Swine flu update

[1480]

Most of the regulars know what I do for a living, with that said, the trauma unit nearest to my unit of assignment is on high alert. They had a confirmed case Monday, wasn't confirmed till last night. No one enters the hospital w/out a mask. They admitted 126 people today, 90% with flu-like symptoms. Take it anyway you'd like but use caution out there.

[A Very Super Market]

Originally Posted by owner20071963

Its very simple,
Pigs Now Fly with Birds,
Like the Common Flu,
Give Pigs More Antibiotics,
Plus Birds,
In Feed?
Creates a New Virus,
Passed to Humans with Low Body Protection?
like the Weak?
It will Kill a Person like you and me,
Unless detected early.
This bug is Now in the Air,
As I Work with A Rescue Service,
We are on High Alert,
This is Worldwide,
Making A Joke Of It here Sickens Me,
People Die from this,
Lets Pray a Relative of a member
here does Not

Influenza is a virus, and unaffected by anti-biotics anyways.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by TDK1044

Why would they expect there to be a vaccine at this stage? Flu mutates constantly, so new strains are bound to emerge. Pigs can also be infected with both the human and avian influenza. This swine flu strain appears to contain genetic elements from all three. It's going to take a while to develop a vaccine.

The 1976 outbreak strain is very different than this strain. The little buggers mutate as you stated. Hard to keep ahead of it. Vaccines take months to develop and test. Not always successful either. This virus, like most virus, are tricky changing nasty buggers.

[TDK1044]

So, let's look at the actual data instead of the hysterical ratings grabbing headlines.

So far, the total number of confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus stands at 331 people according to the World Health Organization. Not bad out of a world population of 6.77 Billion!

There has been 1 death from the virus in the US.....a baby that contracted the disease in Mexico and was then driven to Houston, Texas.

A further 108 people in the US have the virus. A California teenager I saw on a news report yesterday, contracted the virus 7 days ago, went through all of the usual flu symptoms and was then released from hospital yesterday fully fit.

Since January, there have been more than 16,000 deaths from the regular old flu that we see every year. That figure will reach about 36,000 by the end of the year.

Bottom line......The swine flu is no more potent, infact it looks less potent, than the flu we see every year, we just don't have a vaccine for it yet. History shows us that the second wave of the virus in the Fall might be more potent than this one, but a vaccine offering significant protection will be available by then.

Ignorance of the facts is much more dangerous than this variant of the swine flu.

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by TDK1044

....we just don't have a vaccine for it yet.....Ignorance of the facts is much more dangerous than this variant of the swine flu.

That is why the huge media hype and mass hysteria is occurring. We have no protection against this current strain and this is also why the WHO is classing this as a potential pandemic.

Apart from the lack of vaccine, this flu strain is no different to any serious cold or flu that any of us can and do contract.

What I want to know is what the Mexicans were doing the their pigs to get this strain to jump species. Considering it can only pass to different species through breath, saliva and faeces and will only remain viralant for up to 4 mins when exposed to air.

[Torplexed]

I'm not sure which is scarier. The closing of a local school, or the fact that the officials at that local school seem to lack some elementary spelling and grammar skills. Maybe the kids are better off at home.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by danlisa

That is why the huge media hype and mass hysteria is occurring. We have no protection against this current strain and this is also why the WHO is classing this as a potential pandemic.

Apart from the lack of vaccine, this flu strain is no different to any serious cold or flu that any of us can and do contract.

What I want to know is what the Mexicans were doing the their pigs to get this strain to jump species. Considering it can only pass to different species through breath, saliva and faeces and will only remain viralant for up to 4 mins when exposed to air.

Strange, I just heard on the news that the virus does respond to current vaccines and 'tamaflu' which are being shipped out to the states as we speak.

Stunning amount of mis-information, hysteria, and hyperbole.

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Strange, I just heard on the news that the virus does respond to current vaccines and 'tamaflu' which are being shipped out to the states as we speak.

Nope, Tamaflu attacks and reduces the effects of the illness within the body of the individual, giving that person a better chance of recovery. It does not attack or kill the virus itself. Therefore, a person being treated is still contagious, which is why they are being isolated.

According to the director of UK GP's on GMTV this morning.

I agree though, every media resource should be reading from the same script. They do nothing but panic the public.

[Jimbuna]

Here is an extract from an all points email circulated by my employers HQ yesterday:

You may have heard this afternoon that a case of swine flu has been confirmed in Newcastle. The person involved has returned from a visit to Mexico. It is important to remember that
Apart from in Mexico, all those infected with the virus have experienced mild symptoms and made a full recovery.

Testing has shown that human swine influenza H1N1 can be treated with two anti-viral drugs called Tamiflu® and Relenza®. Tamiflu is proving effective and people who received the anti-virals early are recovering.

The World Health Organisation has stated that the United Kingdom and France are the best prepared countries in the world.

[Max2147]

Originally Posted by danlisa

Apart from the lack of vaccine, this flu strain is no different to any serious cold or flu that any of us can and do contract.

Not necessarily. There are some signs to show that this strain is similar to the 1918 Spanish flu, which was definitely NOT your average influenza. But there's not enough data on that right now.