Small World and Diseases

The risks of having such an interconnected planet. The article shows how a disease jumped from Mexico to New York in literally a day. The reports of swine flu first popped up a few days ago in Mexico and yesterday there were 8 reported cases in NY. I posted a topic before about how information on a disease was not being properly reported and how that causes problems with its transmission. This points to a WHO report that basically says there's no easy way around this stuff. They say we're in a "global commons of disease risk" with both humans and animals. That kinda sucks cause now it's not only farmers who can get infected with diseases from animals but everyone.

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/contagion-on-a-small-planet/?hp

Here's a video depicting the spread of bird flu.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12375868

As fast and uncontrollably as diseases seem to spread, bird flu seems to be remaining relatively contained, although most experts still think the threat looms large. But its interesting that something supposedly so disastrous has been contained to a large extent. I wonder if the vaccines, culling, and regulations did it, or if it was more just sensationalism from the media. This article talks about just that.

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080709/full/news.2008.945.html