Swine Flu Pandemic?
I just gave a mini-lecture in class about swine flu so I should write about it too!
Everytime I click refresh, new swine cases are popping out (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu) NOTE: The 6 cases of swine flu from Washington this morning are not even up on CDC website yet (4/30/09; 3:00pm).
Apparently my friend was working up @ Everett Clinic so I had to call her about the pediatrician confirmed case. The pediatrician originally thought her symptoms were from allergies and so lab samples were sent into CDC on Monday(CDC is one of the four places in the WORLD that could confirm swine H1N1 subtype, but reagents are being sent to various states now). She described the flu to be worse than when she got malaria before.
Some info on Swine:
- Swine flu (H1N1) is thought to be passed on from pig to human and then mutanted to transmit from humans-to-humans. It’s not transmitted from pigs to humans. Pork is safe to eat “so far”.
- Swine flu is thought to be more viralent because infected healthy adults who normall recover from normal flu are dying (from swelling of the lungs that leads to difficult in breathing).
- Tamiflu and Relenza are tested to be sensitive to swine N1H1 and are being used as treatments to swine flu.
Swine flu is treatable but contagious. The World Health Organization has increased alert level to 5 of 6 levels, indicating “pandemic is iminent”. The WHO, CDC, and Washington State Department of Health have excellent real-time information about the swine flu!
Why is the world dying?
Where else can we go?
*Prays*
2 comments so far
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I don’t think theres anything to worry about. The media’s just having a field day out of it making it sound far, far, far worse than it really is.
Every flu is different. This is just a different kind, being no worse than any others. In the past it has been far less fatal than many others. The numbers of deaths reported are in no way accurate. After a day they reported over 128 people in Mexico had died. Only 8 of those deaths were from Swine flu. It was reported to have spread globally, yet nowhere else had anyone died.
Here in England the goverment is trying to ship masks all across the country. If they had listened to scientists they would have realised that masks just give you more chance of catching the flu as 1. It can still pass through as long as you are able to breath, 2. the moisture created from respirations is a breeding grounds for viruses.
Most of those who are ill are those with weak immune systems, largely the eldely. Others have it badly because of the way their body is reacting with the vaccine.
All in all, it’s just another flu. There are hundreds out there and always have been. Nothing to worry about. It will die away in the next month and the media will find something else to scare us with. Every month “We are doomed!”, bring on the next story! =)
I agree that the media always over-exaggerate the “truth”…but that might just be what the public needs…at least at this time. I agree and from the perspectves of many healthcare providers, this is not of serious concern. However, this virus is comparatively more viralent than the general flu in that normal health adults are having difficulty recovering from it without external help like Tamiflu. I agree that precautions are warranted but people should know that the healthcare community also prepared to tackle this flu.