The current Swine Flu out break has been a rare window on the worlds public's psyche as it reacted to the explosion of information, and uncertainty, on a potentially dangerous outbreak of the disease. Researchers have been watching in cyberspace, and tracking thousands of Twitter-posts pouring into an internet site in response to shifting developments on the flu, even online surveys to gauge people's anxiety about the H1N1 flu epidemic in real time have been developed.

But "We have cried wolf one too many times" According to Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. The initial panic and then loss of interest in recent pandemics such as SARS and avian flu has set us back, and when the real deal happens people are not likely to take much notice.

If the Swine Flu mutates enough and then combines with Bird Flu the consequences for the world will be truly horrific to say the least, Farms out west in small communities are looking better day by day as not only recession proof Investments but also may be a nice place to live.

Its been said that Initial public reaction to the H1N1 flu was way out of proportion to the magnitude of the disease, but that’s still to be seen. The "velocity of rumor and gossip" has increased exponentially recently, but what will happen as the Swine Flu cycles back and fourth?, Countries are a bit on edge, and so they should be….various airlines are cutting back flights to prepare.

Instead of a coordinated World strategic response we have governments more worried about there economies closing down than the interests of there citizens. Stories from Australia in the past/current month clearly show the fighting between various authorities even within State against Federal government Health officials, Local councils are more worried about self preservation of useless jobs within there organizations (Job protection) because of the economic crisis rather than disaster planning for the public shows how badly a country can be prepared, and if the recent emergency response by authorities to fires in Australia is anything to go buy then it is of great concern.

Even Australia’s pandemic plan seems like a joke as the governments own officials have admitted that the plan was not being followed properly earlier this month, yet more than four in 10 people followed news about the H1N1 outbreak very closely, according to a Pew Research Centre survey, yet what preparations are there actually out there, and who actually has the ability to coordinate a plan should the worst happen?

The Internet Researchers will be watching Australia response as the government scrambles to get a vaccine quickly ready. CSL was currently preparing clinical trials of the vaccine, and it is expected that the vaccine will be ready in 8 weeks……so much forTamifu.

Of course the Authorities are slow to tell the public that The human H1N1 Brisbane strain (of flu), which has been circulating in Australia for the last few years, is already largely resistant to (anti-viral) Tamiflu, yet that didn't stop shops from being sold out of Tamiflu......I guess a good way to get rid of old stock of something that does not necessary work at all.

Mean while Flu ridden cruise liners lie stranded with passengers holidays destroyed, yet the Australian government response is : "This is a very serious matter and we're treating it very seriously. But what we don't want to happen is for the economy of Queensland or Australia to grind to a halt."

Some Australian medical experts yesterday warned the virus could soon develop a resistance to Tamiflu, yet still no real public plan that the public knows about........Yet we all have to emergency drill on cruise liners don't we?

So where's our Swine Flu drill, or is this it!

While Federal chief medical officer Jim Bishop has moved to calm the public and called suggestions that millions of Australians may catch swine flu as "alarmist", state and chief health officers have warned up to 20 per cent of the population may catch the strain, leading to 6000 deaths…………..and the plan is???? I guess they will just make it up as it happens hey………..

Nothing but over paid and under worked local and federal bureaucrats who are putting the public at risk.

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