33:36Z")
> [@Nutty Bunny](#): > > I can’t imagine they’ve come out with an updated flu shot that would protect against the ‘bird flu’, have they\*? > > \*_Whoever ‘they’ are._ They’re working on one, but it won’t be ready until next season. But, they’re still advising us to get our regular flu shots, although it won’t be effective against bird flu. Which means people will be franticly trying to get shot, thinking it will protect them from bird flu. Which means, they’ll run out. Which means alot of people will get regular flu and be thinking they have bird flu. Which means, if you need to go to the doctor or ER, prepare to wait. The spammers are already cashing in. I got 3 emails demanding that I hurry up and put in my order for the herbal form of tamiflu. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/18 "2005-10-13T19:42:52Z")
> [@Plynck](#): > > Thanks for the warning. Just to be safe, I’m having tofurkey at Thanksgiving. I’m no biologist, but I’m _fairly_ certain that five hours at 400 degrees will probably kill any flu virus. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/19 "2005-10-13T20:04:55Z")
> [@hillbilly queen](#): > > They’re working on one, but it won’t be ready until next season. But, they’re still advising us to get our regular flu shots, although it won’t be effective against bird flu. > Which means people will be franticly trying to get shot, thinking it will protect them from bird flu. > Which means, they’ll run out. > Which means alot of people will get regular flu and be thinking they have bird flu. Which means, if you need to go to the doctor or ER, prepare to wait. And since I’m pregnant and need a flu shot anyway, I’d better get in line now, huh? Dang. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081/20 "2005-10-13T20:23:27Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I’m no biologist, but I’m _fairly_ certain that five hours at 400 degrees will probably kill any flu virus. Please tell me you don’t work for FEMA and that is the human immunization plan. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-got-the-bird-flu-in-turkey-now/326081.md?page=2)