When bird flu hit Egypt, where IslamOnline.net's editorial
staff is based, rumors spread around the country like
wildfire. SMS's beeped every five minutes, telling people
to stop eating chicken, eggs, and to even stop drinking
water after there were reports that people were throwing
dead chickens into the Nile waters. Many people in Egypt
believe that the government's reaction was an exaggerated
one. Poultry farmers all over the country are out of
business after their chickens were killed under order of
the government.
Are we all taking avian flu too far? Avian flu has resulted
in the death of almost 100 people so far, whereas diseases
like malaria and AIDS are killing so much more. Are these
two diseases and so many others in the developing world
getting the comparative attention they deserve? What is our
role in stopping rumors that spread quickly about diseases
in our country? What are your experiences with avian flu
rumors and government over-reactions?
What to do about avian flu? Have your say.
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