Do We Have a Flu Problem?
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I am reading a lot about an outbreak of swine flu. It’s the H1N1 variety, for those to whom it makes a difference.
Reuters had the first news I read on it. It appeared first in Mexico, where stories indicate it has killed between 20 and 1000 people, including medical personnel. President Felipe Calderone has declared an emergency.
One of the men who greeted President Obama in Mexico has died of the flu.
Some in Mexico have been emailing the BBC with updates and claiming the figures are grossly underreported.
Students in Queens (NY) were then reported to have it. An airline employee in England is being watched.
“World Health Organization director Dr. Margaret Chan has said the new strain of H1N1 has the potential to become a pandemic strain because it does spread easily and does cause serious disease.”
Swine flu has just been confirmed in Kansas.
Ontario is worried.
Baxter International is working to help contain the outbreak. You probably don’t know this, but Baxter has been caught mixing avian flu with flu vaccine, resulting in sending the live virus to European labs by mistake. That’s awfully suspicious, isn’t it?
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You can increase your knowledge by going to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which has a page with key facts about swine flu.
8 Comments
bradleybradwell
April 25th, 2009
at 10:44pm
First we had Sars, then the Avian Flu, and now the Swine flu? I’m sorry to burst everyone’s bubble but we’ve seen something like this before. Unfortunately the first two times caused hundreds of deaths throughout the world, and the Swine flu doesn’t look much better.
I think it’s extremely important that we keep a sharp eye on this “pandemic” just because of the mere fact that the virus has the potential to cause world wide panic. When the question of life and death is on the line I believe it’s important to take all steps necessary to prevent such a thing from ever occurring.
You mentioned that Ontario is worried. That unfortunately is an understatement. All of North America is worried. I just heard that here in British Columbia the local center for disease control has just put out a warning to public health officials throughout the province.
I’m highly doubtful that this one will be going away any time soon.
Buffet
April 26th, 2009
at 5:07am
Thanks Lefty. Once again I heard it here first! Since I don’t watch the news (or precious little else) on television, my stash of current events 411 can often be lagging. My defense against influenza, swine or otherwise, is an impervious immune system. Natural foods, no processed bullshit or fastfood, and, of course, megadoses of micronutrients (like Vitamin C). Stay healthy man.
etim
April 26th, 2009
at 5:38am
A new virus that has genetic material from porcine, avian and human viruses? If that’s not a lab bug, I don’t know what is.
leftystrat
April 26th, 2009
at 9:49am
Great stuff, folks. We need to watch carefully and not panic.
Buffet: I like to cook my own food but I’m a fool for chocolate.
One day we’ll find that, in addition to being a religious sacrament, it’s very good for you :)
Elaine
April 26th, 2009
at 10:34am
The father-daughter cluster and school mate clusters, in California, Texas, and New York respectively, indicate that this virus is spreading easily from human to human - something SARS never did do with much success. This is going to be much more widespread than SARS. For more up to date info, see here: http://www.newfluwiki2.com/
CAA1000 (Carol Alfonso
April 26th, 2009
at 11:46am
You geeks need to take it easy. Yes, is scary to learn during the weekend that where in an worldwide crisis, created by some Mexican kids, who can’t follow a simple rule of thumb…
WASH YOUR HANDS!!! Sorry to yell, but is true!
buffalo
April 26th, 2009
at 8:20pm
Wash your hands and avoid people.
Whew!
I thought I was gonna hafta change something.
AnnaHopn
April 26th, 2009
at 9:03pm
Hi, http://www.lockergnome.com - da best. Keep it going!
Thank you
AnnaHopn