Swine Flu

[harb]

During the last bird flu outbreak, a cynic was heard to say that the world would only get hit by a flu pandemic "when pigs fly"...

He could very well be right...

Interestingly, the only confirmed cases in the UK (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8022103.stm)are two people who have been admitted to the local hospital I refer my patients to.

[Cholst7200]

I actually joked about it at first but not any more. My wife has a Ph.D. in virology and says this could be even worst than most people think. She says the problem with this virus as opposed to SARS, Bird Flu...is that cases have been seen around the world and as of now. Over a 100 dead out of 1000 confirmed cases in Mexico City. 1 out of 10 chances of dying is not a good sign. :(

Cholst7200

[STB]

Tamiflu sales is going to sky-rocket.

[morgan]

I actually joked about it at first but not any more. My wife has a Ph.D. in virology and says this could be even worst than most people think. She says the problem with this virus as opposed to SARS, Bird Flu...is that cases have been seen around the world and as of now. Over a 100 dead out of 1000 confirmed cases in Mexico City. 1 out of 10 chances of dying is not a good sign. :(

Cholst7200

20 out of 1300. Confirmed.

Let's look at the stats for Malaria..... ;) Only difference is that people in the western world can potentially get it. Sad, but true.

M

[Paul G.]

I may be totally wrong on this (though I hope not) but I think the panic that has been created is unproductive. Many of the reported deaths in Mexico are yet to be confirmed as resulting from the pig bug. Even if it was, were there may be other circumstances or co-morbidities that contributed to the high death rate. In the US there have been seven hospitalizations and no deaths related to the swine flu.

What may be the case is that it is indeed a highly contagious flu, but not the plague. What is scary is how rapidly a bug could spread. So on the one hand I think the world health organizations and our CDC are appropriately taking this seriously, and if it turns out I am correct, this has been a good dry run at how to respond to a future pandemic that could be even more virulent. On the other hand, the media desensitizes people by crying wolf too often, i.e. making more of this than there is. People may not take the risks seriously next time, even if the next time the disease is worse.

[Reorx]

Anybody here old enough to remember the Swine Flu "panic" of 1976 in the USA? I got a Swine Flu shot back them (just like about 40 million other Americans)... Did anyone else get that shot? Do you think that we have any immunity left from 1976 (it's only 33 years ago!)???

This swine flu and the swine flu of 1976 in the USA are both related to the Spanish flu (type A, H1N1) pandemic of 1918. That one was the single worst viral pandemic in history. The estimates of the worldwide deaths from that one are in the 40 to 100 million range!

Hopefully with todays understanding and technology (and maybe a little luck) - almost a century later, this will have a better outcome...

[morgan]

20 out of 1300. Confirmed.

Let's look at the stats for Malaria..... ;) Only difference is that people in the western world can potentially get it. Sad, but true.

M

They lowered the confirmed related deaths to 7.

As for a modern H1N1 outbreak developing - im not sure what the impact would be. On one side, mobility is a lot higher now, than it was in 1918, so the outbreak would impact a lot quicker - however health/safety/infrastructure & communications is a lot better than back then....

M

[Suhail]

Somehow these diseases never manage to make their way to India. I guess there is enough disease here for it not to make a difference.

The same thing hapenned with SARS and the bird flu. Those diseases must have come to India, got Jaundice and died. ;-)

[morgan]

Somehow these diseases never manage to make their way to India. I guess there is enough disease here for it not to make a difference.

The same thing hapenned with SARS and the bird flu. Those diseases must have come to India, got Jaundice and died. ;-)

Spanish flu made it to India....

[ChrisEdu]

Spanish flu made it to India....

Blame the Spanish! :)

As for Swine Flu - they're just pigs for passing it on! :)

[Snooty]

Harb,
We're being told to go to Doc's if flu syptoms last more than a few days. WTF, what point in progression is optimum for Tamiflu/Relenza therapy? Does it make sense for all sufferers to drag themselves to the surgery, bucket in hand (and Depends in place) just to get a scrip for the meds? And infecting the waiting room? I asked my doc last year about having prophylactic Tamiflu in my medicine cabinet. He said that no doc will prescribe meds prior to need. Stupid, IMNTBHO; unless the meds are dangerous/addictive. I'll be loading up on Tamiflu after it becomes plentiful again.
S MK-II

PS: The same goes for potassium iodide pills. Are we supposed to line up at city hall by the tens of thousands to get them in case of a reactor incident.?

PPS: "I'm mad as h*ll, and I'm not going to tale it anymore!" -- Peter Finch

[Sharkman]

is that you Tom? (snooty) ?

[harb]

Interestingly, Tom, the advice here is not to go to the Surgery but to phone for advice.

[harb]

Sharky,
Yes, it is I; awaiting the restoration of my identity.
S MK II

Which might be possible if you'd reply to your blinking PMs... :confused:

[Snooty]

H,
Will look; accustomed to chime.
S MKII

[Snooty]

Nothing blinking, except for my eyelids.
S MKII

[harb]

Tom, in the top right of the page, where it says "Welcome, Stunned" you should see a link called "Notifications" or "Private Messages" - click that.

Also, I changed your settings so that you would get a pop-up notification when a PM was sent.

I'll send another PM...

[ChrisEdu]

I noticed several notices inside my GPs' surgery today telling people not to entre if they had flu symptoms, but to go home and phone a certain number. Personally, I'd have thought it was a bit late by the time they'd got inside to read the notices!

[harb]

I thought of wearing a mask during my consultations - just for laffs :)

[ChrisEdu]

A chemical, nuclear, biological suit would be even better! :)

[Hammer]

LOL!
I'm looking for a "Post Swine Flu Pandemic" smoking hot vacation deal on a five star beachfront resort in Cabo. ;)

[Sharkman]

there are too many of us in this sick world, we can use some space. I cant wait for the idiots flu.

[Snooty]

So far, we have fended-off the fate of over-populated rabbits (tularemia).
S

[Suhail]

I think its all a conspiracy by the Face mask manufacturers association. They will do anything to sell their product. They even signed up Michael Jackson as their brand ambassador ;-)

[ChrisEdu]

I think its all a conspiracy by the Face mask manufacturers association. They will do anything to sell their product. They even signed up Michael Jackson as their brand ambassador ;-)

Don't forget the tissue, bin and vaccine manufacturers!

[Snooty]

During the last bird flu outbreak, a cynic was heard to say that the world would only get hit by a flu pandemic "when pigs fly"...

He could very well be right...

Interestingly, the only confirmed cases in the UK (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8022103.stm)are two people who have been admitted to the local hospital I refer my patients to.

Harb,
For my part, I'm restricting restaurant patronage.
S

[harb]

Tom - I agree with you that life would be so much easier if we could prevent everyone (except close family and friends) from clogging up the bookings in nice restaurants.