The latest government scare, bird flu, produced this story, entitled, "Dead Parrot at Center of British Avian Flu Mystery". This immediately brings to mind (well, at least to my mind) the famous Monty Python "Dead Parrot Sketch". Part of it goes like this:

Customer: Um…now look…now look, mate, I’ve definitely ‘ad enough of this. That parrot is definitely deceased, and when I purchased it not ‘alf an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it bein’ tired and shagged out following a prolonged squawk.

Owner: Well, he’s…he’s, ah…probably pining for the fjords.

Customer: PININ’ for the FJORDS?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that?, look, why did he fall flat on his back the moment I got ‘im home?

Owner: The Norwegian Blue prefers kippin’ on it’s back! Remarkable bird, id’nit, squire? Lovely plumage!

Customer: Look, I took the liberty of examining that parrot when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it had been sitting on its perch in the first place was that it had been NAILED there.

Owner: Well, o’course it was nailed there! If I hadn’t nailed that bird down, it would have nuzzled up to those bars, bent ‘em apart with its beak, and VOOM! Feeweeweewee!

Customer: “VOOM”?!? Mate, this bird wouldn’t “voom” if you put four million volts through it! ‘E’s bleedin’ demised!

Owner: No no! ‘E’s pining!

Customer: ‘E’s not pinin’! ‘E’s passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! ‘E’s expired and gone to meet ‘is maker! ‘E’s a stiff! Bereft of life, ‘e rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed ‘im to the perch ‘e’d be pushing up the daisies! ‘Is metabolic processes are now ‘istory! ‘E’s off the twig! ‘E’s kicked the bucket, ‘e’s shuffled off ‘is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisibile!!
THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!

Though the avian flu killed millions in 1918, most died from concurrent bacterial infections such as pneumonia. Medicine today can handle such things. In 1918, it could not. I think the whole thing is overblown. The governments have to keep their people scared in order to control them and keep them looking to government for protection.

Incidentally, my mother was a victim of the avian flu in 1918. She survived the associated pneumonia. However, when the flu hit, she was a blond. Afterwards, her hair fell out, most likely a result of prolonged high fever. When it grew back in, it was brown. She was not happy about that.