H1N1 ("Swine") Flu

bartelby said:
A full bio-chem suit will help for sure. Below that level of protection nothing is 100% useful.
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Well condoms are only ~90% effective, but I wouldn't advise going without simply bc its not 100% ;)

And like most viruses, isn't typically transferred through the air, but from contact. So the best thing would be to continuously wash the hands and not touch mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth).
 
ski2moro said:
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?
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Well, that's one of the big questions that, as far as I know, is still not answered.

I also find it interesting that up until today, all the deaths were in Mexico and not in the US, Canada, the UK, and etc.

It very well could be that those with the illness who died were living in poor conditions (cramped space, close quarters, not enough clean water, etc). It very well could be that they had pre-existing respiratory illnesses, probably not helped by the air pollution already present. It very well could be that hospitals weren't prepared handle such a problem (not enough ventilators, not enough anti-viral medications, unable to treat cytokine storms in the young adults, etc). It very well could be that those who died waited too long before seeking medical treatment and no amount of advanced treatment would have helped at all.

Or (hopefully not though), the number of deaths from this disease will start to pop up in other countries like the UK and Canada and New Zealand and more in the US, and we'll realize that such a perceived discrepancy didn't really exist in the first place. It was just that Mexico got hit first, so it's the first country to start reporting multiple deaths.

It is very early...

EDIT: My friend just back from Cancun. I expect that if she gets sick, I'll be close behind.
 
People should not jump to the extreme of "there is nothing to worry about" just because others are freaking out. Realize that this does have the potential to be very dangerous, although it is slightly comforting to see the numbers of infected are rising rather linearly, as opposed to exponentially.
 
Eanair said:
Ahh, that's why.

My family teaches in southwestern CT. *phew* I can tell them it's okay. ;)

Thanks for the info. :)
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Except that southwestern CT is getting near NYC, where there have been confirmed cases (the confirmed ones seem to all be in Queens).
 
jzuena said:
Except that southwestern CT is getting near NYC, where there have been confirmed cases (the confirmed ones seem to all be in Queens).
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Late last night on a local CT news station, they were reporting on a "highly likely" case in Stratford.

Congrats, CT. Way to go messing up New England and our flu-free record. ;)

EDIT:

I stand corrected. The CT cases are pending. Massachusetts is the official first, with 2 cases.
 
Pandemic level has been raised to 5.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_20090429/en/index.html

EDIT:

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.
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Eanair said:
Late last night on a local CT news station, they were reporting on a "highly likely" case in Stratford.

Congrats, CT. Way to go messing up New England and our flu-free record. ;)

EDIT:

I stand corrected. The CT cases are pending. Massachusetts is the official first, with 2 cases.
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7 towns in CT have suspected cases. Schools are being closed in 4 towns.

I wonder about the spread, what is the average rate for the normal flu. We never hear how fast the regular flu spreads so is the concern really warranted. It sounds more like the ability to treat it is different not the spread itself.
 
A question for those in the know. How easy is this to treat/what is the treatment?
Generally the news is just saying stuff like "there is enough Tamiflu for xmillion people, don't panic" which isn't exactly informative.
 
Five schools in the Chicago area are now closed for at least two days. We had one case this morning and now there are nine. That's pretty darn fast.
 
leekohler said:
Five schools in the Chicago area are now closed for at least two days. We had one case this morning and now there are nine. That's pretty darn fast.
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I am hearing a lot of media spin that sounds like doom and gloom but how abnormal is this spread.
 
On a lighter note...

Swine flu name branded 'offensive'

The outbreak of swine flu should be renamed "Mexican" influenza in deference to Muslim and Jewish sensitivities over pork, an Israeli health official has said.

Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman said the reference to pigs is offensive to both religions and "we should call this Mexican flu and not swine flu," he told a news conference at a hospital in central Israel.
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Religion. :rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
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