"restrictions on mass gatherings"

[Mr Ploppy]

Health sec live briefing just been on news and it was mentioned that they have drawn up plans to limit mass gatherings if this flu situation gets worse.

They say to hope for the best but expect the worst. I suppose the time to think seriously about this flu problem is when Obama goes on live TV and says not to worry - well he has already done that.

I seriously hope this flu thing disapates as if it gets worse there is a very real chance that things like footy matches and music festivals (etc) could be stopped.

Yeah, I know could all be a further government way to scare us into a controlling society, and yeah I know it could also just be a way for the major drug companies to make money - but it could be serious.

Lets hope this thing turns out to be extemely minor and goes away without any disruption or devestation.

MrPloppy

(PS) I know there is a thread on the flu but as it has been mentioned today about mass gatherings I thought a new post to discuss this important issue to both our health and Glasto should be ok.

[Sam Crawley]

The only health risk at Glasto is ear-pollution when Lady Gaga is on stage!

[rosstopher]

The only health risk at Glasto is ear-pollution when Lady Gaga is on stage!

[ramragon]

i've been looking forward to it since i got my ticket last year, be devestated if it was cancelled.

[glastofever]

This is starting to worry me. Would they really cancel Glastonbury? i hope this passes quickly

[Ed209]

(PS) I know there is a thread on the flu but as it has been mentioned today about mass gatherings I thought a new post to discuss this important issue to both our health and Glasto should be ok.

[ukslim]

"They" will only cancel the festival if the powers that be force them to.

And I guess the government will need things to get pretty bad before they start limiting gatherings -- it would screw the economy like nobody's business.

So I think if it happens, it's going to be because it has to.

[TaylorT]

So I think if it happens, it's going to be because it has to.

[mandypants]

I don't think it's happened before, even with the BSE and other animal related crises. I'm not worried anyway.

[Curtains1]

YES TAYLOR T Thats the spirit chap ill be with yah on front line.

[TaylorT]

ill be with yah on front line.

[Tugger2k]

Thats the game who else is onboard!!!!!

[ukslim]

Woooooooaaaahhhhh Woooooooaaaahhhh this is getting ridiculous now

[norainplease]

Not to make light of the situation in anyway, but at the moment there have only been to proved cases of this flu in the UK.

The thing that doesn't help is the media scaremongering about it and making people believe that the situation is worse then it avctually is. This in turn makes the government feel that they have to realease statements like this to placate the public and it just makes it worse. It's a vicious circle.

It is sad that people ion mexico have died from this and I do feel bad for the people everywhere else that have it, but I would like to believe that the situation in the UK would be such that if there was an "outbreak" we would be able to cope with it as we have better infrastructure etc?

I may just be trying to talk myself into believing this and therefore that they won't cancel Glastonbury, but they currently are only advising people not to go to Mexico, surely if it was that bad they would be stopping people going there altogether and making people on holiday there go home instead of making it optional?

[TaylorT]

as long as im not dead from bird flu, or sars, or swine flu

[Red Day]

Think the foot and mouth scare was doing the rounds at T time a few years back. Think they just had the mats with disinfectant at the entry points as a precaution.

Hopefully this will be scaled down shortly.

[TaylorT]

Think the foot and mouth scare was doing the rounds at T time a few years back.

Edited April 29, 2009 by TaylorT

[rosstopher]

Thats the game who else is onboard!!!!!

[Red Day]

Yeah thats right, it didnt effect the fest in any way if i mind right. I also mind a few years back when the Bird Flu thing started The Sun had a cracking title on the paper "Bird Flu In The Park" they tried to say T was gonna get cancelled as its next to chicken huts but again it came to nothing

[rosstopher]

Not to make light of the situation in anyway, but at the moment there have only been to proved cases of this flu in the UK.

The thing that doesn't help is the media scaremongering about it and making people believe that the situation is worse then it avctually is. This in turn makes the government feel that they have to realease statements like this to placate the public and it just makes it worse. It's a vicious circle.

It is sad that people ion mexico have died from this and I do feel bad for the people everywhere else that have it, but I would like to believe that the situation in the UK would be such that if there was an "outbreak" we would be able to cope with it as we have better infrastructure etc?

I may just be trying to talk myself into believing this and therefore that they won't cancel Glastonbury, but they currently are only advising people not to go to Mexico, surely if it was that bad they would be stopping people going there altogether and making people on holiday there go home instead of making it optional?

[norainplease]

i agree with what you are saying and i do think we are in a better position to deal with it if if did have an outbreak over here, and i think alot of this is the media blowing it out of proportion, for example there was an article on the bbc website that says that over 150 have died in mexico becuase of it, when it was actualy 20 people have died from it and been confirmed, the other deaths are only suspected to be caused by swine flu, so they arnt certain, but 150 deaths is far more shocking than 20 deaths, so i believe that may be blowing out of proportion a little, and yeh you are correct to an extent about the limitations to travel, they are currently advising against "all but essential" travel to those places.... lets just hope this whole thing blows over eh

Edited April 29, 2009 by norainplease

[Tugger2k]

Definately, in many respects the media are responsible for the mass panic situations like these cause - there has been no real information about this coming out, just conjecture and hysteria, which only serves to make things worse.

I think in situations like this the media should take the resposibility for giving the public good honest facts and try to keep things calmer.....but I suppose that doesn't sell papers or increase viewing figures does it?

[rosstopher]

I think in situations like this the media should take the resposibility for giving the public good honest facts and try to keep things calmer.....but I suppose that doesn't sell papers or increase viewing figures does it?

[norainplease]

exactly, the media takes no responsibilty for its actions

look at the the MMR scare. 1 academic doctor states that it may be linked to autism. the media take it, run with it not bothering to consult or broadcast the thousands of other doctors that disagreed with this one mans thesis.

que mass panic among parents and a dangerous drop in uptake of the vaccine, and yet when this one man was done by the GMC the media hung him out to dry. bringing up all sorts of evidence - THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO THEM AT THE TIME OF THE SCARE - to prove their point

its 1 of the reasons i try to not read or watch the news.

Edited April 29, 2009 by norainplease

[rosstopher]

It is becoming more and more difficult to determine what is quality news and what is mass hysteria/celeb driven/total and utter bollox, but then I suppose that goes hand in hand with having the luxury of having a "free" press!!!