What panic levels? All anyone is saying is keep your hands clean and get immunized if you can, especially if you're high risk.

The reason H1N1 is getting the amount of attention is two-fold.

1) It's particularly virulent. It spreads more easily and causes more severe symptoms than most seasonal flus.

2) That alone wouldn't be all that big of a deal, if swine flu had come on the scene in time to be included in the seasonal flu vaccine. But by the time H1N1 began to spread, production of the flu vaccine had already begun.

The flu is a serious matter. It's wiped out large chunks of world population several times through history. The only reason that it doesn't really do that anymore is that the CDC and WHO and related agencies have pretty good strategies for controlling outbreaks. But that strategy involves some educated guess-work, it's not fool proof. When they guess right (most of the time), we all hardly notice. A good chunk of people get themselves immunized, we all are fairly good about washing our hands, and things remain relatively in control, business as usual.

But those rare cases where they guess wrong, they need to make some noise and get people's attention. Business as usual is not going to cut it. If we were to just try to breeze through flu season thinking that the normal amount of people getting the seasonal flu shot and assuming the normal level of basic hygiene are going to keep us as safe as normal, we have a problem. People need to be aware that some extra precaution is necessary.

I feel sorry for the CDC. What a sh*tty position to be in. If they don't do their job, thousands die. If they do their job, people see nothing happen and then bitch at them for interrupting their day with some reminders to wash their hands.

Lack of mass flu deaths is not proof that the warnings were b.s. It's proof that the extra awareness has done its job.

CP - Target doesn't carry the nasal spray vaccine, which is the one used for pregnant women. Ken said it's best to go through your doctor for that one.

Err, the nasal spray is NOT for use with pregnant women. It contains live virus.

Not here, we're a level-headed bunch. It's the same thing the news does with everything - sensationalize.

I agree the Flu is a serious thing. I'm lucky I'm not in a high risk group and that I have a strong immune system, even though from what I've been hearing that doesn't really help with this since the body will attack itself. So I'll wash my hands and be a bit more cautious and go on my way.

I agree.

That's not what I was saying. It seems that people have forgotten that people die from the regular flu and now it's zomg people are dying from the H1N1 flu with absolutely no recollection that people die from the regular flu.

Young otherwise healthy people generally don't die from regular flu. It's mostly the elderly and the already infirmed. Young otherwise healthy people have been dying of swine flu (less so in the US than, say, Mexico, but it's still a cause for greater concern than the general spate of flu deaths).

Hrrrm. Either he or I got it backwards. :blush:

Actually, I'm rather surprised at how level-headed the media has seemed on this. Can you provide a link?

I will be getting it as soon as it is available to me. I got the flu shot this year. As in previous years, my only side effect was temporary pain at the injection site.

Just stuff I see on TV getting ready for work. No links.

It seems that I am being misunderstood. I think it's a serious issue and the shot/spray is good to have for those who need/want it. I think it's safe to take and my reasons for not taking it have nothing to do with it.

I also think people who aren't in the high risk group and aren't around people who are should let those who are in the high risk group get first dibs (this goes for the regular shot too).

I may be more blase about it because so far, this area is not hit hard. And my opinions are subject to change. I'm not stating (nor have I claimed to state) hard and fast facts, just my thoughts.

Oh, you watch TEEVEE. That explains it. Yeah, TV news has been horrible and exploitative for at least 10 years now.

I do not consider TV news as actual reportage. It's entertainment. I don't care which network, which anchors. When Hal Fishman allowed bimbos into the studio and attempted to banter with them, I stopped watching TV news.