Thread: Swine flu pandemic

The US has just declared a health emergency for Swine flu. Apparently this is a new strain. Here is an article:U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency in Wake of Swine Flu - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com
I have heard others call this a pandemic which is why I titled this thread as such.

I was wondering if there were any doctors in the house who could explain whats going on and how to best protect ones family, or, is this no more serious than the common flu that goes around yearly?

Thanks,
Mark

EDIT: I am hoping this thread will help to allay fears that anyone may have

well just to add to the interest if seems that the a private high school in NYC has 70+ students with the disease (AP story), and that it is in Canada as well. but the illness seems to be milder in the US and Canadian cases... might have more to do with overall better general health, hygiene and access to medical treatment for those folks though.

I'm far from an expert on this, but your link and the associated CDC link paint a far less cataclysmic picture than some of the TV images seen over here. Watching the news, seeing crowds of people wearing masks, you'd think this is an end of the world scenario. The reality seems far different.

I think this is an example of how the safer our lives become, the more we focus on smaller and smaller risks as if they are a major threat. And don't the media make the most of it?

I hope I'm right.

Originally Posted by Rajagra

I'm far from an expert on this, but your link and the associated CDC link paint a far less cataclysmic picture than some of the TV images seen over here. Watching the news, seeing crowds of people wearing masks, you'd think this is an end of the world scenario. The reality seems far different.

I think this is an example of how the safer our lives become, the more we focus on smaller and smaller risks as if they are a major threat. And don't the media make the most of it?

I hope I'm right.

Ray, there are over 1000 cases in Mexico city. 86 have already died in Mexico from the flu, but here in the US and Canada this flu appears to be very mild.

It could be a pandemic. I would not call it that yet. We are not into numbers that are exponential. Having an emergency is a good excuse to practice all the stuff we've tried to prepare for just such an occasion. Waiting, like during Katrina, to get things ready wasn't very helpful. Maybe we'll waste some resources getting up to speed on this one, but realistically, if this does turn south on everyone, the public health folks appear to be ahead of the curve this time. Better to be ahead than behind.

There are a lot (1,000) of people in Mexico with "flu like" symptoms. Only 20 of those who have died have been confirmed as the flu. Out of 20 million living in or around Mexico City. The death rate is slowing too.

The New York school story is only 8 kids confirmed with flu despite the media hyping 75-100 being ill.

Generally, it appears that of those falling ill with flu like symptoms around the world, diverse places, there is an associated link to recent travel to Mexico.

This virus is a mosaic, meaning it contains elements of RNA from avian strains, human strains and pig strains. It's like a hand of cards, some are good ones, some are not so good. Our program to vaccinate people for the flu, picks strains that are from each group, so even if you get exposed to this virus, you may have some partial immunity to the segments of RNA contributing to the whole virus. I suspect that is why the cases in the US are mild so far.

The media love a good sky is falling story. I wish they'd just stick to the facts and not propagate hysteria. Panic is a more infectious disease than those caused by bugs.

If you are ill, there are two medicines that work well if taken early in the disease. See your doctor if you need to. Wash your hands, don't cough on people, stay away from crowded bunches of other sick people, things that are common sense.

I wouldn't worry about what ifs. There are enough things to worry about in this world. There is really nothing at this point that we can do anyway.

If things get worse and substantial numbers start falling ill in your city then you may want to think about getting some masks and avoiding public events and areas and get your kids out of public school and maybe taking some time off work but that's only if this thing starts really killing people.

OK am I the only one wondering WTF Mother nature was thinking, when she combined Swine,Avian,and Human flu together...

Hmmmmmm maybe she didn't make that combination

I have to agree. Im working in the ER in NYC and we are taking it as a Flu problem...in that..if you have it..stay at home..get rest...dont be going out. Obviously if your case is worse requiring medical attention..get it.

To many people read stuff like this in the paper and freak out and panic.

Rest...relax...hydrate...treat the fevers...as you would any other flu. If things get worse from there, you should follow up with your doctor. The worst thing you can do is to be out in the public/work when your ill.

While I am a professional....im not your professional :P so YMMV and all that Jazz.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

OK am I the only one wondering WTF Mother nature was thinking, when she combined Swine,Avian,and Human flu together...

Hmmmmmm maybe she didn't make that combination

It's really the natural progression of this type of virus. There is a good deal of mix and match when the virii (viruses) are occupying the same host and can exchange RNA bits between them.

Hong Kong, or any similar dense city, is the perfect culture. People, pigs and birds usually living in the same household or very close proximity. Where the pigs would usually only come into contact with pork viruses, they are also exposed to human virus and avian virus. Either animal can do the mix and match. Sometimes the mixing produces a weaker version of the virus, sometimes stronger and most usually mutation occurs as a result of the human virus adopting characteristics of the pig or avian varieties because humans mostly have not seen those variations. That is one of the reasons this is nearly the most successful lifeform on the planet is that it mutates nearly annually.

The flu's we vaccinate for every year are generally selected because they first appear in HK. You become immune to the flu you've already had. But the virus changes just enough that it's not an exact match for your defences and it slips in to ravage again.

I'd recommend adopting Spendur's attitude if you can. There is plenty to do, if this stuff hits us, it is not guaranteed that it will.

I used to think "the Flu" was synonymous with the "Stomach Flu" until I contracted some Influenza strain in 1998 as a late twenty year old healthy male. I learned at least four things from it:

• I'd never been that sick before or since.
• I'd never been that utterly weak before or since. So weak it was almost impossible to lift a spoon of broth to my mouth. Seriously.
• It had nothing to do with the stomach, nausea or vomiting.
• Slipping into a disoriented state and being largely unable to care for myself along with all of the above, I could see how children and the elderly could actually die from Influenza. If the fever hadn't finally broke, I would have had my girlfriend at the time (now my wife) call 911 without a doubt and have an ambulance cart me away.

Chris L