H1N1 ("Swine") Flu

[dukebound85]

Cave Man, Lee, Duke, do any of you have an answer to this?


There are far more important things going on than a silly flu bug.

is malaria contagious? no

yes there are important things and well...this is important

however, a strain of flu that is not containable, contagious, no vaccination, may infect healthy individuals such as myself is nothing to just brush aside

virus threats are real. uncontainable viri can have an enormous impact

this is not a silly flu bug that occurs every winter with the common flu. this is a potentially killer hydrib flu that is easily passed between people. i fear for this winter


why you make a mockery of the threat is unreal to me

 

[Cave Man]

It's a shame we can't have this kind of concerted fear-mongering and world-wide attention from Governments and WHO for such things like Malaria which actually kill up to 3+ million a year and 350 - 500 million cases confirmed, compared to around 13 or so in the past week - but it makes breaking news around the world. Puts it into context...

While no one disputes the importance of malaria (and TB, the other big global killer), billions of $$ are being spent on these diseases. Like AIDS, there is no apparent solution. The risk with influenza is that is communicable, unlike malaria, and can cause not only great numbers of deaths, but also have a substantial impact on economies.

Infact, I find it mildly offensive, and I'm sure they do too... I suppose when it's not on your doorstep, it's easier for governments to ignore, despite it actually causing more harm, to more (poor) people...

If you're offended, then join the fight against malaria instead of complaining. Some of us have been in the trenches for decades.

Cave Man, Lee, Duke, do any of you have an answer to this? There are far more important things going on than a silly flu bug.

Again, it's about mitigating the potential of 1918 all over again. While unlikely to occur, it is not without precedent. I assure you that if we don't do something now, and it does turn into a 1918-like virus next fall, then there won't be as much money or time spent on malaria. If it happens in the malarial belt, they won't worry about malaria so much.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Really the only difference between the flu we're generally used to and the H1N1 virus is how communicable it is. This flu is really no more deadly than others.

 

[drewsof07]

Really the only difference between the flu we're generally used to and the H1N1 virus is how communicable it is. This flu is really no more deadly than others.

And also that it affects otherwise healthy adults, whereas the regular flu mainly affects young children and the elderly.

 

[Eanair]

It's a shame we can't have this kind of concerted fear-mongering and world-wide attention from Governments and WHO for such things like Malaria which actually kill up to 3+ million a year and 350 - 500 million cases confirmed, compared to around 13 or so in the past week - but it makes breaking news around the world. Puts it into context...

There are already efforts (and money) being put into malaria research, not to mention other similar neglected diseases such as tuberculosis, lymphatic filariasis, Chagas disease, dengue fever, polio, river blindness, typhoid fever, and so on.

This isn't fear mongering. The WHO is warning against alarmist speculation, while trying to maintain a healthy level of caution.

Officials from the World Health Organization today cautioned the public against jumping to any conclusions about the virulence of the swineflu virus, and President Obama said that since the disease is caused by a new strain of the influenza virus, officials are concerned that it could cause more serious disease as it spreads.

Some observers have questioned whether reports have been too alarmist about the new virus, which, outside of Mexico, has resulted in relatively mild symptoms. But Gregory Hartl, spokesman for the WHO, told reporters in a conference call that the devastating Spanish Influenza started out very mild in the spring of 1918, "only to reappear in the autumn of 1918 with a vengeance." That epidemic killed at least 50 million people around the globe.

He went on: "It would be remiss of us not to take this extremely seriously. If, at the end of the day, it remains a mild pandemic, or if we could somehow avert the worst of the disease, or stop the worst of the disease, that would be fantastic."

He added, "People should act with common sense rather than panic."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/01/AR2009050101777.html

There are far more important things going on than a silly flu bug.

It's rather ignorant to dismiss this as a "silly flu bug". I'm sure it appeared that way in the spring of 1918 as well.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

And also that it affects otherwise healthy adults, whereas the regular flu mainly affects young children and the elderly.

So it's no different from a regular flu. You're looking at it in a very ignorant way, the flu doesn't "affect" healthy adults, it affects those without immunities to it. It doesn't matter their age.

 

[dukebound85]

So it's no different from a regular flu. You're looking at it in a very ignorant way, the flu doesn't "affect" healthy adults, it affects those without immunities to it. It doesn't matter their age.

you are misinformed.

yes, immunity response is the KEY issue here. this is exactly why this flu is different than the regular flu. that and how it is spread


it is NOT the same as the regular flu.

stop saying it is gawd darnint

 

[Eanair]

So it's no different from a regular flu. You're looking at it in a very ignorant way, the flu doesn't "affect" healthy adults, it affects those without immunities to it. It doesn't matter their age.

Harvard Medical School disagrees with you.

What worries some experts is that many of the deaths in Mexico have been in young, healthy adults.

From Harvard Medical School Questions and Answers.

http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=swine_flu_questions_and_answers_from_harvard_medical_school

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Harvard Medical School disagrees with you.



From Harvard Medical School Questions and Answers.

http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=swine_flu_questions_and_answers_from_harvard_medical_school

I mean, the flu isn't targeting young healthy people. It's "targeting" people who don't have immunities to it. You know who don't have immunities to it? People who haven't ever had exposure to the H1N1 virus. Older people have already been exposed to it previously in their lives and young people haven't. Simple as that. You people really need to do some research before you start freaking out.

I'm sure all of you had stockpiles of water and canned food in '99 too.

 

[Cave Man]

I mean, the flu isn't targeting young healthy people. It's "targeting" people who don't have immunities to it. You know who don't have immunities to it? People who haven't ever had exposure to the H1N1 virus.

You have no clue what you're talking about. There is no such thing as "the" H1N1 virus. If there were, then anyone who received this year's vaccine would be protected from this new H1N1 virus. After all, there's one formulated in it (A/Brisbane/59/2007 H1N1).

Older people have already been exposed to it previously in their lives and young people haven't. Simple as that. You people really need to do some research before you start freaking out.

Yeah, simple as that. This is a new variant H1N1 that has not been seen before. You need to take courses in infectious disease immunology and virology, because you have no idea what you're talking about.

When the elderly and very young die from influenza, it's usually because of mitigating factors (e.g., secondary bacterial infections, cardiac failure). When young healthy adults are dying, it suggests immunopathology, not mitigating factors.

 

[Eanair]

You know who don't have immunities to it?

No one. This is a new strain. No one has been exposed to this strain before. That's why it can be called a pandemic, as per WHO standards:

* Emergence of a disease new to a population.
* Agents infect humans, causing serious illness.
* Agents spread easily and sustainably among humans.

You people really need to do some research before you start freaking out.

I would suggest the same for you. It's obvious you are grossly misinformed.

I'm sure all of you had stockpiles of water and canned food in '99 too.

No, I didn't.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

No one. This is a new strain. No one has been exposed to this strain before.

Yes, but some have been affected by other H1N1 strains and thus their bodies are already more resistant to this flu.

Face it. This is just fearmongering.

 

[Eanair]

Yes, but some have been affected by other H1N1 strains and thus their bodies are already more resistant to this flu.

You have a source for this? Or is this your own personal speculation?

 

[Cave Man]

Yes, but some have been affected by other H1N1 strains and thus their bodies are already more resistant to this flu.

So why won't this year's vaccine protect all of us? It has an H1N1 virus in it.

 

[Eanair]

Yes, but some have been affected by other H1N1 strains and thus their bodies are already more resistant to this flu.

Right, because the swine flu H1N1 and human flu H1N1 are so similar.

Oh, wait...

The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/key_facts.htm

 

[MonksMac]

More School Closings

Just wanted to update people to another school closing-
They have closed another school district in North Texas (mine!) and we will not be returning until May 11. Kind of cool and scary at the same time.
@drumjim- I hope your cousin is OK.

 

[Chase R]

I'm super lucky that I didn't catch it. I went to Cancun for spring break this year right before this thing made headlines. I probably made out with about 30 girls, some from Mexico too. Man that trip was awesome, but looking back on it, I had a pretty good chance of dying.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

I'm super lucky that I didn't catch it. I went to Cancun for spring break this year right before this thing made headlines. I probably made out with about 30 girls, some from Mexico too. Man that trip was awesome, but looking back on it, I had a pretty good chance of dying.

You didn't have much chance of dying of swine flu if that's what you're suggesting.

 

[Chase R]

You didn't have much chance of dying of swine flu if that's what you're suggesting.

Ya, true. I guess I really meant that I had a really good chance at getting the virus.

 

[sn00pie]

The sad thing is that people such as myself who work in customer service will be exposed to potential carriers of this strain. If you know someone who is sick, first assumption is swine flu.

I'm super lucky that I didn't catch it. I went to Cancun for spring break this year right before this thing made headlines. I probably made out with about 30 girls, some from Mexico too. Man that trip was awesome, but looking back on it, I had a pretty good chance of dying.

Forget the swine flu, you should be watching out for STD's (that is assuming you went further then making out)

 

[sushi]

The number of cases quadrupled in Illinois between yesterday and today. Had 9 yesterday and now we have 41.

The hub cities/states are the most susceptible for transmission.

Japan is a travel hub and congested so there is concern with the medical community right now.

http://xr.com/9ss

Here's 2 amazing commercials from 1976

Those are good. Thanks for sharing.

And PLEASE do not compare this to deaths due to smoking, drunk driving, suicides, etc - again, those are individual choices. I always see stupid comparisons all the time.

Good point.

It's always better to be a bit paranoid than be absolutely careless. Thanks to this coverage, at least my usually filthy niece now washes her hands regularly!

Better safe than sorry.

however, a strain of flu that is not containable, contagious, no vaccination, may infect healthy individuals such as myself is nothing to just brush aside

virus threats are real. uncontainable viri can have an enormous impact

I've read and heard numerous times over the years where the virus could be man's undoing. Obviously, the more we know the better. Virus that mutate like HIV and the Flu are of concern.

When the elderly and very young die from influenza, it's usually because of mitigating factors (e.g., secondary bacterial infections, cardiac failure). When young healthy adults are dying, it suggests immunopathology, not mitigating factors.

Well said. This is why there is concern.

 

[Eraserhead]

is malaria contagious? no

Well actually it sort is. We have the right kind of mosquitoes in Britain, but no malaria here because virtually noone has malaria here so it can't spread.

 

[sushi]

Well actually it sort is. We have the right kind of mosquitoes in Britain, but no malaria here because virtually noone has malaria here so it can't spread.

Your post brings up an interesting point.

As a layman in this subject area, I thought that contagious meant that it could spread from human to human directly or via the air, but this does not include any vectors such as mosquitoes, rats, etc.

Any experts out there who can clarify this? TIA.

 

[leekohler]

You didn't have much chance of dying of swine flu if that's what you're suggesting.

Jimmy- do you even know what this flu is about? It's most dangerous to those with strong immune systems, other kinds of flu are the opposite. That's why it's alarming to a lot of people. It causes an immune system response so strong that it's the immune system that actually causes the problems and or deaths.

 

[EricNau]

Jimmy- do you even know what this flu is about? It's most dangerous to those with strong immune systems, other kinds of flu are the opposite. That's why it's alarming to a lot of people. It causes an immune system response so strong that it's the immune system that actually causes the problems and or deaths.

This has yet to be substantiated, based on the most current reports I have read.

From the CDC: "There are insufficient data available at this point to determine who is at higher risk for complications of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. At this time, the same age and risk groups who are at higher risk for seasonal influenza complications should also beconsidered at higher risk for swine-origin influenza complications."

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/identifyingpatients.htm