Amazon.com
Feeling tired, achy, and congested?You'll hope not after reading science writer Gina Kolata's engrossing Flu, a fascinating look at the 1918 epidemic that wiped out around 40 million people in less than a year and afflicted more than one of every four Americans.This tragedy, just on the heels of World War I and far more deadly, so traumatized the survivors that few would talk about it afterward.Kolata reports on the scientific investigation of this bizarre outbreak, in particular the attempts to sequence the virus' DNA from tissue samples of victims.She also looks at the social and personal effects of the disease, from improved public health awareness to the loss of productivity. (The disease affected 20- to 40-year-olds disproportionately.)

How could this disease, now almost trivial to healthy young people, have become so virulent?The answer is complex, invoking epidemiology, immunology, and even psychology, but Kolata cuts a swath through medical papers and statistical reports to tell a story of an out-of-control virus exploiting an exhausted world on the brink of transition into modern society.Through letters, interviews, and news reports, she pieces together a cautionary tale that captures the horror of a devastating illness.Research marches onward, but we're still at the mercy of something as simple as the flu. --Rob LightnerBook Description

Customer Reviews (1)

mediocre extended newspaper article, now dated
This is not a book about 1918. This is anover-hyped and overlong newspaper story about digging up bodies and trying to recover the 1918 virus from them. It's now (June 2004) much dated, which is what happens to newspaper stories.
If you want to read an actual book about the epidemic-- and about much more, including contemporary science, the virus, the interplay between politics and the disease-- then read The Great Influenza by Barry. Now THAT is worth picking up. I gave that 5 stars, and if I could give it more I would. ... Read more

Book Description
Why Take the Chance?The Bird Flu is real.It's deadly.And it's spreading.Within the next year it could threaten your home, your livelihood, your family and even your life.It may not become the pandemic many experts now fear, but do you really want to take the chance of being totally unprepared?This book is not hype.It's not scare tactics.It's the facts: what avian influenza is and what it can become from a physician who understands not only the bird flu, but what you realistically can and should do to protect your loved ones.Inside you'll find:A brief history of flu pandemics (like the 1918 flu) The current state of the bird flu Possible consequences of a flu epidemic How to prevent infection for you and your family Your personal medical and supply kit What to do if someone is infected Theres no better preparation than information.Before you make any decisions, get the facts from the doctor who knows. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

This was worth my time to read
Like many Americans, all I knew about bird flu was what I got from headlines, and that information was very basic and not helpful as far as forming a plan of action.This book was different.While less than 100 pages, and some of those diagrams, there is no effort on the part of the author to impress (or boggle) your mind with fancy words.He speaks at a level that normal people can understand, and I feel more educated about this flu issue than in the past.He helped me understand what an epidemic means (not just the Webster definition) as in, how many people get sick, and what we might face.I hadn't considered how it might affect me if a sizable part of the nation got sick all at once (even if I remained untouched, there's still consequences).

Pros- Not complicated medical lingo (skips why the viral RNA has potential to mutate and therefore cross
from birds to humans because of gene marker...)Just what the common person needs to know
- Not an overly long book (not too much to remember all at once)
- Small enough to fit in your coat pocket to read little bits at a time
- Instruction is simple, in an even tone, not panicky
_ Recommendation of "The Great Influenza" was a good one, borrowed it from the library.You probably
won't find "the Bird Flu Preparedness Planner" in your library

Cons - Well, I wish I knew more, and I want some details, especially on how I can take steps on my own to deal
with this when it hits.
- $5 seems like a sum for a small book...

Overall:This book is straight-to-the-point, simple info on what a flu epidemic could be like.I think he hit his goal with getting the basic info out to the masses (this book just needs to move more) in a timely fashion (this was published for 2005) so that if the flu came, at least SOME info would be out there.He has written a second one, "Bird Flu Manual" which I have purchased but not read yet.I think it will fall to me to be the bird flu 'expert' in our family, so I am trying to educate myself.Emails don't count.I always put more stock in a bonafide published work that the author could be hung out to dry on if he writes fluff.Emails are anonymous, and forwards could be written by anyone.Zero authority.

Buy this, read it, get it to someone else.I gave my copy to my father, as he is also interested.

Brief introduction on surviving avian flu
Grattan Woodson wrote the brief book, "The Bird Flu Preparedness Planner," ". . .to prepare his patients for a possible catastrophic event. . ." (page 83).The book, as the title suggests, is a nuts and bolts volume, giving readers a brief introduction to avian flu (with a focus on H5N1) and how to deal with it if a pandemic breaks out.

There are introductory chapters about the nature of avian flu and why it could be so destructive of human life.The chapter beginning on page 21 is where this becomes a useful "how to do it" manual.This looks at "pre-pandemic" preparations, including preparing stockpiles of medicines and supplies that one might need if pandemic strikes.There is also am listing of nonperishable foodstuffs that are worth collecting beforehand.

The chapter beginning on page 41 speaks of home flu treatment advice.The author notes that one of the single most important pieces of advice is to (page 41): ". . .make sure [people] have plenty of fluids.Dehydration must be prevented, as this can be fatal in a patient who would otherwise survive."Diet recommendations for those afflicted with flu are enumerated as well.

One of the more sobering presentations in this book is a set of maps showing how rapidly that the 1918 pandemic swept across the United States.From a small outbreak in mid-September, we see the entire country infected by October 13th.

For those interested in a brief introduction as to what one might do to prepare, this is a useful volume.Of course, the brevity is also a problem if one wants much more detail.But if what one wants is "quick, dirty, and brief," this is a volume worth looking at.

Short but filled with crucial information
Dr. Woodson has shown keen insight last year in foreseeing the likely conditions that would prevent most people suffering from an influenza pandemic from obtaining treatment at overcrowded hospitals.Now the Federal and State governments openly admit as much.

The techniques and procedures contained within this book describe how to treat a family member who has contracted a highly pathogenic influenza, such as H5N1.While the severest cases still need hospitalization, the vast majority of other cases can be treated at home if one follows the carefully spelled out therapy Dr. Woodson has communicated in layman's terms.I loaned this book to my physician who called back two days later to confirm the soundness of the treatment plan.Interestingly enough, the book only costs $5, but the information within makes it worth its weight in gold.

Simple. Straight-Forward. Practical. Helpful.
The "Bird Flu Preparedness Planner" delivers what it promises in a clear, compelling, straight-forward way. Dr. Woodsen lays out the facts of this health threat with no hype and no panic. However, it is real, it is deadly, and it is heading our way.

The most valuable feature of this slim, easy-to-read manual, is its simplicity and practicality for preparedness. It has checklists of supplies, medicines, and food a family would need in case of a severe epidemic or pandemic. I will try to get Tamiflu (to help with ordinary strains of influenza) and the over-the-counter remedies he recommends.

I think the food list could have been a bit more comprehensive. I plan to have more than rice and potatoes on hand to feed a family of six for eight weeks. However my grocery list looks more like a summer cookout for a family reunion than an emergency stash. I suppose 8 cases of baked beans and 8 summer sausages is a little over-the-top.

prepared for what?
this extremely alarmist manual does not offer practical suggestions, but a ritualistic rule of worry that will instill doomsday panic in anyone who tries to follow it. Shame on a practicing physician for coming up with such nonsense. ... Read more

Product Description
If you had to rely upon only one source of information to help you and your family survive a severe bird flu pandemic, the Bird Flu Manual would be your best bet, hands down!In a severe pandemic, you will be required to cope with the gravest medical and social consequences with virtually no outside help.Having a proper appreciation of the risks and taking prudent steps to deal with them ahead of time, are ways to cope successfully with this crisis.Most people who will die from influenza do so from pneumonia or dehydration.Dehydration can be readily detected and treated at home and explaining how to do that is one of the major focuses of the Bird Flu Manual.Preventing or treating dehydration in people with pandemic flu will save more lives than all other treatments combined.The home treatment advice provided by Dr. Woodson is based upon 25 years of Internal Medicine practice and experience treating hundreds of flu patients.From this foundation, he has concentrated the essence of lifesaving care of mild to severely ill flu patients at home in the Bird Flu Manual.That the pandemic is coming is certain.What we don’t know is when and how bad it will be.Dr. Woodson provides the reader of the Bird Flu Manual with a survey of the medical and scientific literature dealing with influenza pandemics and Bird Flu in particular. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

If you want to be prepared for bird flu, this is a good read
If you are someone who would like to learn more about bird flu and the potential effects of a pandemic, this is a great read.I think the author is a bit too doomsday, but he gives a good description of the disease and what can happen, and also some very good practical ideas of ways you can prepare for a pandemic.I have employed some of his suggestions and think this book is an excellent practical guide.

Don't face a pandemic without it.
Because a pandemic happens in many places at once, it is absurd to believe that the government and an over-extended healthcare system can take care of everyone's needs.We'll face the next pandemic with the resources we personally set aside to do so.The Bird Flu Manual explains what we need to do to prepare in advance of a pandemic (as in now).Most importantly, it explains how we can care for loved ones should they fall ill.Because a pandemic emergency may result - and likely will - in disruptions to basic services such as Internet and electricity, it's a very good idea to have essential information in print, on the bookshelf.That's why this invaluable book is in my library.

Must have for planning purposes
If the worst case scenario occurs and a pandemic occurs this book should be stored with the home emergency supplies.It is an invaluable resource for how to deal with possible medical, home logistics, and self presevation.Not suitable for young readers due to frank, graphic medical discussions.

Extremely thorough
This book covers pandemic concerns not covered by many other sources including solid suggestions for home nursing.I'm especially pleased to see it address psychological aspects and how to handle them in the absence of professionals - which may well be the reality.

This information is useful for any emergency where folks will be isolated - something we should all be prepared for.Better to be prepared than scared.

This book has it all and is well worth the expense.

Top-notch advice
Dr. Woodson has prepared this detailed guide, sprinkled with stress-breaking humour, to help families prepare for, and recover from, a pandemic.As hospitals will be overwhelmed in the event of a pandemic, the only sure way for a family member to receive medical treatment is for another family member (or friend) to be prepared to apply the techniques Woodson lays out in detailed but readable fashion.As importantly, the psychological stresses people will face in such a situation are also addressed in layman's terms.In addition, Woodson discusses some of the approaches to mitigating the possibilty of utility failure, food shortages, civil unreset, sanitation, and other crucial areas that we take for granted in today's advanced civilization.If you are looking for references to help you in your preparations, consider this to be one of the most important.

William Stewart
Author, "How to Prepare for a Pandemic" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Informative and Entertaining
Allison Janses' "The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu" could also have been titled " A Consciousness Raiser for the Germ Awareness Challenged." Before I read the book, I didn't realize how little I knew about those little guys who can, and all too often do,cause anything from annoying colds to life threatening illnesses. What I found most enlightening where the sections dealing with the various places that they congregate. The book is very well organized and written in a witty, entertaining style. As a psychologist,I couldn't help but notice that the author is writing from a genuine place of caring and concern for the welfare of others. A change in behavior requires a compelling reason to approach things differently. "The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu" accomplishes that mission in a wonderful manner.

5 Stars from a Germ Freak Parent
This is a great book to help prevent you and your family from getting sick. When I brought my premature twins home from the hospital I was told it was very important to keep them from getting sick that first year because they were at such a high risk for contracting RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) which can be fatal. This book helped keep the germs away. Despite the unpleasant subject, it is a fun read. The author is really funny.
Dr. Jenn Berman
www.DoctorJenn.com
Author of The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy, Confident Kids

finally a germ freak's manual
I love this book. It has great tips and cleaning suggestions even if you're not a germ freak.

Humor and practical health-maintaining habits blend in a guide
If you hate public restrooms, touching elevator buttons or doorknobs, and go through Purell like a house afire, then GERM FREAK'S GUIDE TO OUTWITTING COLDS AND FLU: GUERILLA TACTICS TO KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY AT HOME, AT WORK AND IN THE WORLD defines you. Humor and practical health-maintaining habits blend in a guide which identifies just where the germs hang out, how they're passed, and how to avoid them.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Required Reading for the Human Race
Hey, I mean it!If everyone would just follow some of the practical advice in this incredibly easy-to-read (and entertaining) book, there would be less germs, thus less sickness, to be caught.I was always a germ-phobe, and now I must be extra-vigilant as I am a kidney-transplant survivor. I'm also about to be a mom.Just the thought of waiting in a pediatric office in the near-future is giving me the heebee-jeebees!Mrs. Janse is also a mother of twins and gives great advise on how to keep your little one from turning into a germ-magnet and making you sick, too.

My Top Three?

-Washing your hands to the alphabet....
-Using the disinfectant wipes at the grocery store before grabbing a cart....
-Making your doctor wash their hands before examining you.

One I'd like to add that I didn't see mentioned?

-If you valet:Have sanitizing wipes in your glove compartment and use to wipe-down your steering wheel after receiving your car - ESPECIALLY at a hospital!EEWW!
... Read more

Book Description
From age-old scourges such as smallpox and tuberculosis toemerging threats like AIDS and SARS, our interactions with animals havealways played a pivotal role as a source of human disease. Bird flu is thelatest such menace coming home to roost. Leading public health authoritiesnow predict as inevitable a pandemic of influenza, triggered by bird fluand expected to lead to millions of deaths around the globe.

The influenza virus has existed for millions of years as an innocuousintestinal virus of wild ducks. What turned a harmless waterborne duckvirus into a killer? In Bird Flu, Dr. Michael Greger traces the human rolein the evolution of this virus, whose humble beginnings belie itstransformation into a killer mutant strain with the potential to become asferocious as Ebola and as contagious as the common cold. In the face of thecoming pandemic, Dr. Greger reveals what we can do to protect our familiesand what human society to can do to reduce the likelihood of suchcatastrophes in the future.

Amid the growing panic surrounding this issue, Dr. Greger takes a soberinglook at a deadly cycle and offers a solution to ending it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

A terrifying possibility and sad commentary on our exploitation of animals
Michael Greger's "Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching" is more terrifying than anything a horror writer could imagine, since it depicts a real-life doomsday scenario that seems poised to occur very soon; indeed, the new H5N1 strain of influenza, known as "bird flu," has mutated into a form that can be transmitted by human contact, though not yet on a massive scale, meaning a mass outbreak is more a question of when, not if.

Whereas humans generally contract the disease by ingesting contaminated birds, or being in frequent contact with them, bird flu could blanket the globe when the virus has learned to jump easily from human to human.The author writes: "One day soon, experts fear, with more and more people becoming infected, the virus will finally figure out the combination -- the right combination of mutations to spread not just in one elevator or building, but every building, everywhere, around the globe.One superflu virus.It's happened before, and experts predict it many soon happen again."

Dr. Greger sets the stage for what could come by giving readers a grisly account of a previous avian influenza outbreak: the 1918 flu pandemic, in which 50 to 100 million humans perished.These were gruesome deaths, with blood oozing from eye sockets as the victim's lungs liquefied.Fatalities were so abundant that officials were unable to keep up with burying the corpses.It seems this was merely a sample of what's in store for humanity."As devastating as the 1918 pandemic was," Dr. Greger writes, "on average the mortality rate was less than 5%.The H5N1 strain of bird flu virus now spreading like a plague across the world currently kills about 50% of its known human victims, on par with some strains of Ebola, making it potentially ten times as deadly as the worst plague in human history."One reason, he explains, is the 1918 virus attacked only the lungs, whereas H5N1 shuts down all the internal organs.

"Bird Flu" eloquently contextualizes the subject, giving us a greater understanding of the virus' origins and our critical role in it.The director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at the Humane Society of the United States, Dr. Greger examines bird flu from every angle, creating a meticulously researched work that traces how agricultural, scientific, environmental, political and economic forces have conspired to transform a virus that once threatened only waterfowl into a "highly pathogenic avian influenza" destined to lay waste to large segments of human population.

Among the stops on the author's bird flu reality tour is President George W. Bush's decision in April of 2006 to lift the ban on poultry products from China -- a country well known for its recent outbreaks of avian influenza -- possibly in return for China's agreement to drop its mad cow disease-related ban on U.S. beef imports.(One disease for another, perhaps?No trade deficit there.)Other troubling highlights include the world's inadequate hospital capacity and the inability to create a vaccine, or enough of it, to combat a virus that kills half its victims.In other words, we are as ill-prepared for avian flu today as we were in 1918.And, as Dr. Greger notes, not only is H5N1 worse than what our grandparents faced, but 21st-century transportation means a virus can travel around the planet in 24 hours, not a year.

The book is also a sobering lesson in how many of our human ailments, from the common cold to AIDS, have come from our oppression of animals, especially the practice of breeding and raising them for food.(Dr. Greger notes that human influenza began with the domestication of ducks 4,500 years ago.)Yet authorities refuse to confront the obvious cause of this "virus of our own hatching," preferring instead to devote their resources to containing the outbreak by culling chickens and turkeys and extolling the virtues of well-cooked meat.

Even without the looming pandemic, "Bird Flu" reminds us that eating animal flesh can be deadly.Dr. Greger writes: "For the same reason that people don't get Dutch Elm Disease or ever seem to come down with a really bad case of aphids, food products of animal origin are the source of most cases of food poisoning, with chicken the most common culprit."He notes that although the USDA asserts that proper cooking methods kill all viruses, including bird flu, 76 million Americans still suffer food poisoning every year and an estimated 5,000 die from food-borne illness.The average American kitchen, it seems, has become a biohazard, with pathogenic bacteria found on food-preparation surfaces, sinks and utensils.Dr. Greger quotes flu expert Albert Osterhaus, who concluded that "the gastrointestinal tract of humans is a portal of entry for H5N1."

Although pandemics seem inevitable, Dr. Greger's landmark book suggests an obvious (some might say radical) solution: the elimination of intensive poultry production.Perhaps this is more wishful thinking, given the world's ever-growing appetite for cheap animal protein, but others in the scientific community are also supporting this recommendation, so we may at least see improvements in the way agribusiness operates."Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching" could herald dramatic changes in farming practices, finally driving decision-makers to critically examine not only how this virus came to be, but how we can curtail it and future diseases lurking within animal factories around the globe.

Mark Hawthorne, author of Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism

Essential (and surprisingly entertaining) emergency reading
I didn't want to read this book. Maybe you don't either. But you must. And when you do, you'll find that the author has made it easy, and even entertaining, for you to learn everything you never wanted to know about bird flu.

Michael Greger writes in an engaging and accessible style that will keep you turning pages as he guides you through the history of zoonotic (animal-based) diseases and explains how contemporary factory farming and meat-packing practices not only make the emergence of new diseases more likely but also place consumers at risk of food poisoning by everyday microorganisms like E. Coli and Salmonella. Despite his somber subject matter, Greger is upbeat, giving us the bad news in a way that energizes us to do something about it.

It can happen here. It has happened here. The 1918 influenza pandemic that killed more Americans than World War II was a bird flu. The next pandemic will be too. We all need to know what we might be able to do to prevent or mitigate that pandemic. You need to what to do to protect yourself and your loved ones when the pandemic comes. Read this book now and make sure that the public policy makers who are supposed to be looking out for you read it too.

Superb work on avian flu history and how to plan for a pandemic
Watching a pandemic unfold and take shape before your eyes is like watching paint dry.It is an agonizing process, slow and painful.But at the end, the product is there for all to see.

This is the book to read while watching the paint dry.Like Mike Davis' excellent "The Monster at Our Door," Dr. Greger has done a lot of the heavy lifting for you.He has read countless books, scientific papers, newspaper and magazine articles along with medical/scientific journals and produced the definitive work on avian influenza for the lay reader, decision-maker and concerned citizen.

Along the way, Dr. Greger also shows us the principal underlying cause of the spread of H5N1 (factory farming of chickens and other poultry) and supports his theories with mountains of data, opinion and observation -- much of it directly from the commercial poultry industry he takes to task for putting the world in the shape it is in, bird flu-wise.

Certain passages contain the most relevatory things about food production I have read since Upton Sinclair.It would not take much more to turn me into a vegetarian!I now seek free-range chickens to consume.

Speaking of consume:Once you have read (in order) The Great Influenza (Barry), The Monster at Our Door (Davis) and Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own hatching (Greger), you are ready to dive into the scientific literature yourself.Have a go at all three of these excellent books.

Great book!
It is amazing how much is hidden from the public eye.This author does a great job of explaining how the avian flu is VERY probable. You will never want to eat chicken or eggs again after reading this one and learning about overcrowding, filth, and treatment of chickens and how the avian flu is mutating because of the conditions that we (humans) create. I highly recommend this book.

Playing chicken with our food supply...
BIRD FLU: A VIRUS OF OUR OWN HATCHING opens not with H5N1, the modern day "bird flu virus" which has the potential to mutate into the deadliest pandemic that the world has ever seen, but with H1N1, the influenza virus responsible for the 1918 flu pandemic.In just two short years, an estimated 50 to 100 million people perished as World War I raged on.

As described by author Michael Greger, MD, in chilling detail:

"What started for millions around the globe as muscle aches and a fever ended days later with many victims bleeding from their nostrils, ears, and eye sockets.Some bled inside their eyes; some bled around them.They vomited blood and coughed it up. Purple blood blisters appeared on their skin. [...] [The Chief of the Medical Services, Major Walter V. Brem] wrote that `often blood was seen to gush from a patient's nose and mouth.' In some cases, blood reportedly spurted with such force as to squirt several feet. `When pneumonia appeared,' Major Brem recounted, `the patients often spat quantities of almost pure blood.' They were bleeding into their lungs."

Yet, H1N1 had a "low" (relatively speaking) mortality rate of 2.5% to 5%.Compare that to H5N1, which thus far has killed 55% of those infected - and one must wonder why the possibility of bird flu pandemic is confined to occasional media reports that are quickly dwarfed by the latest Hollywood gossip.Is bird flu-inspired panic just another example of media sensationalism?

Not so, argues Greger.From 1918 he transitions seamlessly to the research laboratories of today.Greger, who is Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at The Humane Society of the United States and "an internationally recognized lecturer on public health issues", launches into Viral Biology 101, explaining in layman's terms how a virus reproduces, spreads, mutates, and interacts with its host.Though he's dealing with (arguably) dry subject matter, Greger manages to keep the discussion engaging via the liberal use of colorful analogies and sharp, witty prose.This isn't your high school bio textbook.

Once a basic understanding of viruses has been established, Dr. Greger addresses modern animal agriculture, specifically, how it's especially conducive to the transmission and evolution of avian influenza.Animals, particularly "broiler" (meat) and "laying" (egg) hens, are packed into windowless sheds by the thousands; by the time they're fully grown just 45 days later (in the case of broiler hens), they don't even have enough space to spread their wings or turn around.Chickens are selectively bred for fast growth or maximum egg production - much to the detriment of their immune systems. Rather than improve the birds' ability to stave off disease (which would come at the expense of their "energy efficiency"), large-scale corporate "factory farmers" opt to pump their livestock full of antibiotics, thus contributing to bacterial resistance in humans.Add to this mix the fact that chickens literally spend their short lives wallowing in their own feces (and sometimes even that of previously butchered flocks), and you've got the perfect environment for a virus such as H5N1 to thrive.

And thrive it has.The billions of chickens, turkeys, and pigs raised and slaughtered for food annually act like "petri dishes" in which avian influence can mingle, swapping genetic material in order to mutate, gradually evolving into a strain more lethal and infectious to humans.Their compromised immune systems and unsanitary and stressful living conditions only facilitate this process.Despite numerous attempts at eradicating the virus - for example, by wiping out entire flocks of chickens, to the tune of millions of birds at a time - H5N1 (along with additional viral strains) can still be found on many farms, throughout the world.

While some critics - particularly those in the animal agriculture industry - dismiss this as scare mongering, Greger argues his points convincingly, and offers a wealth of evidence to support his claims.Indeed, his "Reference" section spans an impressive 90 pages!Throughout the text, he quotes a myriad of experts in the field, including Robert Webster, Kennedy F. Shortridge, and Michael Osterholm, as well as health professionals from the USDA, CDC, FAO, and WHO.Even "food scientists" admit - in the comfort and familiarity of their own trade journals, mind you - that the industry is flirting with disaster.The general - nay, unanimous - consensus seems to be "when, not if."

A pandemic is inevitable, that is, unless we swiftly and dramatically move away from factory farming methods towards less intense animal agriculture methods, such as free range farming.Additionally, this must be preceded by a temporary global moratorium on meat and egg production, in order to eradicate the bird flu virus(es) already present in farm animals worldwide.None of which is bloody likely to happen.

Thus, Greger urges readers to take precautions before a pandemic hits.He recommends obtaining and filling a prescription for Tamiflu (the more effective of two antivirals used to treat avian influenza), as well as stocking up on necessary groceries and such - TODAY.Greger also advises readers on how to purify water with bleach, and concoct cheap, homemade hand sanitizer.Oh, and do make sure you have plenty of liquor, cigarettes and ammo on hand, just in case the world reverts to the barter system!Though Greger reiterates and even elaborates upon government-issued pandemic guidelines in this last section, I didn't exactly walk away with a sense of empowerment.The rest of BIRD FLU was so horrifying that stocking up on canned veggies and medical masks won't do much to ease my troubled mind.

Whether you're a vegan, a carnivore, an average Jane, a state Senator, an animal welfarist, or a hunter, BIRD FLU is one book you can't afford to ignore.For too long, we've been playing chicken with our food supply - and nature may soon see fit to reward our taste for cheap meat with a global pandemic.
... Read more

Book Description
Experts agree that the world is due for a flu pandemic, and the Bird Flu virus—with a 70% kill rate—may cause just such a catastrophe. Even conservative estimates say such a scenario could kill 2 million Americans and shut down economic services as the virus rages across the globe. As the world community busily prepares for the potential nightmare, it's essential that individuals arm themselves with up-to-date information. In Beating the Flu, Dr. J. E. Williams apprises the situation honestly and offers vital advice for avoiding Bird Flu as well as steps for safely overcoming the virus should you contract it. Dr. Williams argues that due to a severe shortage in antiviral pharmaceutical drugs, natural medicines will play a crucial role in minimizing the outbreak and ensuring good health for you and your family. Dr. J. E. Williams has practiced Oriental Medicine for more than two decades and is the author of three books. Presently, he is the Academic Dean at the East West College of Natural Medicine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Clear, concise, and valuable!
I love the cover with the feather in place of the word bird.Very effective.Your book is very concise, to the point, and effective.I know how difficult it is to pare down words and concepts.But you did that and it works great.It's extremely easy to read.I feel certain that this book will be a success.Many people are concerned about the bird flu and you make it clear how to protect ourselves. ... Read more

Book Description
Every winter, the flu virus presents an international health threat. Sometimes the flu season is mild, while in other years it causes widespread debilitating illness. Vaccination against the flu has been hailed as the primary and best preventive measure, yet shortages and the controversies surrounding the lack of effectiveness of vaccinations have led many people to seek alternatives. Fortunately, anyone can prepare for the flu season with effective prevention strategies. If the flu strikes, there are safe, alternative methods to treat the symptoms. Flu: Alternative Treatments and Prevention guides readers in treating the flu with appropriate professional care and home remedies. The first part of Flu tells the history of the flu, lists its symptoms and complications, and includes a discussion of flu vaccines. Part II describes the alternative medical treatments available to treat the flu as well as important measures people can take to build a strong immune system. Part III features methods for flu prevention as well as treatments for children. And Part IV offers information about the best ways to increase immunity, treat the virus, and prevent serious complications of the flu for seniors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A little pocketbook offering a complete and thorough understanding of the influenza virus and how to avoid contracting it
Flu: Alternative Treatments And Prevention (Proven Strategies To Protect Yourself And Your Family) by Randall Neustaedter is a little pocketbook offering a complete and thorough understanding of the influenza virus and how to avoid contracting it. As every winter provides reasonable outbreak of the flu, Flu offers readers an understanding of how influenza attacks the body and why it can be deadly, the truth of flu vaccines, effective alternative therapies, and how to prevent or manage the flu at home or with homeopathy, herbs and diet. Now that we are facing "Bird Flue", Randall Neustaedter's Flu is especially timely and highly recommended for all readers concerned with the health of themselves and their family for its comprehensive and complete coverage of exactly what is necessary to in the whole process of flue prevention and treatment.
... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (10)

Best Objective description of one of the biggest epidemics in History
After having read Ms. Kolata's version as well as several others, I do understand the story is best told objectively by Mr Davies. It is the best account and is NOT interchangeable with other books on the same subject (respectfully disagreeing with the Library Review).

Further, previous reading about other epidemics (including the fabulous book by Ms L. Garrett "The Coming Plague"), Mr Davies' account of the magnitude of this epidemic is a real eye opener. Between the two books, these gifted writers, Mr Davies and Ms Garrett, provide invaluable information and the reason the global community should be concerned - always - about our world health.

Be warned, its' not easy to put the book down once you've started - he's a gifted writer that depicts the history outstandingly well.

Is the bird flu going to kill us all? Read this book and find out (maybe).
Need a little more fear in your life? Well, you're in luck! The latest source of global terror is the so-called "Asian bird flu," a.k.a., H5N1. Worldwide, only about 75 people have died of this nasty little bug to date, if you don't count millions of birds who were either infected or purposely destroyed for prophylactic reasons. Now China has announced a plan to innoculate 14 BILLION birds as a precaution.

So far, the virus is spread primarily by direct contact with bird blood or droppings. However, with a couple of small genetic variations this bug could jump to a much more threatening stage -- aerosol transmission through sneezing and coughing. If that happens, we're in for a very bumpy ride. Scientists estimate the global death toll at up to 100 million people. No kidding.

So what does the bird flu have to do with the 1918 influenza pandemic that killed more than 40 million people? That's the scientific mystery behind Pete Davie's fast-reading book, "The Devil's Flu," originally published in the U.K. in the late 1990s under the title "Catching Cold."

Ever since the 1918 pandemic, virologists have been trying to find human tissue with samples of that terrible virus so they could analyze it and compare it to new bugs like the bird flu. That's the focus of this story. After prepping the reader with some scientific background, Davis takes us on a wild ride through places like Hong Kong, Alaska and the arctic islands of Norway as competing scientists search for traces of the old bug. Along the way, we learn where viruses come from, how they mutate, how they spread and what's likely to happen next.

"The Devil's Flu" isn't a scholarly work, but it sure is great fun to read. I finished it in about three hours. More recent authors have explored this topic with greater depth. Nevertheless, I'd recommend this book for people who want just enough detail to understand the big picture -- in a very entertaining way. And if you must sneeze, please cover your nose.

Davies book is the best of the lot
I used to be a virologist.Let me tell you, I was ASTONISHED at how much I hadn't been told about flu.Pete Davies is obviously no virologist, but he just wades on in there and hacks out the story and tells it to you.It doesn't have to be great; he's got lots to tell you.And he's a good writer.The portrayal of Kirsty Duncan as a pompous ass is priceless.By the way, I had NO idea that Parkinsonism was one of the sequelae of the 1918 flu.If you find that sort of info interesting, of course you'll get this book and read it.One last note:Several places in Davies' book sound to me like they were edited by some dumbass editor (the kind of editor who would remove the word dumbass from this comment); note for example the use of the phrase "flu like symptoms" on page 260, which is NOT in Davies' voice.So this book isn't perfect, but it's a really good book.

Exciting Read
I found the story about the dig in the frozen tundra looking for the Spanish flu to be exciting.
In my novel, Reign of the Rat, I explored the same operation Mr. Davies wrote about but in a fictionalized version.
The next deadly flu pandemic is waiting and the more I research the Avian, the more I suspect it may be here soon.

A look at a re-emerging lethal threat...
While researching FINAL EPIDEMIC, my novel of the re-emergence of the Spanish Flu of 1918,I was fortunate enough to have one of the epidemeologists I used as a source send me Pete Davies' book in its original British title (it was issued in 1999 in England under the title: "Catching Cold.")

Then as now, the depth of Davies' own research into both the history and the contemporary study of the H1N1 killer flu virus is as impressive as it is extensive. THE DEVIL'S FLU ranks with the best of medical non-fiction narrative on this unfortunately again-timely subject.

A startling fact about the original 1918 plague that devastated humanity --notable, since it occurred within the lifespan of many still alive today-- is the collective amnesia that so often surrounds that event.

Few Americans realize that it's extremely probable that they have a family member only a generation or two ago who fell prey to the deadly Spanish Flu pandemic; tales of when the cry "bring out your dead!" echoed along American streets were seldom passed from those who witnessed it to those of us who descended from the survivors. It takes a trip to virtually any cemetery to bring the death toll home to us, as marker after marker identifies the victims of the 1918 flu pandemic. Worldwide, deaths in 1918-1919 totalled at least 40 million humans, and very likely as many as 100 million-- all within a timespan measured in months.

As I write this, an avian influenza virus not unlike that which triggered the 1918 pandemic, if forcing the mass slaughter of chickens and other birds throughout Asia. It is an attempt to forestall the very real possibility that the virus (which already has infected human victims through bird-to-human transmission, and currently has a 70 percent mortality rate among human victims) could acquire genes which would allow for human-to-human transmission.

During research for FINAL EPIDEMIC, I interviewed dozens of medical researchers and epidemeologists. Without exception, each stated that their greatest fear was a resurgence of a influenza virus similar to the 1918 variant, which through incubation in humans mutated into a unprecedented killer of humanity. Based on the cyclic nature of flu pandemics, I was told, mankind was already overdue-- and, worse: woefully unprepared-- for such an emerging viral Shiva.

Influenza was, and remains, a universal threat: As A.W. Crosby wrote in "America's Forgotten Pandemic," his own classic examination of the 1918 Spanish Flu, "I know how not to get AIDS. I don't know how not to get the flu."

Davies' book on this reemerging threat deserves attention, as he reminds us that this kind of horrific killer virus is considered by the medical community a certainity to arise again.
At best, we can only prepare ourselves -- and wait.

--Earl Merkel
Author, FINAL EPIDEMIC (PenguinPutnam 2002)
and DIRTY FIRE (PenguinPutnam 2003) ... Read more

Product Description
An all-new Monk mystery story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Hunting the 1918 Flu
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.The work involved in the project was fascinating to read. The description of the area where the project took place was vivid.The personalities involved added to the travails encountered in such an undertaking.

Not what I expected
I have long been interested in the 1918 influenza epidemic, and I began reading this book immediately after finishing "The Great Influenza" by John M. Barry. "The Great Influenza" is a very scholarly work that gives a great deal of background about the medical profession in 1918, conditions in the US during World War I, and truly stirring accounts of how viruses and the immune system work. When I started "Hunting the 1918 Flu," I was hoping for an expansion on the science of the epidemic. That's not what I got.

I was leery from the start because in the introductory material the author goes into considerable detail about her record-keeping and note-taking practices (to the extent of claiming there were witnesses present during many of her phone conversations regarding her project). I wondered, "Why is this woman so defensive?" I found that science is only peripherally addressed in her book; the main theme is how poorly she was treated by almost everyone except her fellow Canadians and the Norwegians she encountered. The Americans, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seem to be the bad guys in this story.

I tried hard to be open minded, but for the most part, I was unable to sympathize with the author. Every field of endeavor has its own politics, and it's not really very interesting to read about them. The author was a young woman, working in a field of study that was not her own, and at times her naivete shines like a beacon. It's not surprising that she was sometimes not taken seriously.

This book is very readable, and I'm sure the author is a very intelligent young woman. However, I think she would have served herself and her subject matter better by taking a more dispassionate tone. Her quest had the potential to be of true scientific value, and telling its story without all the histrionics would have made an interesting book.

You need not be a scientist...
I was initially worried that the book would be filled with complex scientific concepts, but everything was explained so that any reader could understand. The story about an expedition that was in danger of being stopped several times and the sheer determination of Dr. Duncan is inspiring.I also enjoyed learning about the people of Norway, who were so gracious and understanding of the importance of this expedition.I would highly recommend reading Hunting the 1918 Flu, as a reminder that history can and does repeat itself. ... Read more

Book Description

The U.S. government is now practically screaming that a new avian super-flu will likely kill millions of Americans. The mainstream media is entirely onboard, as are drug companies and other corporations poised to benefit immensely off the paranoia. But there is NO coming bird flu pandemic. It's an elaborate scheme contrived by the government and big business for reasons that boil down to power and money.

Presenting eye-opening evidence that casts serious doubt on the truthfulness of reports about the virus's ability to transmit, and its mortality rates around the world, renowned physician Dr. Joseph Mercola reveals the secrets about the great bird flu hoax.In compelling fashion he provides you the real facts you need to know to protect you from a far greater ill - corporate and governmental greed.

Customer Reviews (5)

The Title Is the Hoax
I dove into reading Dr. Mercola's The Great Bird Flu Hoax expecting a thorough treatment of the science behind the bird flu laid out in such a way that it would show why we don't have to worry about bird flu.This was not the case.In fact, there was little sicence in the book and even less dealt with why Dr. Mercola felt bird flu was a hoax.What became apparent was how little Mercola knew about this highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain.The only two reasons he seems to have for believing the flu won't surface as a threat in the US are that it hasn't shown up in chickens in the US and that the human infection rates of bird flu are on the decline.Unfortunatley, neither of these reasons are correct. H5N1 doesn't need to appear in US flocks, nor does it need to enter via any non-human animal.Once the H5N1 mutates into a form that is highly contagious for humans, it will go global from human to human - airline flights will deliver it everywhere.Similarly, Mercola is oblivious to the fact that the bird flue is constantly mutating, again incorrectly trying to support his hypothesis with the current H5N1's inability to transmit easily to humans.Once it gets the right mutation - and it's only a matter of time - it will spread like a wildfire.

As for the rate of human bird flu infections, not only are they not on the decline, but 2006 was the deadliest year so far for humans (granted, the book came out prior to the year's end)(World Health Organization. 2007. Avian Influenza Update Number 76. January 2.
(.......). Mercola again seems to be lacking in his understanding of disease rates when he tries to reason away the lethality of this flu strain. Just like the 1918 bird flu that passed to humans and killed more people than any single war, death rates are based on reported incidents.So, not only is the lethality rate valid based on this, but his hypothesis of lots of unreported cases has been disproven. In the Cambodian province of Kampot, an outbreak of H5N1 killed dozens of chicken flocks and only one young farmer. Researchers swept in and tried to take blood from every family in the area to determine the actual human infection rate. They analyzed blood work from 351 area villagers. Not one person showed evidence of present or past infection. (Vong S, Coghlan B, Mardy S, et al. 2006. Low frequency of poultry-to-human H5N1 virus transmission, southern Cambodia, 2005. Emerging Infectious Disease 12(10). (...........).

The focus of the book deals with his nutrition and health recommendations, and even here, he can't keep his facts straight. For example, he claims that only .003% of eggs are infected with salmonella (p. 171), so that people shouldn't be afraid of eating raw eggs even if they can't get the "healthier" eggs. Yet, he goes to great lengths to show how dirty and contaminated chickens and eggs are from the intensive farming practices of factory farms earlier in the book.

The Great Bird Flu Hoax is not without its good points.Mercola questions the benefits of Tamiflu based on its risks, although I'm hesitant to believe what he states because of his shoddy research on the flu itself.He points out the problems with vaccines and dangers of legislation that could take away our rights not to vaccinate in an emergency.And, he rightly accuses factory farms for being the source of the HPAI H5N1.Oh, I did appreciate being reminded about the benefits of naturally-fermented sauerkraut in fighting bird flu.

Multiple books & dvd's
I am always pleased with the items I've bought through Amazon because
they keep me informed of delays & shipments, etc.Some things take
longer than others but I understand due to the multi party involvement.
I do appreciate that they seem to care when/if I get the items.I hope
they keep up the good work

Joseph Mercola and the Great Bird Flu Hoax
I found this text to be of real value and very informative if a little verbose and repetitive at times.

The story line reads - there is a potential for a world wide crises but despite the various governments telling us that there is a cure (although it cannot really be afforded) there is in reality no adequate cure or medicine available.

He states that the global (mainly American based) giant pharmacutical industry has blinded us with - well science and rather than look to simple and cheap alternatives and sensible precautions these industry giants have persuaded our governments that they alone have the remedies needed and effectively their lobbying has now given them the right to write for themselves large value cheques.

The example of the bird flue exacts his comment that colloidal silver a very inexpensive product containing a small percentage of the heavy metal silver has the potential to entirely wipe out the patheogenetic effects of the bird flu virus whereas "Tamiflu" has not even been tested and in his opinion will not work at all agains bird flu. I can testify to the effective working of colloidal silver.

Mercola goes on to conclude that the would be pandemic has directly arisen out of greed by large scale and totally unaccontable agricultural businesses who have basically neglected natural breeding and sensible housbandary giving a world choked with waste containing bugs that go on to contaminate swathes of land and effect lives of people across the world.

He adviszes that there is simply no need to trade globally in agricultural produce when we are all in a position to take locally produced supplies - a point to which I say - Amen!(although remember to be prepared to pay a little bit more for the better product)

Although primarily an american text for the American People this book has reinforced my own thoughts on the best way to negate the effects of any forecast pandemic.

A well recommended read for those who are not just conspiracy theorists but who are pledged to taking back responsibility for their own health.

Important book with a few caveats
I am a former patient at Dr. Mercola's clinic, and I truly support everything he is trying to do with our current health crisis.His clinic helped me to overcome a serious illness when all other "regular" doctors, including the prestigious Mayo Clinic, had written me off.He truly helps many people every day, I have seen it first hand.However, I admit I was worried when I looked at the book and saw "SHOCKING LIES" on the cover.I was afraid this was a sign that he would follow the trend he uses all too often, dispensing extremely important health information in a format similar to the National Enquirer.I wish he could use a little more humility and respect for the intelligence of his readers both in his books and on his website.For example, the video he has on his website, "The Town of Allopath", is very, very good, and the message critically important, but it turns my stomach to see "Highly Acclaimed Video Causes Flood of Hate Mail" in big letters at the top of the page.Calling such an important video "highly acclaimed" himself just cheapens it, cheapens his reputation, and insults his readers.
In his book the Great Bird Flu Hoax, however, for the most part, he writes in a professional, but sometimes dry, manner.I appreciated the effort he took to document everything, especially in comparison to his book "Total Health Program", where nothing is documented, and his recipes all have cutesy names so you can't find them later because you can't remember the stupid name he gave them!(Again, he calls this book "BLOCKBUSTER!" on his website.Again, it turns my stomach, mostly because a little more professionalism and humility would go a REALLY LONG WAY and it's just kind of sad.)
But I did find myself cheering for Dr. Mercola as I read this book.I think that he did "get it right" this time.He goes after the industries who need someone to go after them!I do hope that this book does get some press, and that folks will pay attention to it.Personally, I wish that he would have devoted more time to talking about the health benefits of saturated fats versus trans fats in his section on improving your health, and also I think folks with no natural health exposure will be confused by his section on fermented foods and will go out and buy regular canned sauerkraut, but these are not large deals in the whole scheme of the book.I laughed out loud (in a good way!) in the section on vaccinations when he asked the folks who are not used to this kind of thinking to take a deep breath, step back, and calm down.You go, Dr. Mercola!!!
In the end, my wish is that he would write a book that I could give to a highly intelligent but VERY sceptical family member and have it not embarass me with overly cute, and sometimes arrogant talk and undocumented claims.With The Great Bird Flu Hoax, he comes the closest that he has yet.Thank you Dr. Mercola.

Very Interesting
I amChiropractor in Manhattan and I utulize many holistic methods in my practice.Dr.Mercola points out some ideas that are very unpopular within "modern medicine" but pretty common among alternative medicine.
I highly recommend it to all the hypochondriacs.
Visit my website at [...]
... Read more

Book Description
Bird Flu What to Do: Prepare to Survive is a concise, yet comprehensive book that outlines disaster preparation - with a particular focus on what to do if there is an influenza pandemic - for ordinary citizens, covering food/water storage, special needs of those unable to care for themselves, neighborhood and community organization, home health care under dire circumstance, quarantine preparation, and safety/security issues at home. The book both consolidates resources available to the public and goes beyond what is accessible to the ordinary citizen with contributions from experts in diverse fields, and an extended appendix covering what to get, where to get it and additional information that could prove lifesaving.The book is not fear based, but attempts to normalize disaster preparation, posing it as one the most socially responsible thing we can "just do." This book fills the gap between what public health can do and what we ordinary citizens need to do. Communities, neighborhoods, and families that have made the effort to prepare to survive natural disasters will be more resilient if and when a natural disaster occurs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

An Outstanding Introduction to the Bird Flu Pandemic
Bird Flu, What to Do provides the reader with an excellent overview of the issues we are likely to face during the upcoming influenza pandemic.The book is written in an easy to understand style that makes for pleasant reading despite the difficult subject matter. Dr. Fonte's liberal use of humor helps make her discussion of these unpleasant topics easier to digest.I recommend this book to anyone trying to come to terms with the possibility of a Bird Flu pandemic and who needs more information about this issue to help them decide what they should do.This book has an important role as a good way to introduce the topic to someone new to the issue.While it touches on the difficulties we are likely to encounter during a pandemic, it does so in a reassuring way, avoiding the dramatization of the worst case as found in some other books on the subject.

Grattan Woodson, MD
Author of the Bird Flu Manual

A Must!
This book should be required reading for everyone living in this country (and other countries as well).If everyone took its message to heart and followed its advice, we would all be a lot safer.No need for color-coded alerts or political hype when Bird Flu - What to Do is only a bookstore or online order form away.

A straightforward instruction manual for readers of all backgrounds
Bird Flu What To Do: Prepare To Survive by Verona Fonte Ph.D. (a psychologist for over twenty years' experience) with contributions from five experienced doctors, is a straightforward instruction manual for readers of all backgrounds about what to do and how to survive in a pandemic, particularly a bird flu pandemic. Chapters address how to prepare, including storing water and making sure water is safe to drink, what food and other goods to get and how to store it, healthy habits to adopt now to strengthen one's immune system, networking for a safer community, caregiving tips, what to do when death occurs, and much more. Bird flu specifically is extremely virulent and easily contagious simply from being in proximity to the sick; Bird Flu What To Do does not pretend to have a magic solution to the grim realities of a pandemic, but rather presents all the emergency advice that medical science and common sense have to offer in no-nonsense terms. Highly recommended.

Read this book and Thrive
Ignorance is not Bliss when humanity is threatened with life endangering epidemics.Verona Fonte has created an essential handbook to guide us in step-by-step preparations for survival in case if an outbreak of the bird flu.While the subject is serious and packed with important information, the text is clear and lively, leavened by wit and humor. We are encouraged, not only to understand the nature of the disease, how it spreads, how to avoid contamination, how to take care of ourselves and loved ones, but also to create webs of mutual support within our communities.Verona Fonte reminds us of the necessity to be informed and prepared, but also to assist each other in a spirit of intelligent compassion.I heartily recommend it.

An Important Preparedness Technique for all Social Challenges
Fonte has shown us that no matter what the crisis in our lives, if we prepare by being informed, knowing our neighbors and community, and face the challenges ahead with courage, we can weather any crisis the future may bring. I recommend this book highly!

Carolyn North ... Read more

Book Description
An essential survival guide – both to pandemic influenza, and to the hype surrounding it.

Written by an emergency physician and a public health physician, The Flu Pandemic and You is a frank and clear book about how to prepare for the next influenza pandemic, and how to understand the broader context in which the threat exists.

With cool heads and great professional expertise, the authors describe the history of influenza pandemics, the scientific reasons for the current health concern, the effects a pandemic would have, and the steps governments are likely to take when, not if, it hits. Drs. Lam and Lee carefully explain how readers can assess their level of risk, and set out practical advice on how an individual can prepare for a pandemic and maximize their chances of living through it. They draw on the latest evidence and their experience of the SARS outbreak of 2003. The Flu Pandemic and You develops a lucid framework to help people respond to the latest news stories about avian flu, and understand the current media anxiety about influenza in the context of the risks we all face in our daily lives.

This crucially important book, full of reasoned, knowledgeable advice, is an indispensable handbook for fearful times. ... Read more

Book Description
Natural medicine can help anyone breeze through the cold and flu season without a sniffle; in fact, it's often better and more complete than conventional medicine. Using herbs, healing foods, medicinal teas, supplements, and alternative therapies, this eye-opening guide provides a complete program of prevention and natural cold remedies that are safe and work with readers' own healing forces. Step-by-step help shows how to ease symptoms, shorten recovery time, and alleviate related problems such as cold sores, fever, and congestion. Included are: A delicious medicinal soup to make at the first sign of a cold; the truth about Echinacea; the danger of taking antibiotics, and why commercial cold remedies can slow healing. ... Read more

Book Description
Ka-choo! Who's sneezing? It's the cow, the chickens, the pigs, the turkeys, the donkey, and the sheep! All the farm animals have the flu, and Mom is out of town. Luckily, she has one smart son. He knows just what his mom would do, if it were he who had the flu! With tissue, tea, and lots of fun, Teresa Bateman offers a rhyming tale guaranteed to cure whatever ails you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fun to read!!
My son demands that I read him lots of books and it always makes me happy when he picks this one out. Its great fun to read. I think I enjoy it more than he does. You can really get into the rhyme and rhythm trying new ways each time you read it. The story is funny as well. I've probably read it a hundred times and haven't gotten sick of it yet.

Farm Flu Review
Farm Flu is a sweet little book about a boy and his sickly livestock. I think that the rhyme is good, but the story is even better. And how charming is the repeated text "I know just what my mom would do / if it were me who had the flu."? My little son requests this book a LOT, and I am only too happy to oblige him. ... Read more

Product Description
"FOWL!" is an investigastive report into how dioxins, POPs and other environment chemicals are contributing to illness in migratory birds, chickens and humans by making them more susceptible to the effects of influenza viruses. The avian flu scare is just the latest act in an ongoing world government drama. This book is a disclosure about betrayals on many levels. Here are a few of the truths that will be exposed: -Who wants the rural chickens dead? Who benefits from the destruction of the family farm, here and abroad?-What are the real reasons that domestic chickens and ducks are sick? -What is the connection between toxic environmental conditions and the death ofmigratory birds?-Why are human deaths associated with bird flu concentrated in Southeast Asia? -Who benefits from the manufacture of a 'pandemic vaccine'? What's in it? -Why vaccines are not the answer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Fowl, Bird Flu It's Not What you Think
Outstanding sleuthing on an imperative problem facing our health and everyone on the planet.Certainly causes one to think and ponder the big questions.

The Truth about Bird Flu
This is an excellent book - a thorough systematic and well researched book which documents the REAL reasons for birds and people to be dying of 'bird 'flu'namely toxic residues of pesticides and herbicides including those persisiting form the agent orange bombings in vietnam, the appalling, cruel and inhumanely toxic conditions in which poultry are factory famed and the vested interests behind decimation of the traditional family poultry breeders and the pushing of a useless and dangerous vaccine.It includes what you really need to know to be healthy which is the only real immunity.
An excellent read, I couldn't stop turning the pages

Fowl!
While Fowl centers on the avian flu, it is comprised of information that ties together environmental, political, economic, and health issues in a way that presents a bigger picture to the reader. Dr. Tenpenny's interest and understanding of wholistic health is evident in the research and scope of the book. Through questioning the reliability of reports that the avian flu could jump to humans, she has looked at the bigger picture, which involves our environment, political influences on health care and information, and how economic factors contribute to situations that weaken health.

The book is well written and researched. It is also easy to read and presented in a way that is understandable to the reader. I had a hard time putting the book down. Also of use, was information in the book that encourages the reader to explore further into potential areas of interest,or to become involved in solving the dilemas that contribute to making us all more susceptible to illness.

A "must have" book with a fascinating premise
If you are one of those people who strives to keep abreast of important events around the globe in the areas of politics, diplomacy, and militarism, and you are starting to question what is REALLY behind all the bird flu hype, then this is a book for you.

Th