Paris Hilton, I believe it was, said there's no danger in getting the swine flu if you don't eat pork.

 

I thought it was all the pork in the Omnibus bill that caused the swine flu outbreak.

 

A letter carrier that I work with came in the other day wearing a surgical mask. I guess since he has a large contingent of customers from central America he thought he should protect himself. He looked rediculous and what's worse, he actually caused more fear in public than he needed to.

For what I've heard and read, most cases are from people who have visited Mexico recently.

Tim

 

That's what I've heard too Tim. I was reading a report this morning that said it "wasn't as serious as first thought...", something about staying power of the virus not being as strong.

 

IMO, it is being blown way out of proportion. Everywhere you turn, it's swine flu this, swine flu that. I'm really tired of hearing about it.

Now, after a week or so of calling it the swine flu, they want to start calling it by it's scientific name, H1N1 because of the negative effect it is having on the nations pork farmers. WTF, it is the MEDIA that is keeping this thing going and they are the ones that have caused the decline in the pork industry, even though they say you CAN NOT get the "swine flu" from pork products. They shut the barn door after the cows got out.

The regular everyday influenza virus is suspected to cause over 30,000 people in the US alone every year. What's the new total WORLDWIDE for this most recent outbreak of H1N1, less than 200?

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/fron.../03/2003442644

IMO.

 

Flights from the US are being held at the gate in Narita Japan at the moment for health inspectors to come on all dressed up in gloves, mask and suits. Friend just emailed that to me and he said that would have been funny except for the 1 1/2 hour delay to deplane...

 

You are right about that. We live in an "instant media" society with the internet and all the 24 hour news channels, so when something breaks like this, it's all over the place and very quickly. And then they perpetuate it by continually updating the "breaking story". So it quickly becomes all you hear about and it sends everyone into a panic.

Kind of reminds me about the local forecasters when they think a big snow is going to hit...they keep running on and on about it and how bad it's going to get and everyone just gets all worked up into a tizzy...then we get a dusting.

 

Ohhhh....FLU.

Here I thought my wife was going to be doing all sorts of things for me that she said she would "when pigs fly".

So, when I heard on the news that swine flew, I got all excited...

Jason

 

OK....My department went nuts. I don't know if it's city risk management being able to say that they were doing everything they could to protect employees, or what.....But I went to roll call this morning, and I signed a log book and was issued a respirator....(kinda like a thicker version of a painters mask....haha).......

No...I was NOT wearing it at work today!

That's how companies are today.....They wanna be able to say that they did all they could to protect cmpd1781 from the evil ravages of swine flu!!!

Personally, I think that regular doses of outside germs are just what is needed to keep the bodies defense mechanisms greased-up and ready to fight. Case in point....The AMA came out a few years ago and told parents to STOP slathering their kiddies with anti-bacterial this, and anti-bacterial that.......Kids get sick all the time.....It builds up anti-bodies, and all the anti-bacterial crap was just creating illnesses RESISTANT to anti-biotics!!! They get sick, they recover, their bodies are better able later on to recognize and fight stuff like the flu.

Clux mentioned it maybe in another thread......35,000 to 40,000 folks EACH YEAR die from flu or flu-related complications.......Nature of the Beast. This ain't the 1918 superflu. You want to read about THAT beast, read John Barry's fantastic book 'The Great Influenza'........Now THAT was a flu, sportsfans!!!

 

This is the big story in Texas right now. The doctor has since retracted part of the e-mail but it sure seems to me like maybe he was forced to.

Doctor Taken To Task For H1N1 E-mail - Health News Story - KSAT San Antonio

Subject: Flu Update from Dr. Gitterle

After I returned from a public health meeting yesterday with community leaders and school officials in Comal County and Hays County, Heather suggested I send an update to my patients in the area, because what we are hearing privately from the CDC and Health Department is different from what you are hearing in the media. Some of you know some of this, but I will just list what facts I know.

- The virus is infectious for about 2 days prior to symptom onset

- Virus spreads more than 7 days after symptom onset (possibly as long as 9 days) (this is more unusual than ordinary flu)

- Since it is such a novel (new) virus, there is no "herd immunity," so the "attack rate" is very high. This is the percentage of people who come down with a virus if exposed. Almost everyone who is exposed to this virus will become infected, though not all will be symptomatic. That is much higher than seasonal flu, which averages 10-15%. The "clinical attack rate" estimation from CDC and WHO may be around 40-50%. This is the number of people who show symptoms. This is a huge number. It is hard to convey the seriousness of this to those outside of the medical fields.

- The virulence (deadliness) of this virus is as bad here as in Mexico, and there are folks on ventilators here in the US, right now. This has not been in the media, but a 23 month old in Houston is fighting for his life, and a pregnant woman just south of San Antonio is fighting for her life. In Mexico, these folks might have died already, but here in the US, folks are getting Tamiflu or Relenza quickly, and we have ready access to ventilators. What this means is that within a couple of weeks, regional hospitals will likely become overwhelmed.

- Some of the kids with positive cases in Comal County have had more than 70 contacts before diagnosis as a minimum figure.

- There are 10-25 times more actual cases (not "possible" cases -- ACTUAL), than what is being reported in the media. The way they fudge on reporting this is that it takes 3 days to get the confirmatory nod from the CDC on a given viral culture, but based on epidemiological grounds, we know that there are more than 10 cases for each "confirmed" case right now.

- During the night, we crossed the threshold for the definition of a WHO, Phase 6 global pandemic. This has not happened in any of our lifetimes so far. We are in uncharted territory.

- They are advising President Obama to declare an emergency sometime in the next 72-96 hours. This may not happen, but if it doesn't, I will be surprised. When this happens, all public gathering will be cancelled for 10 days minimum.

- I suggest all of us avoid public gatherings. Outdoor activities are not as likely to lead to infection. It is contained areas and close contact that are the biggest risk.

- I suggest all of us avoid public gatherings. Outdoor activities are not as likely to lead to infection. It is contained areas and close contact that are the biggest risk.

- Tamiflu is running out. There is a national stockpile, but it will have to be carefully managed for law enforcement and first responders as it is not enough to treat the likely number of infections when this is full-blown. I don't think there is a big supply of Relenza, but I do not know those numbers. If I had to choose, I would take Relenza, as I think it gets more drug to the affected tissue than Tamiflu.

- You should avoid going to the ER if you think you have been exposed or are symptomatic. ER's south of here are becoming overwhelmed today-- and I mean that -- already. It is coming in waves, but the waves are getting bigger.

- It appears that this flu produces a distinctive "hoarseness" in many victims. The symptoms, in general, match other flu's; namely, sore throat, body aches, headache, cough, and fever. What is not too common in regular flu cycles is vomiting and diarrhea which seems to be associated with this, further dehydrating victims. Some have all these symptoms, while others may have only one or two.

- N-Acetyl-Cysteine -- a nutritional supplement available at the health food store or Wimberley Pharmacy, has been shown to prevent or lessen the severity of influenza. I suggest 1200mg, twice a day for adults, and 600mg twice a day in kids over 12. It would be hard to get kids under 12 to take it, but you could try opening the capsules and putting it on yogurt. For 40 pounds and up, 300-600 mg twice a day, for less than 40 pounds, half that.

- Oscillococinum, a homeopathic remedy, has been vindicated as quite effective in a large clinical trial in Europe, with an H1N1 variant. You can buy this at Hill Country Natural Foods, or the Wimberley Pharmacy.

If any of my patients become ill, or suspect infection, call the office, do not come without calling and DO NOT go to the ER. If one member in a family is identified all would be given the Tamiflu or Relenza (that is normal course of action) if there is enough distributed to fill prescriptions. Public health stated that one family member identified or suspected to have contracted the flu it will require the whole family to be ‘quarantined’ in their own home until enough time has passed for the remaining household to have contracted it or be considered infection free ( 7 to 10 days per person). As another suggestion, if any member of the family is on routine medication- fill those prescriptions now. Have plenty fluids, Motrin, soups, etc available and make contingency plans in case your family is affected.

Dr. Marcus Gitterle
New Braunfels, TX

 

Imagine the MEDIA taking something and running with it, eh?
IMO the MEDIA is not much better that the tabloids, I can't tell much difference in the two.
I agree with the posts saying you can't compare Mexico with USA, but the MEDIA circus will..... their all like doomsayers now....
If I actually believed everything tv news said, I would never leave my house. Guess I better not go to Canada this week fishing, eh?
Nope.... I'm going!!!!!!!!!! lol

 

Actually when I first started hearing about swine flu in the US, I thought my ex-wife was on a road trip. It never seemed to stop her while I was at sea.

Tim

 

Lets not underestimate the seriousness that this COULD pose. If history can teach us anything, we should heed the history of the past pandemics. Most come on, and then fizzle for a couple of mo's. Then they come back stronger, more viscous than the first outbreak.

I DO think that it's getting blown outta proportion by the Media. BUT It WILL require Us to stay Vigilante for a few Mo's.

As Most Medical Officials have stated, The masks will do little to protect a healthy person. They will help stop the spread if an infected person is wearing one.

The Most important thing to do is WASH Your Hands Frequently. Not just rinsing them. WASHING them. And keep doing it till the end of summer, or until the Medical Officials say that the secondary outbreak risk is over.

 

Good point and if washing your hands isn't a frequent option, then sanitizing gels work very well in place of hand washing.

Tim

 

Funny mental image.............the cops show up to the scene of the bank robbery in progress, only the cops are the ones wearing masks.