Just a Suggestion

Over the past few months I’ve noticed (and in some cases read) an increasing number of stories relating to the potential threat Avian Influenza or Bird Flu could pose in Asia and the rest of the world. Both the CDC and the WHO have stated that there is the chance of worldwide pandemic infection with the populations of China and South East Asia at the highest risk due to their (our) proximity to the origin of the disease. Best case scenarios by the WHO state that between 2 to 7 million people will perish from the disease, and billions infected. Worst case scenarios would be Biblical in the number of people dead. I don’t know about you but that scares the living shit out of me.

Winter has arrived and so has the flu season and so far Bird Flu has not broken out amongst the general population. The key is to contain the virus and keep it from spreading. The question now is: How do we contain it? We know the virus originated in the areas we refer to as Southern China/South East Asia. And as of yet it has not broken out among the general population. There have been isolated cases but nothing widespread. What can we do? I believe I have a solution.

Viruses are fragile life forms needing a host onto which they can survive and multiply. For millions of years it was happy transmitting itself among birds of all types, but now has developed a proclivity to exist off of humans. Viruses cannot exist in extreme temperatures. They need the consistent warmth of its host to prosper and reproduce. By knowing the origin of and the inherent fragility the virus shows towards temperature I have devised the following plan.

I call this lifesaving plan the, “Ring of Fire.” It is in essence a giant ring of cleansing, virus roasting fire that surrounds, with the northern half of its ring, Southern China (only Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Hong Kong) and encloses in its southern half prime areas of Burma, Thailand Vietnam and Laos. All potential hot spots for a bird flu outbreak. The wall of fire, which could be easily fueled via infected fowl and garbage, would maintain a consist median height of 15 meters (about fifty feet) and be half a kilometer thick (3,000 feet thereabouts). The Ring of Fire or “Safety Circle” or “Prometheus’ Cure” would burn continuously for three months about the time scientists hope to have a vaccine ready. Using the most advanced graphics software available I have been able to model what this ring might look like.

You’ll notice the large “computer generated” star just northeast of the fire. That’s Hangzhou. The city I live in. It’s located in the “safe” region. Protected by the Ring of Fire or the “Flaming Health Halo’s” cleansing sear. In fact anyone outside the ring is protected and those inside are at no greater risk than before the “Raging Scorch Sphere” was ignited. Travel into or out of the ring will, of course, be restricted to trips of necessity only. Planes and helicopters can still access the infected inner sanctum as can trains, but only after we’ve coated every train car in flame retardant asbestos. It’s a cheap and healthy solution to allow for cost effective, need based, travel.

I know it sounds like a drastic plan. Some might go so far as to call it “inconceivable” or “insane”, but when you look at the death tolls from the last few flu pandemics (over 52 million dead) a 5,ooo mile long ring of flaming chickens and garbage doesn’t sound too crazy. And if I might say, a small price to pay for piece of mind.