Swine Flu

[iCraig]

It's a threat, but nothing as large as what the media is spinning. People will die from it, but people die from flu all the time. Flu has always been a killer for those with poor immune systems (Mexican poverty anyone?) and the young and elderly. You've also got to factor in other complications. Apparently a 29yr old in Mexico has died, but, what was the state of his body? Did he have a good immune system, a healthy pair of lungs? Did the flu simply exhaserbate an existing condition? How long did he wait before seeking medical attention? How much treatment did he actually recieve? Let's face it their hospitals are hardly like Princeton Plainsboro over there.

What's the death toll so far? ~120? oooh, over a few weeks in a global population of 6.7 billion, is the death of 120 individuals supposed to scare us? Hundreds die each day across the world from peanut allergies, are we supposed to close our borders from peanuts getting into the country? Even if it did spread to a lot of people, the treatment is successful and most don't even need hospitalisation! I'm more worried about the inevitable superbug resistant to treatment that we'll unleash on ourselves one day. With our anti-bacterial everything culture, it's only a matter of time until bugs evolve strong enough to challenge even the healthiest individuals. With no effective treatment, *then* we have a problem and millions will die.

[Briggykins]

Hmm, just heard it's just down the road in Paignton now. Gleep! I don't imagine it'll kill me but I hate getting the flu

[Pheebs]

Originally Posted by Briggykins

Hmm, just heard it's just down the road in Paignton now. Gleep! I don't imagine it'll kill me but I hate getting the flu

Really?!

I didn't think it had come that far a field (I always think we're millions of miles away from everything us Southerners)!!

Woo to working from home!



Personally I'm interested to hear what's going on about it buuut I'm not overly worried. We'll see what happens

PS. Briggy! Poke poke poke email for jobs! Please kthxbye lub woo!

[Briggykins]

YGM! (sent to your AKOF address)

[Mark]

Originally Posted by iCraig

It's a threat, but nothing as large as what the media is spinning.

True - to a point. This outbreak is a subtype of H1N1. That's responsible for the typical seasonal flu outbreaks that do kill thousands, but it's also responsible for the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic that affected 50% of the world's population and killed the worldwide equivalent of 1/3rd of the population of Europe (at the time).

We just don't know yet which way it'll turn. One large dose of comfort is that we have effective medication now.

If it gets to Asia in significant quantity and mixes with H5N1, that's when it gets scary.

PS - the Spanish Flu pandemic lasted two years.

[iCraig]

Yeah exactly, science and medication has come along way. Look at how many diseases that killed us centuries ago which we've cured now.

[Pheebs]

Oooh I've just realised I go to college down the road from that Paignton school which has been shut from Swine flu and a lot of people who attend my College are Paigntonee people (with kiddles in school there).

Should be interesting to hear what's been going on when I'm next in (due to bank hols it won't be til next week!)

Hoping it doesn't spread Would mean lots of school closures around here... the only good news in that would be Picky would be able to come home! Would much rather people were well though.

[Ben M]

I can't wait until bird flu and swine flu meet in the middle and battle it out for control of the Earth.

[Desmo]

Meant to be some at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford....or something like that. Not that I care

[Desmo]

Oh, just for your information....I tried phoning the Swine Flu Hotline earlier but all I got was a load of crackling.