The new outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) has today been confirmed as the H5N1 strain, which has already killed several hundred humans throughout the world. We are told it is only a risk to those who are in close contact with infected birds.

This may be right but it appears that it's only a matter of time before this virus mutates to take on the ability for human-human transmission.

The 5,000 birds in Diss will be 'culled' but that is only like a pinhead to the slaughter that is planned again, for this Christmas. While we continue to keep birds as intensively as we do, in the UK, we are putting animal welfare and our own health and safety at risk.

Last year, 17.14 million turkey poults were placed on UK farms. This is compared with 40.21 in 1997. Numbers are falling, because of cheap imports. Could it be the cheap imports that have brought in this new infection? Rest assured, the Bernard Matthews turkey meat shuttle will be very active, right now, betwen the UK and Eastern Europe.

We must now await DEFRA's assessment of the source of infection, before we know any more.

Roaccutane, an acne drug that has been used for 25 years, has been blamed for depression and suicides.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5358858.stm

"University of Bath scientists tested Roaccutane after claims it has caused depression and suicide in patients since its introduction in 1982."

"Their work, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, is the first to back up these reports with firm scientific evidence."

The news is followed by a cry to rally the wavering troops - keep taking the tablets lads:

"Dr Bailey said teenagers should not stop taking the drug, but seek medical advice if they started to feel depressed. Parents should also watch out for any mood changes in their children."

However, it must be said that these 'scientific' findings are so far only a result of experiments on mice. Nonetheless, I thought we were supposed to be 'protected' by all that animal experiment stuff BEFORE a drug hit the market. Is it me?

To make things even more difficult to understand, Roche (the manufacturers) have always claimed that it is the acne itself that causes the depression and suicide. How come? I thought the drug was supposed to get rid of the acne? They may find themselves digging deep into their pockets to repay just a little of their massive profits in compensation.

Need anyone be in doubt about the true motivation of drug manufacture and marketing? The real tragedy comes when the medical and veterinary professions join in.

Our thoughts go out to those who have suffered and to those families tragically affected by the scores of deaths that have been reported. It shouldn't have to happen.

Here are some more links:

http://www.injurywatch.co.uk/news-and-groups/news/medical-health/acne-drug-roaccutane-linked-to-depression-1996803

http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/blog/2006/09/19/acne-drug-linked-to-depression/

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article568868.ece

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/13/ndrugs213.xml

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/316/7133/723/a

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16152900&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=acne-drug-drove-our-boy-to-suicide-name_page.html

http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1794692007