lemon garden

This is a post about perspective. Perspective is something that it is important to maintain. You may find that reading the popular press on a regular basis can undermine your sense of perspective. However, here is a little list that may help:

• There have been 61 deaths worldwide from the H5N1 strain of Avian Flu over the last two years. ref
• The WHO estimate there are “between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths every year” from influenza across the world. So the H5N1 deaths would represent, at the most conservative estimate, around 0.01% of all deaths from influenza. ref
• About 2 million people die from tuberculosis every year. Tuberculosis is a curable disease. ref
• Malaria causes about 1 million deaths every year. ref
• About 70 people are killed every year in the UK as a result of DIY related accidents, most commonly involving falling off a ladder. ref