swine flu outbreak?

[Baked]

I still don't get why they need to poke the young, old and sick twice. If they only poke once, then we'll have twice as many people vaccinated.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Baked
I still don't get why they need to poke the young, old and sick twice. If they only poke once, then we'll have twice as many people vaccinated.

maybe because the vacanation needs to be done twice to work?

 

[dsity]

i am just now getting over the swine flu

worse fn flu i've ever had. I went to sleep and woke up to a fever of 105. fried brains ftw

 

[BoomerD]

Bio-TERRARSTS!!

Theyz spreading the Mexican Pig Virus...


I remember the 76 swine flu "epidemic.'

No one I knew caught it, no one I knew knew of anyone who caught it.

Was it real? Yes. Was it the pandemic they had predicted? No.

I suspect this one will be more of the same.

Will people catch it? Yes. Will some people die from it? Of course, many already have.

Will it be the "OMFG!! We're all gonna die if we don't get this vaccine?" type of pandemic that the media is headed for? I really doubt it.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Good luck avoiding the flu!

There was no avoiding it to begin with.

So, you're saying *everyone* is going to get the flu?

So, you're saying the vaccine will prevent everyone from getting the flu?

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Those poor bastards... there's only a 99.9995% chance that they'll survive this calamity.

Swine Flu is the biggest bullshit global government 'we're here to save you' episode ever.

Didn't you know, you'd better force them to pass UHC or we're all gonna die!!! Thanks swine flu!

Also, I've read your posts before. Is your thinking really that shallow that you can't pause 10 seconds to read a thread and understand the premise of the thread - that this will have a big impact on productivity at the time the U.S. is showing signs of economic recovery? Do you always just look at 2 or 3 key words and automatically type your response?

I never denied that the media is over-hyping the "lots of people will die" thing. Whatever gave you the idea that that is what this thread was about? Comprehension ftl.

This is not about what you thought this thread was. I was responding to, and agreeing with, Whoozyerdaddy's assertion that a health crisis is a great way to sell the government option with health care. That single post in agreement with him would have been the end of that subject if you had simply had the wisdom to leave it at that.

 

[shira]

Originally posted by: Zeppelin2282
The biggest thing to worry about is this flu mutating into a full fledged pandemic.

Actually, it's already officially a pandemic - "pandemic" status doesn't imply increased lethality.

I think what you intended to write was the concern that the virus could mutate into a more lethal form.

 

[shira]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
Media overhype.

They've gone from obscure diseases with mortality rates that don't infect anyone to a common disease that doesn't kill anyone.

I just wish some newsworthy shit would happen so they would shut the fuck up about swine flu.

2,000,000+ infected already. Less than 10,000 deaths. <0.005% mortality rate.

10,000/2,000,000 would be 1/500. So "less than 10,000 deaths" would mean a mortality rate of < .2%.

 

[Wheezer]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I'm amazed that because some of you hate the media hype, you cease being able to think rationally. You do NOT have any immunity to the swine flu. If you understood how viruses are spread, the rate of transmission depends a lot on the percent of the population who is immune (either by having it in the past, else by vaccination). Do you get the flu every single year? No? Well, if that vaccine isn't out before the shit hits the fan, then your odds of getting the flu are MUCH higher than they've been in any year in the past.

You'll get the flu. But, you'll live. And, that's where you think the media hype has been unfairly directed - pointing out how many will die.

How many will die is beside the point of this thread - if a lot of people aren't vaccinated (the only way to become immune to this strain, other than catch the flu) - a lot of people are going to get the flu this year. Far far more than in previous years. And people aren't going to want you at work if you're sick - they don't want to catch it too. If it starts spreading fast, before the vaccine is out, it's going to have a major impact on production.

Plus, I'm inclined to believe that a lot of sick people WILL go to work - people who work in service industry jobs who don't get any sick time, i.e. employees at fast food restaurants, etc. Good luck avoiding the flu!

and how many of those who catch this or any flu have poor personal hygiene habits and poor diet that contributes to a lackluster immune system that does not allow them to fight it off without severe consequences?

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Bio-TERRARSTS!!

Theyz spreading the Mexican Pig Virus...


I remember the 76 swine flu "epidemic.'

No one I knew caught it, no one I knew knew of anyone who caught it.

Was it real? Yes. Was it the pandemic they had predicted? No.

I suspect this one will be more of the same.

Will people catch it? Yes. Will some people die from it? Of course, many already have.

Will it be the "OMFG!! We're all gonna die if we don't get this vaccine?" type of pandemic that the media is headed for? I really doubt it.

The 1976 "swin flu" is documented to have never spread beyond Fort Dix and never infected more than a handful of people. The current "swin flu" is documented to have likely infected several million world wide close to 50,000 in the US. Where the hell you get the idea that the argument that this is about "OMFG!! We're all gonna die if we don't get this vaccine?" is beyond me! The argument here is what will happen if a good 10% of the entire worlds working population is unable to work at any one time (a not unlikely scenario in many places). Are you trying to say this will have NO economic impact?

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: Wheezer

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I'm amazed that because some of you hate the media hype, you cease being able to think rationally. You do NOT have any immunity to the swine flu. If you understood how viruses are spread, the rate of transmission depends a lot on the percent of the population who is immune (either by having it in the past, else by vaccination). Do you get the flu every single year? No? Well, if that vaccine isn't out before the shit hits the fan, then your odds of getting the flu are MUCH higher than they've been in any year in the past.

You'll get the flu. But, you'll live. And, that's where you think the media hype has been unfairly directed - pointing out how many will die.

How many will die is beside the point of this thread - if a lot of people aren't vaccinated (the only way to become immune to this strain, other than catch the flu) - a lot of people are going to get the flu this year. Far far more than in previous years. And people aren't going to want you at work if you're sick - they don't want to catch it too. If it starts spreading fast, before the vaccine is out, it's going to have a major impact on production.

Plus, I'm inclined to believe that a lot of sick people WILL go to work - people who work in service industry jobs who don't get any sick time, i.e. employees at fast food restaurants, etc. Good luck avoiding the flu!

and how many of those who catch this or any flu have poor personal hygiene habits and poor diet that contributes to a lackluster immune system that does not allow them to fight it off without severe consequences?

What is your point? Whether what you say is true or false has absolutely no bearing on the outcome. The ability of this strain to spread, it's infection rate, it's mortality rate are all solidly documented.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
i don't think so, swine flu isn't much worse than normal flu

H1N1 influenza A aka 'swine flu' IS the normal flu.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
What is your point? Whether what you say is true or false has absolutely no bearing on the outcome. The ability of this strain to spread, it's infection rate, it's mortality rate are all solidly documented.

That's right. Solidly documented as being no different or more dangerous than any typical flu strain. Because H1N1 Influenza A is a typical flu strain. Not to knock the flu, mind you -- the flu is among the deadliest of human diseases -- but to knock the hype surrounding this particular strain.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
i don't think so, swine flu isn't much worse than normal flu

H1N1 influenza A aka 'swine flu' IS the normal flu.

*sigh*

Yes it is. And no it isn't.

The Influenza virus has two key surface proteins on it's surface that are important in the viruses ability to enter human cells. The body's immune system recognizes the virus largely by these surface proteins. They are named Neuraminidase and Hemagglutinin. There are several different sub types of each H1,H2,H3 etc etc... The influenza virus mutates on a regular bases mixing and matching these various sub types. When the surface proteins have changed enough the immune system no longer recognizes it and your body becomes susceptible to this new strain. That's why every year's flu season can manage to infect people who have had the "flu" in previous years. Thing is so long as these proteins stay "relatively" similar there is still quite a lot of immunity in the general population. The flu that we have known as "seasonal flu" for the past several decades have been variations of the H3N2 strain. H1N1 has not been circulating globally for a very long time hence almost no one's immune system is primed to recognize it. Hence this strain is going to infect A LOT more people than your average yearly flu, it already has. The difference between the kid down the block being home from school sick and 50% of the entire block being home sick is not something to be taken lightly. It has nothing to do with how many people are going to die.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Locut0s
What is your point? Whether what you say is true or false has absolutely no bearing on the outcome. The ability of this strain to spread, it's infection rate, it's mortality rate are all solidly documented.

That's right. Solidly documented as being no different or more dangerous than any typical flu strain. Because H1N1 Influenza A is a typical flu strain. Not to knock the flu, mind you -- the flu is among the deadliest of human diseases -- but to knock the hype surrounding this particular strain.

Read my post above. What I meant is that said documentation shows that this is NOT like your yearly flu strain. On a case by case basis it's no worse sure. That is NOT the point though.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
i don't think so, swine flu isn't much worse than normal flu

H1N1 influenza A aka 'swine flu' IS the normal flu.

*sigh*

Yes it is. And no it isn't.

The Influenza virus has two key surface proteins on it's surface that are important in the viruses ability to enter human cells. The body's immune system recognizes the virus largely by these surface proteins. They are named Neuraminidase and Hemagglutinin. There are several different sub types of each H1,H2,H3 etc etc... The influenza virus mutates on a regular bases mixing and matching these various sub types. When the surface proteins have changed enough the immune system no longer recognizes it and your body becomes susceptible to this new strain. That's why every year's flu season can manage to infect people who have had the "flu" in previous years. Thing is so long as these proteins stay "relatively" similar there is still quite a lot of immunity in the general population. The flu that we have known as "seasonal flu" for the past several decades have been variations of the H3N2 strain. H1N1 has not been circulating globally for a very long time hence almost no one's immune system is primed to recognize it. Hence this strain is going to infect A LOT more people than your average yearly flu, it already has. The difference between the kid down the block being home from school sick and 50% of the entire block being home sick is not something to be taken lightly. It has nothing to do with how many people are going to die.

IOW, its infection rate is above average, but it's also a mild strain, which combined with its high infection rate is why its mortality rate is well below average. Lots of sniffles this winter. Let's all be afraid!

Yaknow, someday... the flu virus might evolve into one of those truly successful virus that does not sicken and/or kill its host, like the millions we all live with everyday. There is hope.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
i don't think so, swine flu isn't much worse than normal flu

H1N1 influenza A aka 'swine flu' IS the normal flu.

*sigh*

Yes it is. And no it isn't.

The Influenza virus has two key surface proteins on it's surface that are important in the viruses ability to enter human cells. The body's immune system recognizes the virus largely by these surface proteins. They are named Neuraminidase and Hemagglutinin. There are several different sub types of each H1,H2,H3 etc etc... The influenza virus mutates on a regular bases mixing and matching these various sub types. When the surface proteins have changed enough the immune system no longer recognizes it and your body becomes susceptible to this new strain. That's why every year's flu season can manage to infect people who have had the "flu" in previous years. Thing is so long as these proteins stay "relatively" similar there is still quite a lot of immunity in the general population. The flu that we have known as "seasonal flu" for the past several decades have been variations of the H3N2 strain. H1N1 has not been circulating globally for a very long time hence almost no one's immune system is primed to recognize it. Hence this strain is going to infect A LOT more people than your average yearly flu, it already has. The difference between the kid down the block being home from school sick and 50% of the entire block being home sick is not something to be taken lightly. It has nothing to do with how many people are going to die.

IOW, its infection rate is above average, but it's also a mild strain, which combined with its high infection rate is why its mortality rate is well below average. Lots of sniffles this winter. Let's all be afraid!

Yaknow, someday... the flu virus might evolve into one of those truly successful virus that does not sicken and/or kill its host, like the millions we all live with everyday. There is hope.

Mild influenza != the cold. It's still influenza. You are going to have a fever, your muscles are going to ache, you will feel nausea, etc etc.. Most people don't want to work under these conditions.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
Mild influenza != the cold. It's still influenza. You are going to have a fever, your muscles are going to ache, you will feel nausea, etc etc.. Most people don't want to work under these conditions.

I won't argue this. But I do fear for this world if a massive outbreak of sick days is suddenly what we consider to be a pandemic.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Locut0s
Mild influenza != the cold. It's still influenza. You are going to have a fever, your muscles are going to ache, you will feel nausea, etc etc.. Most people don't want to work under these conditions.

I won't argue this. But I do fear for this world if a massive outbreak of sick days is suddenly what we consider to be a pandemic.

By definition a pandemic is ANY disease that is infectious and manages to spread widely amongst the general human population. You are thinking of a capital P Pandemic a la bubonic plague, 1918 influenza. No one is arguing this is going to be like that. But you don't need anything like that to have significant disruption of the global economy (which is largely influenced by emotions anyway).

 

[SandEagle]

heh.



Its not 2000 all at one time, its 2000 over 2 weeks (143/day).. and across how many different campuses?

headlines are misleading and numbers are probably exaggerated.
the flu self-care kits that were handed out contained:
- thermometer, painkillers, throat lozenges, sport drinks, hand sanitizer and tissues

Sounds like your typical flu symptoms to me.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: SandEagle
heh.



Its not 2000 all at one time, its 2000 over 2 weeks (143/day).. and across how many different campuses?

headlines are misleading and numbers are probably exaggerated.
the flu self-care kits that were handed out contained:
- thermometer, painkillers, throat lozenges, sport drinks, hand sanitizer and tissues

Sounds like your typical flu symptoms to me.

That 2000 represents about 10% of their student base. If that were a company having 143 employees reporting in sick per day would not be good for productivity.

 

[DrPizza]

True. However, the flu lasts more than one day.

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Baked
I still don't get why they need to poke the young, old and sick twice. If they only poke once, then we'll have twice as many people vaccinated.

maybe because the vacanation needs to be done twice to work?

You don't know this. You believe this because that's what the government told you it's true and you assume it's true. The Chinese government is only doing the poking once and say it's fine.

 

[shira]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
i don't think so, swine flu isn't much worse than normal flu

H1N1 influenza A aka 'swine flu' IS the normal flu.

This year, at any rate, H1N1 influenza is NOT being lumped together with "seasonal flu". For example, in the CDC website, you'll find the following:

How does 2009 H1N1 virus spread?

Spread of 2009 H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads.

Also, H1N1 influenza appears to be exhibiting an infection profile different from seasonal flu: Infections have occurred at low incidence rates throughout the summer, and high-incidence outbreaks of H1N1 influenza are now starting to occur, at least two months before seasonal flu outbreaks normally occur.

 

[Codewiz]

Not to mention all these people who don't worry, obviously don't have children. I have a 10 month old. I only wish the vaccine was already available.....