It's just propaganda to distract us from the real issues. There are only 70 labratory-confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States, no confirmed deaths.
I don't quite agree. Only 70 cases in the USA so far, yes. And only 2 in the UK. But it could (not will) get very nasty indeed. Let's hope it doesn't.
You took the typing right out of my post, Maddie. Agreed. Not to mention, there are 4 different types of medicines that are effective on this virus... It's just media hysteria designed to obfuscate our real issues. All the alarmists will now jump on the 'new crisis.'
What sucks is that some countries are going to boycott the US (and I know for a fact not coming to trade shows and media events, ie, some I'm involved with), driving our economy down further.
And class, do we know the difference between bacteria and virus?
Not that I'm trying to stir up the hornets nest, however...
A virus is not alive. It doesn't "replicate" as we do, or bacteria, for that mater. It's just a bunch of code kludged together that changes it's host cell, and moves on to the next.
So...what are the odds...?
Not looking for conspiracy theories, either..just asking honest questions.
But, on that note...know how many bedroom chemists are out there, though?
Or even, how BSE came about?
Sincerely,
G|M
I agree that it is being over-covered in the news and could possibly be a propaganda piece. I'm still waiting for the powers that be to come out and say, "See? This is why we need socialized health care."
Of course, since the time of your post there has been an update to the stats: over 100 confirmed cases and one confirmed death.
But again, the confirmed death was a Mexican infant who was taken to a hospital in Texas for better care. That's not to say that an American child could also die from this flu strand, but really- all the fear and worry is 100% overdone.
I don't think the recession is going anywhere unless the people pulling the levers and pressing the buttons decide its going to end. But that only makes me look like a nut.
But hey, now's a great time to invest in Tamiflu.
How is that economy? But like Maddie said, people are getting swine flu.
G|M
I think I can feel a back-door moment coming on. A global one too.
And just for the record, I don't give a monkeys' if anyone thinks I'm nuts. I'm already certified. Or is that certifiable? Whatever. You just can't beat a good theory. They make the world go around.
Or is that love? I'm sure someone put me straight on this the other day ... Freddie Mercury anyone?
Depends. Are you writing this from Ward B, or home....?
I wish I was in Ward B, padded cells are soooo comfy.
And yes frogdropping, I'm with you on that one. Euro, NAFTA super highway, Amero...ahh, what isn't money if a keen way to bind us all together in one macroeconomy?
G|M
I'm thinking we're on the same page G|M. You just gotta love them smokescreens
Wag the dog anyone?
And Londongirl, wardB and home - same place
Hard to know what to believe anymore. I don't think this recession will end anytime very soon whether people in the U.S. get the flu or get the measles or get rabies. What really hurt us was that zombie virus. Now I have to take a baseball bat and a shotgun to the grocery store...
I'm not sure exactly how the economy is tied to medical discovery but I know that the team who came up with the anitibiotics to the swine flu (days after it was declared an epidemic) are gonna be making the bank!
We are living in a capitalist nation. There is nothing that goes on in our society that isn't tied to the economy. To best illustrate my point, I suggest maybe picking up a Wall Street Journal sometime. (Don't kill me, FOX haters) It's got a plethora of news articles...and it all ties them together into our economy.
Sincerely,
G|M
I agree and also suggest that to capture a more objective overview, to read local newspapers, Wall St Journal, and Canadian and British news. Sometimes I go online and read a French and then a Russian news site as well.
I'm with you there...the more views you gain, be it objective or not, helps you make a bigger picture. At times you may feel frustrated, or even..overwhelmed, but the more you do it the more you become better at it.
It's like building a muscle.
I don't tend to read articles written in other languages, though, because Babelfish tends to screw up stuff. Unless there's a better translator out there I'm not aware of..
G|M
Really days? Then besides good, also the developers are either very efficient, or were holding back the anti-viral. Any details available? Thanks.
PS - And I hope the 7 times I had measles made me immune to SOMETHING. lol
They will deserve it, not least because anti-biotics have absolutely no effect on a viral disease like the flu....
I think this swine flu thing is a set-up by pharamceutical companies to make money with a hysterical public, as their profits were dropping in the recession.
Have you heard? There's a comment-spam epidemic, and the only cure is to pay Maddie extra money to be sure your hubs don't die a very painful death.
It's time for us to thaw out Robin Hood and is Merry band of Misfits. The world has now given birth to a new King John.
G|M
Is that why hubpages staff ever answered my emails, because I never paid?
If it turns out to be a flu that is more serious than the "usual" flu (which is, of course, potentially deadly for about 30,000 people each year); I can see people stopping doing things like eating out, buying produce that's eaten without cooking, etc. In other words, I can see a big set-back. I can also see schools and daycares closing, leaving parents unable to go to work.
I, personally, have tuned out worries about mutated Bird Flu, EEE, and whatever other "scares" show up.
At the same time, the 4 cases reported in Massachusetts, for example, involved two cases that turned out negative. The two children who tested positive (after a trip to Mexico) are doing well and expected to be fine. If we hear about enough cases like that, I think we'll all just lump Swine Flu in with all the other things "out there", just do our usual "thing", and hope we don't happen to get. (As I write this, I have close to no voice at all; because after two years of never getting sick, something "got me" at the beginning of April. As far as I'm concerned, all respiratory infections are pretty rotten, even if they don't have a notorious name.) I may change my thinking next week, but for now I can't pay much attention to yet more "Sky is falling" talk.
EXACTLY!
I fear zombie revenge, the most. Oh, how I pity those who live in burbclaves with only one way in and one way out. You'll hate yourselves when you wake up to an undead neighbour looking for a meal!
I agree with Maddie, its a distraction! How long will it last? that is a good question.
GM, there are 4 known medications that are used to fight this viral infection.
Swine flu is thought to be transmitted to human hosts who work with livestock--often, but not limited to--pigs, . However, once transmitted to a human, it is then transmitted in the usual way--through mucous, saliva, etc. The best defense is good hygiene and hand washing. Swine flu is thought to be related to Spanish flu, which indeed was of epidemic proportions in America in 1918. Which could be the reason for the big 'scare.' Although I do believe it is just a propaganda ploy.
You ARE talking to a lot of educated people who do research (well, not all of us, but many, lol). You do have to do that kind of research when you write, you know.
Fo'shizzle, Lita. However, I could have answered it myself, or asked the questions in a very clear way.
But if I did that, how would I ever get those who DON'T research to...you know, research?
There's generally a method to my madness.
Except for the days that end in "why?"
Ahhh..double ententes.
G|M
ISTR that Spanish Flu was bird, not swine. Could be wrong.
From my research, they are actually related. One of the 'livestock' I didn't mention was poultry... It's a strain of virus that is first transferred from other animals.
I hate misinformation, so I read a lot. And man, it is rampant--perfectly normal people associating the virus with trichinosis.
Hold on, let me get....
The CDC recommends the use of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses, however, the majority of people infected with the virus make a full recovery without requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs.
And how odd! There were FOUR meds listed this morning when my coworker and I were researching the issue. I suspect collusion, . Actually--yes, I do...
On CNN right now: News conference with Obama. First the Swine Flu, THEN.... Budget and economic issues... OMG, OMG--lets all worry about the pandemic flu.
Just a bad juxtaposition--"We're all sick and in this together. We can get through it, folks, you know we can!! The virus is our credit cards. We have to approach this is a systematic, intelligent way."
Wow, bad metaphoric poetry.
(And I LIKE Obama.)
by Dorsi Diaz 15 years ago
This will probably be the most important message I've ever posted here in the forums. This message is not meant to create panic but to let you know about the urgency of the situation.You have a very small window of opportunity to prepare for the coming swine flu pandemic. Today the World Health...
by pgrundy 15 years ago
I spent the day in Indiana taking my 23-year-old son to the doctor. He's been deathly ill for two weeks and has taken a turn for the worse over the last couple days. He has no health insurance, so I went so he could get treated. (I paid.)The doctor said he probably had flu the first week, possibly...
by LondonGirl 15 years ago
Goldacre's a great writer, on science and maths and stats. Here he writes about poor perception of risk many are showing:""Yeah, but you know, it could be like Sars and bird flu, they didn't materialise, they were hype." Simon Jenkins suggested the same thing. It's not true, I said....
by Becca Hubbard-Woods 15 years ago
Here's my dilemma. My son's school is offering the swine flu vaccine in mist form for free. I have to sign a permission form before they will give it to him and I'm iffy on whether or not to let him have it. He's 5, by the way. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks ahead of time.
by Destiny Rose 15 years ago
I wouldnt
by Midnytefire 15 years ago
Just curious to see how many people are really feeling the effects of the Swine Flu or is it all just to cause mass hysteria.
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