Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Ok everyone at work came running into my office with their favourite morning paper, freaking out about the Bird Flu news today..and as much as I hate this whole drama..well..I just had to mention it..
....
Al-Qabas says that IF we were to get hit by bird flu we would expect 900 thousand cases within the first 8 weeks after the first case..
Gulp..


Have no fear...the Arab Times says

.
"an emergency team and an operation room were set up to receive information about the epidemic around the clock. He added that a special committee to monitor bird imports had been formed in cooperation with the health ministry, the customs department and the civil aviation directorate."
.
Sorry sorry, why is that funny to me? Is it becausue I have worked for too many ministries and can only imagine the "emergency team" within the context of scenes from Reno 911...

Ok no more laughing at possible disasters...or at the efforts put in by our officials...just wish they had put more solid precautionary measures in the articles rather than repeat 5 billion times (read the Arab Times article if you don't believe me, 5 billion) that the ministry is doing all it can do...and that it has drafted a contigency plan.

When asked about the much hailed contingency plan "officials refused to divulge details of the plan"..maybe they're afraid the plans might get leaked to those sneaky calculating disease carrying avians...because I can't think of any other reason they would have to hide the plan..
unless...it is the 'alleged plan'...

oh I must have forgotten to take my stop doubting them at all times pills today...
-

Rise up this morning,
Smiled with the rising sun
Three little birds pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs of melodies pure and true
Sayin', "This is my message to you-u-u.
"Singin'...
Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause ev'ry little thing gonna be al-right."

4 comments:

3baid said...

There aren't that many birds in Kuwait because of our climate so I'm not seriously worried about it. Ulah i7ufi'6na ajma3een.

kwtia said...

You know, our balcony would say there are way too many birds..and they live way too many unwelcome gifts all over it...Here's to hoping this is all hype to get newspapers and drugs sold...because I don't want to have to be taken to a kwti hospital with a deadly disease..

I the Beholder said...

Hi, I check your blog on a regularly , but this is my first comment here.

What you said about Reno 911 cracked me up; it was a light touch for an otherwise serious matter.

The figures mentioned in Al Qabas are scary. I’m sure some are doing their best but I don’t have much faith on in our Government’s “contingency plan”.


3baid,

I’m not seriously worried yet as well. However, Kuwait is the indigenous home of few birds, but it is on the migration routes of many bird species.

The irony is that due to pollution and the destruction of their breeding/feeding habitat; many birds have skipped Kuwait altogether! I read somewhere that they prefer Dubai!! I’m not joking, its greener and has a lot of man made fresh water lakes!!

kwtia said...

Hello 'I'...nice to hear from you..
I had no idea the birds had changed their route..but who would blame them..they would need super radar equipment to see through the smog on some days..poor things..we have temporarily thwarted their disease carrying revolution against us by destroying their habitat..irony of ironies.