Swine flu

[dleewo]

To put things into perspective....20,000 people die as a result of complications associated with the common flu every year. .

That actually does put it into perspective. I don't know if 20,000 is in the US or worldwide, but that is almost 55 people per day whereas the current reported deaths from swine flu is just over 100 over several days.

I don't know how accurate this is, but this article mentions that there are 250,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide from the seasonal flu:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090428/ts_nm/us_flu_91

Even at the low end, that almost 700 deaths PER DAY from the regular flu! I would have never imagined that there were so many deaths from the flu.

[stevie_d_64]

If nothing happens, you are called paranoid. If something happens, you are called prepared. :)

I'm not a survivalist at all, but I am a realist.

Survivalism gets a bad name by the people who prefer to ignore signs of coming threats, and when needed to rely on government or the charity of others. Aesop called them the grasshoppers and for most of history, such people were seen as lazy or irresponsible.

This swine flu is one of dozens of threats that could affect us on a personal level. As we learned in Boy Scouts, it just makes good sense to be always prepared. For those of us with families, it is a duty.

Ahah!!! My tagline says it all...

BTW, since the news has just broke about two deaths that are POSSIBLY attributed to this virus...And that the cases of the virus has expotentially increased as of the last hour in NY...

I would venture that a national effort to end the school year, right now, would get the interaction between the kids that are infected, and those that are not will break the transmission chain...

Pandora's box is unfortunately opened (ironically), and this appears to be the only way to get in front of this problem...

[LaUser]

In the early 1900's, 20 million people died of the flu. It was believed to originate in the central United States from pigs.
This is nothing to play around with. Supposedly the current swine flue is curable if caught early.

[SlowDave]

Last time it was the Asian bird flu that was going to kill everyone. Before that, it was SARS. AIDS, fire ants, killer bees. The media overplays everything.

Oh come on... not OUR media.

Which one draws more viewers/readers:
1. SWINE FLU OUTBREAK: PANDEMIC THREATENED, MILLIONS MAY DIE!!!
or
2. New Flu Strain Appears: Take Appropriate Precautions

The media's objective is the same as everyone else's in a [true] capitalist society: to make money. They make money by generating interest and readers/viewers, so of course they will sensationalize everything.

I think this is the main reason the global warming issue has gained such traction with no causal relationship proven. But much more exciting to talk about the end of the world than to say, "Here's an issue we should keep an eye on over the next 10-20 years."

[Oldgringo]

In the early 1900's, 20 million people died of the flu. It was believed to originate in the central United States from pigs.
This is nothing to play around with. Supposedly the current swine flue is curable if caught early.

Not to minimize the situation but it was a long way between Doctors and medical facilities in the '20's. Did I mention that it was also a long way out to the outhouse? I've got a sneakin' suspicion that our new POTUS has a plan to protect us from this scourge...stay tuned and see how much that costs.

[boomerang]

Phase 4!

Ewwww!!

Alright, I stand corrected, the zombies WILL be lurching our way.

Yikes!!

[Liberty]

In the early 1900's, 20 million people died of the flu. It was believed to originate in the central United States from pigs.
This is nothing to play around with. Supposedly the current swine flue is curable if caught early.

And what is this miracle cure? Tamiflu? Its about a hundred bucks per perscription and the eficiency

Swine flu is the flu. Its not any worse or any better than any other flu. It just has a funny name. It comes and it will go and in the mean time there will lots of speeches and whining and fussing. Governments don't stop the flu and they didn't create it. You can't quarantine it, the genie is already out of the bottle. You can't cure it any easier than any other flu. We can even shoot at it with a caliber that begins with a 4

We can talk about it and convince ourselves that it is the end of the world as we know it. Create an crisis environment so the Socialist have an excuse to nationalize the health care. Remember they brag that they will not let any crisis go unwasted.

After they have stolen the banks, grabbed up the car companies, confiscated our paychecks, and taken over the health care industries, There won't be anything left but our guns for them to take away from us.

[LarryH]

In the early 1900's, 20 million people died of the flu. It was believed to originate in the central United States from pigs.
This is nothing to play around with. Supposedly the current swine flue is curable if caught early.

Not to minimize the situation but it was a long way between Doctors and medical facilities in the '20's. Did I mention that it was also a long way out to the outhouse? I've got a sneakin' suspicion that our new POTUS has a plan to protect us from this scourge...stay tuned and see how much that costs.

He's asking for $1.5 BILLION.

[Xander]

To put things into perspective....20,000 people die as a result of complications associated with the common flu every year. .

That actually does put it into perspective. I don't know if 20,000 is in the US or worldwide, but that is almost 55 people per day whereas the current reported deaths from swine flu is just over 100 over several days.

It's actually higher. On average each year, 36,000 people in the United States are killed by seasonal flu, and over 200,000 are hospitalized. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Worldwide (as you mentioned in your later post) there are between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths caused by regular ol' seasonal flu. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tfrazier]

Swine flu is very similiar to the regular flu.

The only difference is that with the swine flu, you have the urge to go outside and roll in the mud.

I reckon I've had a terminal case ever since I was a toddler, then.

[Taxman]

In the early 1900's, 20 million people died of the flu. It was believed to originate in the central United States from pigs.
This is nothing to play around with. Supposedly the current swine flue is curable if caught early.

From my biology days, I did not think that a virus could be cured? Vaccine yes, cure no. You can treat the symptoms and secondary bacterial infections, but not cure a virus.

[boomerang]

From my biology days, I did not think that a virus could be cured? Vaccine yes, cure no. You can treat the symptoms and secondary bacterial infections, but not cure a virus.

The common cold is caused by a virus.

[Oldgringo]

To put things into perspective....20,000 people die as a result of complications associated with the common flu every year. .

That actually does put it into perspective. I don't know if 20,000 is in the US or worldwide, but that is almost 55 people per day whereas the current reported deaths from swine flu is just over 100 over several days.

It's actually higher. On average each year, 36,000 people in the United States are killed by seasonal flu, and over 200,000 are hospitalized. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Worldwide (as you mentioned in your later post) there are between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths caused by regular ol' seasonal flu. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WOW, 36,000 killed and 200,000 injured annually by the flu! We need a law that bans the flu from everyday exposure to us. Somebody must do something quick! Nancy?

[TexasComputerDude]

I wouldn't be suprised if all of this uproar is just "never letting a good crisis go to waste," so they can institute national healthcare and find a way to take our guns away.

[evilmercer]

Phase 4!

Ewwww!!

Alright, I stand corrected, the zombies WILL be lurching our way.

Yikes!!

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