Thread: Swine flu pandemic

You just have to be alert and monitor the situation. There is really nothing you can do about it anyway and right now nobody knows if this thing sputters out or develops.

remember that the strain that killed 20+million people in 1918 first started as a mild illness and disappeared and returned a year later mutated and killed all those people and thats when the worlds population was a fraction of what it is now.

It's made from swine and swine sure tastes fine: Pork - Weebl's Stuff

Thats funny!

Originally Posted by icedog

It's made from swine and swine sure tastes fine: Pork - Weebl's Stuff

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

Ahh Yes...but this strain of Flu isnt covered by the flu shot :P

It was expected to be covered as an Influenza A variant. Here's the list of what they put into the flu vaccines given in the US this past year 2008-09.

A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus;
A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;
B/Florida/4/2006-like virus

One of the A/Brisbanes is an H1N1 virus. What makes the present day Mexico variant different is that it contains a piece of human-virus RNA that allows much easier infection in human beings. That small mismatch was enough. It is arguable that if you had a flu shot this year, you may have partial protection. It is believed that in some part, that may be why so far the cases in the US have been less severe.

The Mexico variant is in the Type A class. We just got a bunch more test kits in the office for people with symptoms. First you get a nasal swab to discriminate Type A or Type B. If you're Type A you get another swab that the Health Department is very interested in. About 48 hours later you will know which virus you have. In the meantime you get Tamiflu or Relenza while you wait.

Well, my mom emailed me again, saying that the WHO is expected to announce this as an official pandemic tomorrow...Anyone see this on the news? This could be inside Health Department info...

Cause for concern has just been ratcheted up a notch.

Nothing special is reported as of yet. We've had 6 suspected cases, (3 ad, 3 kid) but it turned out to be something else. Meanwhile, the ministry of foreign affairs has issued a negative advice for travel to Mexico.

This means that by law, people can cancel their holidays and get a refund. One of the students in MA class had a friend who was going to Mexico to get married, in a couple of weeks. I guess that is becoming uncertain now.

Even if the flu shot only has partial protection, that could make the difference between 'annoying' and 'disaster' I guess. While we are on that subject: does you company organize free vaccinations on site? Many here do (incl mine) and you can get a free flu shot. It's not mandatory, and it is free.

Many companies do this to prevent the working population from being felled by the flu. It's a numbers game really. The cost of having a couple hundred flu shots administered by a doctor or nurse is negligible for a large company, whereas the cost of production failure due to being understaffed would be dramatic.

Yes Bruno My company does for us, (and for our spouse and kids if applicable at a very very minor cost)

Also I heard yesterday that almost every country around the world is doing thermal scanning of passengers arriving from affected areas....

OH except the US, yeah we don't care about the 1000's flooding across the border everyday, Homeland security HA !!!! I feel safe...

I am not a doctor, but I am a fourth year medical student. Here is what I know so far. Most of the cases of this flu are NOT deadly. The people who are in a dangerous situation are the elderly, or people who are otherwise "immunocompromised", meaning severe diabetes, very young children, HIV, cancer, or other known disorders of immunity. THank God, most of us are not in these situations. Here is the best way to protect your self. First wash your hands. If you know someone has the flu, stay away from them and use Lysol sprays to disinfect where they have been. If you get the flu, drink plenty of fluids and if you are immunocompromised or unsure, then go to a hospital for antivirals. There are two subsets of these, one set works only on Influenza type A (viral uncoating inhibitors) and the other set are called Neuraminidase inhibitors (tamiflu etc) adn WOrk on Types A and B.
Whatever the case, do not panic. If you are sick, go to the doctor or emergency room. Most people will handle this in developed countries where hydration and nutrition are well developed. SOmetimes it takes 1-2 weeks to get over it, but the good news is you will only get it once. This will pass, and as for the cases in the US, every nationality and their cousins, brothers etc. live in NY so pandemics will hit here hardest and first usually. The people in the more civilized areas of the US with substantially fewer immigrants and travelers will be fine and will most likely not see any cases.
All I know is this, the Bible says the when Jesus comes back the world will end and be forever changed. So if you are really concerned this is the end of the world, I suggest going to church and getting you affairs settled. Mine are already in order. Fortunately, I don't see Jesus coming back as a Flu virus, so I think we are all safe.
Here is a link by a great Emergency physician who analyzes medical news, and writes articles backed by peer-reviewed high powered medical evidence. This is not a New York Times or otherwise BS analysis, this is analysis backed by REAL EVIDENCE based medicine which is what all responsible physicians use to guide their clinical practice.
MedPie | Top Health Stories.

Regards

I sugggest grapefruit seed extract, olive leaf tinctures and colloidal silver. Not too many viruses can withstand those three.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Yes Bruno My company does for us, (and for our spouse and kids if applicable at a very very minor cost)

Also I heard yesterday that almost every country around the world is doing thermal scanning of passengers arriving from affected areas....

OH except the US, yeah we don't care about the 1000's flooding across the border everyday, Homeland security HA !!!! I feel safe...

I travel to Japan often for business, and they always have the thermal scanner going 24/7. I never knew what that camera was for previously....now I do.