There was a posting I made a while back where in talking about Climate Change, I recognised that at times I must appear to sound like a character in a British situation comedy who's catch phrase was: “ Were Doomed, Were Doomed”, yet today I know that I am going to sound like another character who's catch phrase was: Don't Panic, Don't Panic!
I like most people was quite alarmed by the sudden news that a Flu pandemic had started. But as I am English and have a stiff upper lip, its surgically implanted at birth, the more I heard of the facts the more it appeared to be not as serious as the initial headlines.
I am not suggesting that people need to ignore the problem, or that it is not serious, as if reports are accurate then people have died as a result of this new flu virus. However, when you look at the empirical evidence this may not be anywhere near as serious as the headlines or the alarmist reporting suggests.
First it is not a Swine Flu, but a variant of H1N1 a know virus and treatable. It is also the virus component that is used to make the seasonal flu vaccine.
Second, while deaths have occurred, are those deaths fully or whole attributable to this Flu strain? The people who have died may have had other conditions or other infections that made the virus more injurious to them.
Third all the cases outside of Mexico so far are mild. While the flu can effect different people in different ways, and health agencies need to be vigilant and prepared, no one has as yet been made seriously ill nor died from this virus outside of Mexico.
It really does look as though someone has pressed the panic button here. While the risk of a Flu pandemic is a genuine one, when it comes it will will cause serious problems. But there have been no verified deaths so far that are wholly attributed to this flu virus.
While I take the matter seriously and this may well be a new and deadly pandemic, the actual facts do not yet show this to be the plague that the majority of the media are reporting it as. Obviously people need to take and make sensible hygiene precautions and follow informed advice, but I do not see any real need for the media running around like headless chickens.
However, if this panic does provide any benefit, it may stop the disgusting habit of people constantly spiting.
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3 comments:
Interesting-here the media was just told today to stop calling it swine flu and start calling it H1, since the pork industry doesn't want a panic...
And 7 of the reported cases here have required hospitalization-out of 60 or 70 cases, that is pretty high...
Also, I had the seasonal flu shot, and it does not offer any protection from this. In fact, there are reports that it will take 6 moths for a vaccine to become available.
and lastly, from a mouse that has railed against the conditions of mass produced pork on several occasions, I am surprised...
First as this form of H1N1 Flu virus is a mixture of Human flu virus, Avian flu virus and swine flu virus, calling it a Swine flue appears to be a media tag more than anything else. Especially as its not transmittable by eating pork or pork products.
Here the two confirmed cases of this H1N1 flu have been hospitalised, not because they are seriously ill but to keep them in isolation and prevent the spread of the virus. From my searches of the on line media around the world, this appears to be the same in all the cases thus far. Hospitalisation as a precaution and to stop the spread.
While the seasonal flu vaccine will not prevent people catching the flu, as its an N1 strain, we all have some anti-bodies that will help fight the virus.
The problems of animal welfare and intensive animal husbandry can help problems like flu evolve and develop resistance. As well as cause infections to spread, but in this case it is not a flu virus that is spread from pigs to humans. It may have its origins in pigs but this is a human virus and not a pig virus.
The point is that it really does appear as though the media have started a panic that is disproportionate to the facts.
You must have been a health care worker. I went to the CDC website, and luckly enough, they have pretty much stated what you have. Don't panic! We also must remember that Mexican citizens do not have access to the same health care, there for they are not as immuned. Maybe if more people stated they hate the over kill, then the media won't go as far.
I like your "rants", honest and thought out.
NLSM
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