Swine flu?
 

Opinions?

I'm opposed.

No messing with my bacon, please

Sort of scary, but not nearly as much as FoxNews is freaking out about. Personally, I think it's milder here in the US because we already probably had a variant of it this winter- the kick ass flu bug we had running rampant up here in Washington sounds very much like this new one, and I know of at least ten people who developed pneumonia from it. Of course, I could be in denial over the seriousness of it, but so far I'm just not hugely worried. I do feel badly for the people in Mexico, though.

We're all going to die. Me more than you.

Swine Flu 2009 = Bird Flu of whatever year it was.

Gah - CNN was going crazy over it. I didn't even know it was such a big deal until yesterday.

Yeah - It's certainly far more the Fox News freaking out over it.

Here's the thing.

When these things don't turn into epidemics/pandemics, everyone's quick to say, "What the hell was all the hubub about? The CDC is full of sh*t, scaring us for no good reason."

But no one ever seems to stop and think that the reason it doesn't become pandemic is because the CDC did it's job, got the word out, people took more care, and they were able to do their job to control things.

The hype certainly does get out of control. And it is hard to know whether anything really was stopped or if it's a "I've got a rock in my pocket that prevents tiger attacks, and it's been 100% effective," situation. But the reality is, IF bird flu, sars, swine flu, whatever is a disease with the potential to go pandemic, then the way to prevent it is to make as many people aware of it as quickly as possible.

Again, I know that it gets translated in media into a level of fear and paranoia that is not really warranted. But there's not much that can be done about that. And just because certain people can't separate "awareness and caution" from "all out fear and paranoia" doesn't change the fact that it IS important to make the population aware so as to ensure that all out fear and paranoia aren't warranted.

It may please you to know that Fox was the only news site I had looked at- certainly wasn't trying to imply that they were the only one. However, the comments from the readers were pretty entertaining.

I agree that there's importance on being aware.

"Hey, a new strain of flu seems to be spreading out of Mexico, if you are experiencing flu symptoms it is more important this year that you get checked out sooner than you might otherwise."

That's helpful.

"Oh my god, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the end of the world really upon us!!!!!!!! How many millions (dare we say billions?????) of people will be dead before this horror is over!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!??!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?! ?!??!. Also, some might say that our American audiences may want to go wait for the first serious domestic case of Swine Flu before panicking. Maybe even for a death. But wouldn't you agree that it is never too soon for hyteria?! Please hold your answer until after this commercial break. After you answer we'll somehow link this to an Anderson Cooper piece on the perils of eating smoked monkey meat."

That's not so much helpful. And that's pretty much what I've been seeing on CNN (haven't watched any Fox recently) since Friday before there was any significant official information from health agencies.

40,000 people per year already die of influenza each year in this country. While I'm glad the health agencies are on it and I'm glad I'm aware of the issue I just can't get worked up about it until there is more evidence that this strain will cause even a 10% fluctuation in that number and until then the level of coverage (and the tone particularly) seems comicly excessive.

And it does wear you down. How many people pay attention any more to the occasional "2 cases of Nile virus infections reported in Contra Costa county; death is upon us again" any more?

My Mom was freaking out because when we came back from California the kid and I were sick. Ummm that was two weeks ago and the kid has been to the Dr. I think we're safe.

She doesn't ever think before she freaks out, it sucks having an alarmist as a Mom. Thank goodness she lives many states away! I'm sure the news isn't helping her state of mind either though.

And that's why it's a problem. Too many times crying wolf and no one believes in the wolf anymore.

I'm not saying I LIKE the media freakout, I just see it as inevitable.And it bugs me when people use the media freakout as evidence that the CDC is b.s. and that there's no possible reason to pay attention to pandemic warnings ever.

SWINE WATCH 2009!

Swine flu?

Ha!

When pigs fly.

I agree, it generally does not reflect on the CDC when things are overhyped (especially when the overhype began before they'd even issued any statements). And their statements generally have the appropriate emotionless that is appropriate. And for the most part right now they aren't saying things that they don't always say it is just that the news is reporting every word.

But, beyond normal interest in what is happening in the rest of the world, since the press over-reacts to pretty much everything regardless of justification, until there is an overflowing morgue somewhere in the United States it will remain just a point of interest and not anything of concern to me.

But I'm still planing to head for Vegas, Boulder is too boring and cold in the winter.

I spent two and a hours at the laundromat yesterday instead of Saturday because I decided to go to the LA Times Festival of Books. And for two and a half hours at the laundromat yesterday, CNN was pounding me with Swine Fly warnings and tape of the soccer game with no one attending. (Yes, I go to a telenovelaless laundromat.)

So now I'm thinking "Oh crap! There were LOTS of people at UCLA. Did we give Swine Flu to Kristen Chenowith? Did we GET Swine Flu from Bob Barker? Where have these people BEEN?" We're doomed! And it's MY fault because I didn't do the laundry! Dirty lingerie will give you swine flu.

Seriously. I'm basically a practical person but after 2 and a half hours of CNN I thought the black plague was being visited upon us.

So how about "hey, if you get the flu, call the doctor. You'll probably be fine, just like with any flu. If you ignore it, you'll get sicker."

Too simplistic, isn't it?

Now why does this all sound so familiar. Oh yeah, we just need to replace the word "swine" with the word "bird" and we'd have this thread....

So that's why there was an increase in surgical mask wearing on the train today. Someday relying on LoT as my primary news source will get me into trouble.

I don't know E, we're a pretty informed bunch at least about bacon and things that are really important!

Here's nice SARS masks- but nothing entirely goofy enough for my tastes.

There's something nice knowing that I deal with more dogs than people. However, we did just renew our APs.

All this nonsense because someone ****ed a pig...

kissed a pig?

:rolleyes: Israeli official insists the name "swing flu" be changed. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Oh puh-lease. That's got to be the stupidest thing I've read all day.

I like how GD suggested a name change right in the headline of the link.


Unless NA was visiting GD and typed the post for him.

Visible mojo KB, I can't give you regular mojo! My brain didn't even register the typo.

I don't see that it matters what they call it but I guess it's offensive to them.

I am cursed with finding them. I wish I could turn it off, but I can't.

I on the other hand, did not see it the first time and even after being altered to it's present was unable to locate the typo for a full two minuets.

Well perhaps if you weren't dancing you would have had better luck.

This is from a news letter I recieved from Health Sciences Institute of Baltimore:


Is the swine flu a terrorist act? Or the FDA working with big drug companies to make billions? Stay tuned.......

HSI is a quack organization (I'll throw in an "in my opinion") so I'd be careful taking heath related advice from them.

Don't tell me this or I will beg you to proofread the Valentino thingiebop. Heh! :D

To the best of my knowledge, there have been no alterations of GD's original post or my response.

I thought it was a picture book. I could proofread that :D

Which makes me wonder, Rstar do you agree with what that group says?

For those who are in Orange County, here is the Health Care Agency's swine flu info page.

Just FYI...

Do they have anything on the Swing Flu?

No.

It spreads easily and quickly, especially in the presence of alcohol.

Characterized by rapid loss of bodily fluids, swing flu is also accompanied by loss of breath, perspiration, and.........

.....okay I should stop there. :evil:

Oh, how I want to respond...

I understand one never really recovers from swing flu

Good example would be Lindyhop!

Play this game, and make your own swine flu!

Mouth a bit too full? :evil:

While HSI may be "quack" in whomever's opinion, a great many things in it made a lot of sense. The safety testing (or lack thereof) for vaccines is atrocious.

Yeah - but is it really swine, bird and human based? I haven't heard that one before and if it were true, it would seem like a huge news story.

Please let this sore throat be just a sore throat...

They found "patient zero"... a little boy who lives next to a pig farm in Mexico. They said that tested the pig farm and came back negative. (hmmm -does that mean that they tested every pig there? hmmmm)

The best quote ever to come out of this fake epidemic is this, from an AP news article entitled "What's in a name? US considering calls to rename 'swine flu' for fear it's misleading":

OK.... first of all... WTF. Having the word "swine" in a VIRUS name is "offensive"?

And second, like renaming it the Mexican Flu (by their silly logic) wouldn't be offensive to... oh, I don't know, MEXICANS? I guess since lots of people (this country included) don't consider Mexicans "real" people anyway, that's ok. :confused:

It is true, but it's not a huge news story as that kind of mutation happens all the time with flu viruses.

Oh, they're particularly insane quacks on the issue of vaccines.

I know nothing about the organization. I'm completely unfamiliar. But I am appalled at the lack of safety testing in the vaccine industry. It, like our atrocious infant mortality rates, makes me question our first world status.

I have seen and heard that many places, including this one: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30471035

Where it says" Still, the CDC calls the new strain a combination of pig, bird and human viruses for which people may have limited natural immunity."

In the early days I even saw cries of " Maybe it was engineered by terrorists", which I was hoping is a bunch of hooey. So far it seems to say this can happen naturally, just not very often.

The WHO has raised the alert to 5.

6 is a full pandemic.

I wonder if Disneyland will still be open when I go on the 8th? :eek: ;)

I just saw that on MSN too! Does anyone know how many times the threat level has been raised to 5?

From the CDC website...

According to this link, it was at phase 3 for 2 years and was raised two days ago to phase 4.

I think panicking is over-rated. Maybe I'm just not "in panic mode" because I don't watch the news, let alone 24 hour news stations with nothing better to do then panic people.

i'm about to leave Europe to Los Angeles and everyone here said please don't bring the Swine Flu back . Each single person who said that i wanted to reply '' please s... up '' .

Anyway does Californians has started to wear masks overthere ?

I'm not going to worry about it until I get sick. What would be the point?

Ken said that his Target completely sold out of hand sanitizer yesterday. :rolleyes:

I should have bought stock in Purel.

I wonder if people will stockpile plastic sheeting and duct tape again too.

Good, I hope they use their hand sanitizer and the virus become immune to it soon. It is WAY better to throw anti-bacterials around than do something about your own immune system.:rolleyes:

Why eat healthy, get proper sleep, and exercise a little when you can just buy a bottle goo for your hands? ;)

I can't wait for more pharmacy stories while this freak-out is going on. :D

I think Euro mentioned seeing masks on the train.

But up here in the San Francisco area I have yet to see a single one (on the train or elsewhere).

Tonight's pharmacy story:

• 144 large bottles of hand sanitizer, now out-of-stock again
• surgical masks out-of-stock since Monday

Crazy customers asked about the above products in en masse all day long.

l saw some people wearing them at LAX.

And, of course people are already cashing in via Ebay...

Not here in Orange (only a few miles from Disneyland).

---

More than a year ago the city had purchased Purell foam dispensers for public areas as part of some germophobe's pork project. We got a bunch of them at the library and quickly stuck them in storage, as we weren't bothered to worry about keeping them filled. Seems someone remembered them and now we've got them out along with "Cover When You Cough" signs from the CDC.

Hint: If you really want a mask, head over to Home Depot and look in the paint department.

Or, come over and borrow Chris' gas mask.

What's with the masks anyway? This is not an airbourne virus. It's a flu strain passed primarily by touch.

Hand sanitizer is good, as always. As is washing your hands at every reasonable option. But it's not coming in through your mouth unless you put your tainted hand in there.





(Or you like to lick places you shouldn't ... but then swine flu is the least of your problems, you swine.)

It's called OVERREACTION!


BTW, did you know there is a Nuclear Plant just down the coast? It might blow some day.

What? I guess this weekend I'll be busy building a fall out shelter.

and the wolfpack will be moving in!

The Asian community has been using the masks at Disneyland lately, but I think that started long before the threat of Swine Flu.

Generally in the Asian cultures where the mask wearing is common it isn't a sign that the person is worried about getting sick but rather that they are in some way sick and trying to avoid passing it on.

So the opposite of wearing one on the train because it is packed with dirty dirty humans.

DAMMIT!!!!!!!

We keep a regular supply on hand. But in our case, it has nothing to do with flu epidemics.

Depends on which club you go to.

If you would use the Beano regularly, he wouldn't need that.

Ha, Let it blow! I'm safe here on the east coast!!!

Why there's not a nuclear reactor within........ google, google, google..... Ahh crap. Never mind. I better add a fallout shelter also. Mrs. Moonie is gonna be pissed about her rhododendron bushes.

I'm watching an ooooold Scrubs episode. Dr. Cox is listing off all the panic flu's he has been involved with and swine flu was on the list.

I thought it was humorous given the episode is from 2005 so swine flu isn't anything new.

I've touched bacon in the last couple weeks. Am I gonna die? :eek:

If anything's become pandemic, it's paranoia.

Jeez, Alex's lab is sending home (for 3 days) anyone who's been around anyone that's been in Mexico lately.

I was like... well that's pretty much ALL of Southern California :rolleyes:

I plan on fighting swine flue by contracting salmonella from the peanut butter M&M's I just ate and let the two of them fight it out.

News article I read earlier said that 144 schools in Texas are closed until May 11th. 88,000 kids. WTF?

"It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel swine."

Bacon Lung - I like the way that sounds much better than Swine Flu

Now if we can just quietly wrap the border fence around the top of Texas while it's sleeping . . .

Sadly the pendulum has swung. We're so far into pre-emptive overreaction that I'm going to be disappointed if less than 10,000 people die in the United States. If this goes on much longer I'm going to require horse-drawn wagons calling for our dead while winding slowly through neighborhoods for satisfaction.

I heard (from "a guy") that all the schools in Minnesota have been closed because a student mentioned her mom had just been to Texaco.

Amen, sister.

They have closed one of the high schools in our district. (Lee Pollard High) Got a letter home today and an automated call saying it was a probable case. Just now got another automated call saying it was confirmed.

They are closing that school until May 6th.

Okay - if that was a hint to back up the info so it's not just from a "guy" - here you go. :p :D

Another article mentioned it now more schools and 130,000 kids.

It seems they are shutting down the entire district if one case in found? That seems rather extreme.

No it wasn't commenting on anything from you. I was aware of the Ft. Worth closure and was just reacting to that directly.

I think it should be renamed the Whine Flu.

I've decided that we need to spread around more packs of bacon bouillon so there can be Swine Stew in pandemic proportions across the nation. A pig in every pot!

I am cooking bean soup today. I went a little heavy on the ham/ham stock. I even added some bacon cubes.

There was a very sniffly guy in the seat behind me on the train. It was nice because it kept the others seats around us empty almost all the way into the city (I'm not afeard because sickness is a sign of moral weakness and I am morally pure and therefore immune to the flu).

Swine Flew

Last night we ate BLTs then played Pandemic. And we totally won.

There was a woman at Trader Joe's today wearing a mask. That's the first one I've seen. My first reaction was that she's being paranoid. Then I thought, how rude, is that what she thinks of the rest of us? Then I remembered I'm coughing a lot due to the cold I've had all week. But it's just a cold so I decided she was rude and I was offended.

I'd still like to learn to cough with a little oink sound at the end, just for fun. At the same time I feel like I need a "not swine flu" sign to hang around my neck.

How do you know she wasn't wearing it because she was sick and didn't want to make others sick?

Or possibly she is a house painter and just forgot to take it off?

This disease is now officially the H1N1 flu.

If you sound out the new name: Hi Ni

I think you will see that our troubles are all behind us.

That's possible but it didn't strike me that way at the time.

ETA - if I designed it I would have said "knives".

Mis-spelled slogans flu.