Bird flu fears

By Jason Moore SHOULD we be alarmed over bird flu or not? I ask this question because over the last seven days the local authorities have been trying to calm down the situation but at the same time have been buying vaccines in bulk and carrying out rigorous tests in local farms. Everything is under control, they say, no need to worry. But you do worry because I think we are all old enough to be able to deal with the truth. Is there a need to be alarmed? According to the experts not really. The number crunchers will come out with theories saying that there is far more chance of being run-down by a lorry than catching bird flu. All this rather reminds me of “Mad Cow” disease and how millions of people have not eaten beef since. Many of these people will soon be adding poultry to their list of banned substances and what next? You just have to look at how countries deal with the problem. In Britain, the authorities always go over the top and scare-mongering is a fact of life. In Spain, Italy and to a lesser extent France, it is always business as usual, no need to be alarmed. There is no ideal way to deal with this sort of situation probably a mixture of the two is the best way forward. But at the end of the day if you take notice of everything you see and read, I don't think you would go out in the morning. I think it can be argued that the younger generation today are not as mentally strong as their parents. You listen to stories told by your parents which almost put your hair on edge. Perhaps, it's a good thing or perhaps the nanny state has taken hold. Whatever, the outcome of this latest scare I think we are all old and mature enough to deal with the truth, so let's have it, please.