If I may, where in CT?
I have family that are teachers in CT and haven't heard such things.
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H1N1 ("Swine") Flu
- Thread starter Cave Man
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If I may, where in CT?
I have family that are teachers in CT and haven't heard such things.
"Wethersfield officials also decided to close the district's schools on Wednesday. They said an employee at Silas Deane Middle School recently traveled to Mexico and is exhibiting flu-like symptoms."If I may, where in CT?
I have family that are teachers in CT and haven't heard such things.
East Haddam too.
Infectious disease epidemiologist?
I once wanted to do that, but ended up in another field instead. I still have thoughts every once in a while of going back to try again...Mmmm, antigenic shift.
Ahh, that's why.
My family teaches in southwestern CT. *phew* I can tell them it's okay.
Thanks for the info.
Keep bothering! I'm reading this thread for his comments alone. Given your background Signal-11 I'd be pretty interested in what you have to say about this too
I'm enjoying reading more about this flu than the same 5 facts every article on it's regurgitating.
Keep bothering! I'm reading this thread for his comments alone. Given your background Signal-11 I'd be pretty interested in what you have to say about this too
Anything in particular you're interested to know?
Pardon me if I'm mistaken, but isn't it common nature of viruses to multiply through RNA?
Not really. Common viruses (rhino virus) use RNA replication, but others attach to DNA. Smallpox is DNA along with Wow, African Swine Fever *Not Swine flu, as it is a strain of influenza*
Anyone else on here old enough to remember the Great Swine Flu scare in 1976? This is where the folks died from the swine flu vaccine in 1976 and how the government screwed up by releasing the vaccine before it was ready. The Congress and Senate added thousands of pork (how fitting) on to the appropriations bill for the vaccine.
Later, when researchers had determined that the threat was not as bad as once thought, there was no stopping the government's momentum.
Worth reading for another perspective to today's scare.
http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2009/04/28/1976_swine_flu/
I don't doubt you guys who really know medicine and viruses, I am just inherently skeptical and I don't react to mass hysteria caused by media hype.
What did you learn about the 1976 Swine Flu outbreak and how does it relate to what's going on now?
Later, when researchers had determined that the threat was not as bad as once thought, there was no stopping the government's momentum.
Worth reading for another perspective to today's scare.
http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2009/04/28/1976_swine_flu/
I don't doubt you guys who really know medicine and viruses, I am just inherently skeptical and I don't react to mass hysteria caused by media hype.
What did you learn about the 1976 Swine Flu outbreak and how does it relate to what's going on now?
Unfortunately, it seems that we have our first confirmed death outside of Mexico a young child in Texas.
Twenty-some deaths that were relate to GBH respiratory issues of 24 million people immunized. Unfortunate, for sure, but had the virus gotten out there would have been far more deaths.
The "government" didn't screw up. You clearly know little about influenza vaccine production, so why even comment? That year's seasonal influenza vaccine runs were done (which takes months to produce) and they were preparing to slaughter the specific pathogen-free (SPF) hens that produced the eggs for the production runs. They had no choice but to keep those hens alive for more eggs to get this out-of-season swine flu vaccine made. Waiting until the next spring would have been too late had the virus made it into the general population.
The "threat" wasn't as bad only because the virus never got out of Fort Dix, New Jersey. I assure you, had it made it into the general population there would have been many more deaths. That virus killed two Fort Dix soldiers out of about 200 infected. Seasonal influenza kills less than 0.1%. The math is pretty easy.
The most important factor is that the 1976 strain was contained to a single site - Fort Dix. The 2009 virus is already in many countries, including three major population centers (MC, NYC, LA), an environment conducive to rapid spread. I suspect it will subside for the northern summer (but who knows about the southern winter) and it might reappear next fall. Let's hope it doesn't, and if it does let's pray it doesn't follow the path of the 1918 strain - where it picked up pathogenicity in the fall.
IIRC, the influenza viruses are negative sense ssRNA viruses (like Measles, Mumps, and Rabies).
EDIT:
This is my worry too.
The 1918 pandemic first appeared in the early spring, caused a minor stir, settled down during the summer, and returned in the fall with a vengeance. And, like what we're seeing with this strain (Mexican Flu or whatever we're calling it now) thus far, a good number of the fatalities were healthy young adults, supposedly in their prime with healthy immune systems - but unfortunately, their strong immune systems ended up being liabilities rather than assets.
If I may, where in CT?
I have family that are teachers in CT and haven't heard such things.
Swine flu just closed a school in Chicago. It's very close to my 'hood too.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/04/could-swine-flu-cause-a-n-side-school-to-close.html
Could you imagine being an elementary student and told your school was closed because you're sick. And everyone avoids you like the plague.
That would not be a fun time.
Could you imagine being an elementary student and told your school was closed because you're sick. And everyone avoids you like the plague.
That would not be a fun time.
It's creepy though. That's not far from me at all. If it's there, it could be in my neighborhood very soon. It's only about 2-3 miles from my place.
Could you imagine being an elementary student and told your school was closed because you're sick. And everyone avoids you like the plague.
That would not be a fun time.
To the younger kid, it's just slightly more sensational than being the first one in the school with Roseola, Chicken Pox, Measles, Scarlet Fever, Mumps, Lice, et al.
In my kids day care, we get "anonymous" letters sent home when a parent informs the staff that their kid has just been diagnosed with an illness. Then the self-righteous behind the back finger pointing begins.
You and I are approaching this from two different viewpoints. I freely admit that I don't know anything about influenza vaccine production, but that doesn't keep me from commenting about the way the US government handled the 1976 outbreak.
You know far more about vaccines and viruses than I will ever know.
Why comment? This is an opinion forum, and I was expressing my opinion.
What I see every day is the way the US media is used to manipulate and control us about a variety of issues. I have seen press releases that the media just repeats word for word. There is little or no reporting or investigation in the classic sense anymore. The talking heads are just reading from their script.
I don't know what the European media is doing these days, but I lived in Freiburg im Breisgau in the late 90s and saw the selective reporting of events. After returning to the US, I got a whole different perspective of the world news.
I carefully listen to the news, inform myself from people who have factual knowledge and form my opinion.
I know that those who do not remember the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them.
I believe that the current Swine Flu is real, and the danger is that it is easily spread from human to human.
I believe that the US government will never let a good crisis go to waste and will use it to their advantage.
I believe that the media has nothing else of significance to report at this time and is fanning the fires of worry in millions of people.
So, I'm not buying masks and gloves or stocking up on Tamaflu. And, I always wash my hands.
I do have other questions, though, regarding the deaths in Mexico.
To what extent does the air pollution in Mexico City exacerbate the respiratory condition caused by Swine Flu? Are the deaths concentrated amongst the poor living in close quarters, or are people also dying in the more affluent areas where medical treatment is more available?
Why are the US cases reported as mild? What makes the difference? Did the US toddler (Bless him) who died have other pre-existing conditions? How long was he ill before receiving treatment?
I reserve the right to change my mind, but this is my opinion at the moment.
I'm on the 6700 block too, but further west. At least you're already wearing a mask, maybe that will help?
This whole Swine Flu thing really seems to be becoming a global hamdemic
Wow- where at? I used to live on Newgard and North Shore.
I'm in Lincoln Square now. You need to come to a Chicago meet-up!
Not the kinds of masks most people are using...
But that's lack of education, not anything specific about the virus. Ha, its accustomed to penetrating snouts
