Forum Topic

The real threat?

The US has already started the process to withdraw from the WHO and, according to New Scientist, has stopped sharing flu data with WHO. This is in spite of the US now suffering its worst flu season in 15 years - and there being a major avian flu outbreak in the US (ok, that's mainly affecting the price of eggs in the US, fortunately not a problem for vegans, but if it did a major species jump to humans ...)https://www.newscientist.com/article/2469470-us-stops-sharing-flu-data-with-who-amidst-one-of-its-worst-flu-seasons/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/27/trump-administration-cancels-flu-shot-meeting.Is the US setting the world up for the next flu pandemic now there's an antivaxxer running US health? And don't forget the first couple of measles deaths have now been reported in Texas and New Mexico.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2nzyjgrwxoI wonder how the Trump administration would react if European countries (and Canada, Mexico,Greenland, Panama ...) started requiring flu vaccination certificates for US travellers - still I bet they're all jabbed up? (Well perhaps not JFK jnr ...)Perhaps make sure measles and, for those vulnerable, flu jabs are up-to-date? (Unless you're old enough to have had measles which also provides immunity if you're not one of those it kills!)

Michael Ixer ● 23d4 Comments

Interesting listening to a dialogue between Brian Cox and Richard Branson (all the way from Nektar Island by video) at Space-Comm, ExCel this morning. I have to say I agree with Branson: the last three months in US will drive a united Europe forward, as we can't rely on Americans anymore. We have the capability to develop space technology, we just need to ensure the investment is there.And Cox: all world leaders should have a trip on Virgin Galactic - and some should be allowed back ... (no names mentioned!)There was also an underlying subtext that space research and science could aid the net zero goal, and how we'd known about the carbon dioxide, greenhouse effect issue, from burning fossil fuels for since work done at the beginning of the 20th century and earlier ... although no one explicitly said "burn, baby, burn" was ignoring the science and not a sensible idea ...

Michael Ixer ● 22d

I thought that these rich and elite people were often the ones that employed so many of the maids, nursemaids, gardeners, cooks, chauffeurs etc often from other countries who will either not be able to afford to all have these vaccines - or will now be made afraid to have them.  There will consequently be outbreaks of all those dangerous and perhaps often worse still disabling childhood diseases that have already been eradicated in most of the world. Caroline Kennedy made a strong representation that Robert Kennedy not be given the job.

Philippa Bond ● 22d

It's valid comment, Sue. The NS article reflects the concerns of health professionals. So you think it's a good idea to put JFK in that position?

Michael Ixer ● 23d

'Is the US setting the world up for the next flu pandemic now there's an antivaxxer running US health?'Well done for finding yet another way to denigrate Trump, especially for blaming him for a situation that has not happened, and possibly never will.  TDS again.

Sue Hammond ● 23d