ABC.com - Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America
ABC.com - Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America
Don't believe the hype. Read John M. Barry's great book, "The Great Influenza: The epic story of the deadliest plague in history" about the 1918~1919 "Spanish flu" (which started in Kansas, not Spain!). Barry's book was published in 2004, and updated in 2005 (ISBN: 0-14-30.3649-1 for paperback, 0-670-89473-7 for hardcover). Barry served as a consultant to this made-for-TV movie but I will reserve judgement. Again, I recommend his book...

Update: A national consumer group was quoted by US Newswire as stating that "ABC 'Bird Flu' Movie Is an Irresponsible Distortion; Viewers Should Wash Their Hands of 'Fatal Contact,' Says National Consumer Group".

As an interesting historical side note, the last true pandemic (1918~1919) may have changed the course of history in many ways. First, influenza decimated the German troops (as well as the Americans and their allies) and may have forced them to sue for peace. Secondly, John Barry argues that Woodrow Wilson's bout with influenza during the Peace Treaty negotiations in Paris in the spring of 1919 may have caused mental impairment, affecting his negotiating skills, and leading to the imperfect Treaty of Versailles with the subsequent rise of Naziism in Germany and the Second World War! Margaret MacMillan, in her book "Paris 1919" (2001, ISBN: 0-375-76052-0), disputes this but it's an interesting historical footnote that the "flu" could have changed the face of Europe (and much of the rest of the world).
- posted by Larry H @ 2:11 PM