EUH -Stay away from Mexico & U.S

[oack]

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=NOED27%20Apr%202009%2013%3A53%3A18%3A423
Britons were urged to postpone non-essential travel to the United States or Mexico as senior officials held emergency talks over the deadly outbreak of swine flu.The European Union's health commissioner Andorra Vassiliou met EU foreign ministers on the subject and advised people to reassess their travel plans.
"They should avoid travelling to Mexico or the United States of America unless it is very urgent for them," she said.Now I guess this is becoming serious, Here in the UK it's said that vaccination stock piles would cover just about half of the population and more produced if needed. :-o

[pwnst*r]

exaggerated and sensasionalized. what's new.

[Sunflower1970]

A flu outbreak is always serious, but I don't think this is going to be any different than a regular flu outbreak. In fact, since this is allergy season in the US, and the end of the regular flu season is just getting over, I've read it's been a bit hard to tell what is regular flu and what is swine flu. (Guessing bloodwork needs to be done to tell the difference?)

I really am not worried one way or the other about it. A lot of this media we're getting overkill. I am glad to see governments are taking some action to try and contain the outbreak, but there's only so much one can do.

Just remember to wash hands, take vitamins, don't touch mouth/eyes/nose, don't go to work or school sick

I did find this real-time google map with all the outbreak locations: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=32.639375,-110.390625&spn=15.738151,25.488281&source=embed I was surprised to see how many cases were being reported in Europe.

Pink is a suspected case
Purple is a confirmed case
Pink without a dot in it is a death
Have no clue what yellow is

This is actually the second swine flu outbreak we've had. There was one back in the 70s. Just read this on Gawker earlier today: http://tinyurl.com/df7bja

[Sealbhach]

Flu's can be very deadly, as in the case of the Spanish Flu of 1918 (http://virus.stanford.edu/uda/).

The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more people than the Great War, known today as World War I (WWI), at somewhere between 20 and 40 million people. It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. More people died of influenza in a single year than in four-years of the Black Death Bubonic Plague from 1347 to 1351. Known as "Spanish Flu" or "La Grippe" the influenza of 1918-1919 was a global disaster.

The guy who sits across the way from me at work told me his uncle died of it, shortly before the war ended.

Also, we're long overdue another pandemic.


.

[CraigPaleo]

Sars, bird flu... If there ever really is a pandemic, stopping travel won't do anything as the infected will have been incubating the viruses long enough before symptoms are present.

If I were paranoid enough, and possibly exposed, what's to stop me from catching the next flight to the U.K.? The world is far too interconnected to be able to successfully quarantine everyone with something that contagious.

[lisati]

Too late: the concern has spread.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Swine-flu-ruled-out-for-Northcote-students/tabid/209/articleID/101445/cat/525/Default.aspx

[swoll1980]

This is how the media pays their bills. There's been 80 deaths world wide from this swine flew. I bet more people died tripping over their own feet since yesterday.

[mips]

None in Africa but we already have enough diseases & epidemics here. Bring it on, if it does not kill us it will make us stronger.

[Firestem4]

We have a flu-outbreak? Huh..i must not be paying attention to entertainment tv...er News.

Last thing i knew we had was tainted pistachio's right?

[speedwell68]

exaggerated and sensasionalized. what's new.

Yep...


This is how the media pays their bills. There's been 80 deaths world wide from this swine flew. I bet more people died tripping over their own feet since yesterday.

QFT^^^. More people certainly died from wars and starvation today, don't see everyone getting all uppity about that.

[CraigPaleo]

All flights to the U.K are booked and Canada has closed its borders! I was able to book a flight to New Zealand!

Chaos in the streets! :)

[swoll1980]

Even if people stayed away, it wouldn't stop us from bringing it to your front door.

[lisati]

All flights to the U.K are booked and Canada has closed its borders! I was able to book a flight to New Zealand!

Chaos in the streets! :)

The last time I checked, one of the New Zealand health and safety news sites had several news stories: http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/default.aspx?cat=979

[CraigPaleo]

The last time I checked, one of the New Zealand health and safety news sites had several news stories: http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/default.aspx?cat=979

Three students do not have swine flu. Only three don't have it? OMG! It is that bad! :)

[mips]

All flights to the U.K are booked and Canada has closed its borders! I was able to book a flight to New Zealand!

Chaos in the streets! :)

lol, NZ, one of the places with high instances of swein flu as a ratio to population.

Enjoy your stay...

[Wiebelhaus]

The fact of the is 75% of the people that have contracted the virus are now fine and walking around because they went to the hospital and received treatment. That was from the Mexican News and now I can't find the story.

[swoll1980]

The fact of the is 75% of the people that have contracted the virus are now fine and walking around because they went to the hospital and received treatment. That was from the Mexican News and now I can't find the story.

It's more than 75% even. Out of over 1000 infections 80 have died. That's a 92% survival rate. I'll take those odds any day. Those that perished were probably really old, or really young.

[happysmileman]

It's more than 75% even. Out of over 1000 infections 80 have died. That's a 92% survival rate. I'll take those odds any day. Those that perished were probably really old, or really young.

Mexican government say victims between 20 and 50 years old (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8021656.stm)

And the pandemic in 1918-1919 had less that 10% fatality rate (But about a third of the world got infected, so it ended up killing an estimated 2.5% of the world population AFAIK).

That said, I don't think this will be very bad since I believe we're a lot more prepared (It's apparently treatable quite easily if gotten to at an early stage, but in poorer countries it has potential to do quite a bit of damage), but in terms of the mortality rate so far it's incredibly high, almost comparable to the 1918-1919 pandemic.

[DMcA]

Oh dear, a lot of people in this thread have no idea what they're talking about. Now I'm not saying that this is going to be a complete disaster, and yes the media do hype things up, but an influenza pandemic is a serious, serious issue. This swine flu might not be the one, but sometime within my life time there is going to be a global pandemic that kills millions of people, so being cautious in these situations is commendable.

In the case of the Spannish flu, the virus actually killed more young adults than old people, since healthy immune systems tended to overreact. And an 8% fatality rate is truly horrific. If this virus is as virulent as some reports seem to suggest, if it doesn't respond well to treatment and if the death rate is anything like what some people seem to think, millions and millions of people will die.

Obviously people shouldn't overreact but a degree of respect for these sort of diseases is necessary.

[swoll1980]

I think this planet could use a good pandemic right about now. Not one of those little ones either, I'm talking about one that wipes about 80% of the people from the face of the Earth. Not saying it to be mean. If I have to be one of the 80%, then so be it. Just give my regards to Broadway.

[Wiebelhaus]

I think this planet could use a good pandemic right about now. Not one of those little ones either, I'm talking about one that wipes about 80% of people from the Earth. Not saying it to be mean. If I have to be one of the 80%, then so be it. Just give my regards to Broadway.

I like you swoll but that just pissed me off , just being honest.

[happysmileman]

I think this planet could use a good pandemic right about now. Not one of those little ones either, I'm talking about one that wipes about 80% of the people from the face of the Earth. Not saying it to be mean. If I have to be one of the 80%, then so be it. Just give my regards to Broadway.

Well you have no idea how society would function with 80% of people missing, if it was a very gradual thing (lower fertility rates over a few generations) it may work out ok.
But if 4 out of every 5 people died in the space of a few years can anyone here say how well society would cope?

Oh also, even if society could cope in theory, you'd have to take into account that if everyone in the world sees on average 80% of their friends and family die, I'd say very few of them could go back to working and living a normal life. Would much of them want to work, socialise or reproduce?

[swoll1980]

I like you swoll but that just pissed me off , just being honest.

With the current rate of population growth there won't be an Earth in 200 years. Didn't mean to offend you, I just don't see a realistic way around it. Whether it be natural, like a pandemic, or something done by man, it's going to happen eventually.

[Saint Angeles]

I think this planet could use a good pandemic right about now. Not one of those little ones either, I'm talking about one that wipes about 80% of the people from the face of the Earth. Not saying it to be mean. If I have to be one of the 80%, then so be it. Just give my regards to Broadway.
i think you hurt a lot of people's little feelings.

now go say you're sorry.

[swoll1980]

Well you have no idea how society would function with 80% of people missing, if it was a very gradual thing (lower fertility rates over a few generations) it may work out ok.
But if 4 out of every 5 people died in the space of a few years can anyone here say how well society would cope?

I'm sure it would be rough at first, but we humans are pretty adaptable.

[Wiebelhaus]

Well you have no idea how society would function with 80% of people missing, if it was a very gradual thing (lower fertility rates over a few generations) it may work out ok.
But if 4 out of every 5 people died in the space of a few years can anyone here say how well society would cope?

The other 20% would die from the rotten , disease infested waters and the makeshift disposal methods would infect and infest and invade every orifice of every society in the world with spillover and the stench would be unbearable , it would be absolutely catastrophic.

Everyone would die , those who survived the longest would suffer the most. I tried to be as vague as possible but imagine the bug and mammal encroachment....

OMG.

[Namtabmai]

swoll1980, don't worry I agree with you've said so far so you're not alone with that way of thinking.

[Skripka]

I'm sure it would be rough at first, but we humans are pretty adaptable.

As long as we aren't talking about computer OSes such as WinXP, sure. ;)

[Closed_Port]

I think this planet could use a good pandemic right about now. Not one of those little ones either, I'm talking about one that wipes about 80% of the people from the face of the Earth.

Ah, the fun of sitting in mama's basement and dreaming of wipeing out billions...



If I have to be one of the 80%, then so be it.
Well, I'll certainly keep my fingers crossed that you are. Here's to hoping.

[Wiebelhaus]

i think you hurt a lot of people's little feelings.

now go say you're sorry.

Na , I don't want him to say he's sorry , He's a man and has a right to state how he feels as do I in being honest and telling him it pissed me off. No hard feelings , we are just having a conversation.

No worries.

[swoll1980]

The other 20% would die from the rotten , disease infested waters and the makeshift disposal methods would infect and infest and invade every orifice of every society in the world with spillover and the stench would be unbearable , it would be absolutely catastrophic.

Everyone would die , those who survived the longest would suffer the most. I tried to be as vague as possible but imagine the bug and mammal encroachment....

OMG.

I'm talking about surviving everything, the pandemic, or [insert other catastrophe here] the aftermath, and whatever else. If 20% about 1.2 million survived, the human race would be fine, and on our way to over population again.

[swoll1980]

Ah, the fun of sitting in mama's basement and dreaming of wipeing out billions...


Well, I'll certainly keep my fingers crossed that you are. Here's to hoping.

Actually the only one in the basement right now is my son, and with the way things are going right now, he doesn't have much to look forward to.

Add: Also if you thought I was a child, in my mothers basement, wouldn't it be kind of harsh to wish death on me?

[pwnst*r]

Ah, the fun of sitting in mama's basement and dreaming of wipeing out billions...


Well, I'll certainly keep my fingers crossed that you are. Here's to hoping.

lol

[Namtabmai]

Oh also, even if society could cope in theory, you'd have to take into account that if everyone in the world sees on average 80% of their friends and family die, I'd say very few of them could go back to working and living a normal life. Would much of them want to work, socialise or reproduce?

It's quite simple, either you cope or you die. People are much more resilient than you think.

[Wiebelhaus]

Actually the only one in the basement right now is my son, and with the way things are going right now, he doesn't have much to look forward to.

Those are completely normal feelings every generation for the last 3,000 years has felt at one time or another. Seriously buddy I think there's more to you feeling that way then you would ever admit to a bunch of strangers on the Internet but please consider speaking to an elder or a guru or a pastor or an older person you trust , I'm worried about your well being. You need to be and must be positive for your families sake , life is beautiful! if you have for some reason forgotten that then you may need to find a way to recapture that lust for life.

Cheers mate , everything will be just fine.

[Closed_Port]

Actually the only one in the basement right now is my son ...
So, let me get this straight. You think the world is so overcrowded that you wish that 80% of all humans died and then you go and have a child? What on earth...



Add: Also if you thought I was a child, in my mothers basement, wouldn't it be kind of harsh to wish death on me?
In my experience, people who grandstand on forums and fantasize about killing billions can very well be both grown up and still be in mama's basement.

Also, it might have been harsh, but I think when you compare it to wishing that billions die, it's actually pretty tame.

[meeples]

a couple from my town mcame back from mexico the other day and were confirmed today to have Swine FLu, theyve been in contact with over 20 people since coming back...

[Sealbhach]

a couple from my town mcame back from mexico the other day and were confirmed today to have Swine FLu, theyve been in contact with over 20 people since coming back...


Suddenly that LOL in your signature looks really inappropriate.


.

[swoll1980]

So, let me get this straight. You think the world is so overcrowded that you wish that 80% of all humans died and then you go and have a child? What on earth...


In my experience, people who grandstand on forums and fantasize about killing billions can very well be both grown up and still be in mama's basement.

Also, it might have been harsh, but I think when you compare it to wishing that billions die, it's actually pretty tame.

I never said anything about killing anyone. It just seems inevitable that something has to give. Over population is a huge problem. When I had my son I was young, and ignorant. I had know Idea things were going to get this bad, or I wouldn't have thought twice about it. 7 years ago when I made a decision to have my son I was making $80,000 a year, now I can't even pay my bills, and there's no jobs to be found anywhere. I'm going to school now in hopes of a better income, and I'm sure we will all be fine. I don't think the world, as we know it, is going to end tomorrow, but it seems like it can't be to far off. If anyone is "grandstanding" it certainly wouldn't be me.

add: I think you need to open that port of yours.

[happysmileman]

It's quite simple, either you cope or you die. People are much more resilient than you think.

Not necessarilly, you could cope fine, but it won't do you very well if there's no doctors or farmers left (these people, in addition to being very important, are also the ones who would be exposed most to the disease, althought the doctors presumably wouldn't be taking any risks).

Perhaps if a random 80% of the population die we would cope, but it probably wouldn't be a random 80%, food producers would be the most exposed for example.

[SunnyRabbiera]

I think this planet could use a good pandemic right about now. Not one of those little ones either, I'm talking about one that wipes about 80% of the people from the face of the Earth. Not saying it to be mean. If I have to be one of the 80%, then so be it. Just give my regards to Broadway.

Captain Trips anybody?

[swoll1980]

Captain Trips anybody?

That was a good book.

[Namtabmai]

Captain Trips anybody?

Yeah I was getting an urge to watch The Stand again

[DMcA]

I never said anything about killing anyone. It just seems inevitable that something has to give. Over population is a huge problem... I don't think the world, as we know it, is going to end tomorrow, but it seems like it can't be to far off. If anyone is "grandstanding" it certainly wouldn't be me.

add: I think you need to open that port of yours.

pandemics won't solve overpopulation. Give us a few hundred years and we'll be right back to where we were beforehand. Even diseases such as the black death didn't have a huge affect on global population growth.

The only way to successfully control the population is to ensure low levels of infant mortality, high levels of development and manage the population sustainably. Unfortunately no one in the west wants to encourage population decline. Decreasing populations are bad for the economy.

[Sealbhach]

Well, whatever about Malthusian gloom, let's just avoid shaking hands with people and wash our hands after being on trains, buses, escalators or or in contact with any surfaces where many people may have placed their hands.

About two years ago I got into the habit of washing my hands as soon as I got in from work after being on the bus/tube/subway - I've had far fewer colds since i started doing that.


.

[Closed_Port]

add: I think you need to open that port of yours.
Doesn't sound like a good advice when discussing a virus pandemic.

[Wiebelhaus]

Doesn't sound like a good advice when discussing a virus pandemic.

lol , pure ownage.

[happysmileman]

On the subject of closed ports, is it too late to get entry to Madagascar?

[mips]

On the subject of closed ports, is it too late to get entry to Madagascar?


Why go there. Anything might happen there due to the political situation I suspect.

[happysmileman]

Why go there. Anything might happen there due to the political situation I suspect.

This (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=President%20Madagascar) is why :P

[oack]

There's a an old WWII bunker not far from where i live, mmm stock up on chips

[mips]

This (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=President%20Madagascar) is why :P

:lolflag:

[Wiebelhaus]

That has to be one of the most obscure nerd references ever , good work my good fellow! superb! Bravo bravo...

[dragos240]

Oh noes! I better evacuate!

[lisati]

Oh noes! I better evacuate!

Will I need air freshener?

[dragos240]

What? I may have a brainfart.......

[CraigPaleo]

Will I need air freshener?

Yes, he's probably "nauseous" too!

[dragos240]

Yes, he's probably "nauseous" too!
http://www.public.iastate.edu/%7Eteddo/orly.png

[oack]

H5N1 (bird flu) was nowhere near as virulent as this. This one is killing about 7% of those infected according to available stats.

Spanish influenza of 1918 was about 2.5%.

[mamamia88]

yeah it's all bs don't worry come to america

[amitabhishek]

Just when economy was showing signs of revival this ***** happens...

[lisati]

I'm likely to be off for my free flu shot in the morning - not out of panic, but because I like "free" stuff.

Keep on smiling, everyone, and don't let the FUD element drag you down in what could be a serious situation.

[myusername]

This is how the media pays their bills. There's been 80 deaths world wide from this swine flew. I bet more people died tripping over their own feet since yesterday.

+1 isn't it weird how this stuff happens once and it's never mentioned again? (birdflu, anthrax, **** Cheney with guns etc.) something always pops up to replace it.

[billgoldberg]

This is how the media pays their bills. There's been 80 deaths world wide from this swine flew. I bet more people died tripping over their own feet since yesterday.

Lol.

I agree.

80 deaths from a disease is hardly something to make a big fuss out of.

More people die of breathing polluted air a day than that.

[CraigPaleo]

I'm likely to be off for my free flu shot in the morning - not out of panic, but because I like "free" stuff.

Keep on smiling, everyone, and don't let the FUD element drag you down in what could be a serious situation.

Good for you! Even if it's not the pig flu, your cold and flu season is coming up anyway. (if it's opposite of ours)

I'll keep smiling and if I'm not, you'll be the first to know. :D

[Closed_Port]

80 deaths from a disease is hardly something to make a big fuss out of.

Sigh.
It's not about how many people died already but about how many people could potentially die if there is a pandemic.

[Johnsie]

I believe nature has it's ways of cleaning things up. We've made a mess of this planet and eventually nature will respond to that in some self-healing way.

I also think this virus could be used as excuse to tighten the borders, just like 9/11 was used as an excuse invade Iraq. Humans introducing viruses for political/control reasons? Anyone who watches the X-Files knows this is possible lol ;-D

[ZarathustraDK]

I also think this virus could be used as excuse to tighten the borders, just like 9/11 was used as an excuse invade Iraq. Humans introducing viruses for political/control reasons? Anyone who watches the X-Files knows this is possible lol ;-D

Somehow your post makes me want to play C&C Generals...

[Mazza558]

What's the death-rate of those outside Mexico?

[etnlIcarus]

It's okay guys, I've read this entire thread; I'm now prepared for the impending pandemic!

Lord, please let me die first...

I believe nature has it's ways of cleaning things up. We've made a mess of this planet and eventually nature will respond to that in some self-healing way.What a coincidence. I was just looking for a self-serving rationalisation to justify my complete complacency. Things are looking up!

[ZarathustraDK]

The 7% mortality-rate is not set in stone, it all depends on how readily available treatment is locally.

First-world countries wont suffer as much as developing countries, so to "us" it'll just seem like a bad cold.

Hell, even ordinary flu is a serious thing in a third-world country.

[Johnsie]

It only affects fit, healthy people so I have nothing to worry about.

[swoll1980]

Sigh.
It's not about how many people died already but about how many people could potentially die if there is a pandemic.

Malaria (cdc.gov/Malaria/facts.htm) kills over a million people a year. If we're going to worry about a plague, shouldn't it be this one?

[swoll1980]

I believe nature has it's ways of cleaning things up. We've made a mess of this planet and eventually nature will respond to that in some self-healing way.

I also think this virus could be used as excuse to tighten the borders, just like 9/11 was used as an excuse invade Iraq. Humans introducing viruses for political/control reasons? Anyone who watches the X-Files knows this is possible lol ;-D

I was wondering when the first conspiracy theorist was going to emerge.

[Closed_Port]

Malaria (cdc.gov/Malaria/facts.htm) kills over a million people a year. If we're going to worry about a plague, shouldn't it be this one.
We should definately worry more about Malaria than we currently do, however when you look at the Spanish flue that killed at least 20 million people, I don't see why we shouldn't worry about another flue pandemic.

Also:
http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/false-dilemma.html

[etnlIcarus]

Malaria (cdc.gov/Malaria/facts.htm) kills over a million people a year. If we're going to worry about a plague, shouldn't it be this one?
What kind of sane infectious disease policy worries about only a single threat? And ignoring for a moment the persistent efforts to keep malaria under control, comparing malaria to influenza is just plain stupid; the method of transmission largely precludes rapid malaria pandemics in developed nations.

[Polygon]

seems like just hype to me. Life goes on where i live, and it seems that all those people have died in mexico because of the less then stellar health care down there? Like what...7 people have been infected in the us or something small, and entire states are freaking out about it? hmm...

[Giant Speck]

We should definately worry more about Malaria than we currently do, however when you look at the Spanish flue that killed at least 20 million people, I don't see why we shouldn't worry about another flue pandemic.

Also:
http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/false-dilemma.html

Actually, current estimates show that between 50 to 100 million people may have died from the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.

[Skripka]

seems like just hype to me. Life goes on where i live, and it seems that all those people have died in mexico because of the less then stellar health care down there? Like what...7 people have been infected in the us or something small, and entire states are freaking out about it? hmm...

The Daily Show had a great vid excerpt last night.

CNN was showing a digital globe and highlighting places that had infections...They highlighted ALL of Canada, which had across it's 4,000,000 some odd square miles a total of 6 infections. :lolflag:

No one is blowing ANYTHING out of proportion here.

[craigeo]

Ever heard of the boy that cried wolf?
SARS was gonna get us, bird flu was gonna get us, mad cows were gonna get us, now the 3 little pigs are gonna get us ... yadda, yadda, yadda
Oh well, something's gonna get us at some point so I'm not going to sit around worrying about it.
I'll keep washing my hands, keeping things clean, etc.
If I snort when I laugh does that mean I'm infected?

[RazVayne]

You know what else is spreading?African bees...Oh yea,and the lack of money which generated ridiculous news reports.

[mips]

You know what else is spreading?African bees...

I thought bees were dying out which in itself is catastrophic?

[Giant Speck]

I thought bees were dying out which in itself is catastrophic?

You're thinking of American honeybees.

[swoll1980]

What kind of sane infectious disease policy worries about only a single threat? And ignoring for a moment the persistent efforts to keep malaria under control, comparing malaria to influenza is just plain stupid; the method of transmission largely precludes rapid malaria pandemics in developed nations.

I talking about the media sensationalizing the flu, but completely ignoring malaria. I haven't heard a story about malaria on the local news my whole life. Why do you guys insist on throwing insults around? You say we can't compare flu to malaria because it doesn't effect developed nations. What is this comment supposed to mean exactly? I didn't know we were separating ourselves from those who aren't as fortunate.

[swoll1980]

oops double post

[Closed_Port]

I talking about the media sensationalizing the flu, but completely ignoring malaria. I haven't heard a story about malaria on the local news my whole life.

I don't know in which part of the world you live, but as etnlIcarus has pointed out, large parts of the globe, especially in the developed world simply aren't even potentially affected by malaria whereas they are affected by a flue pandemic.
So the reason you haven't heard about malaria on the local news is probably that malaria just isn't local news.



Why do you guys insist on throwing insults around?

?



You say we can't compare flu to malaria because it doesn't effect developed nations. What is this comment supposed to mean exactly? I didn't know we were separating ourselves from those who aren't as fortunate.
I can't of course say for sure what it is supposed to mean, but I read it as a simple statement of fact. The reaction to a potential flue pandemic is different as more areas are affected and especially as developed nations are affected.

As to seperating ourselves from those who aren't as fortunate. I of course agree with you that we shouldn't do it, but on the other hand I think malaria is a very good example that we actually do.

One of the main problems with malaria is that it is a disease that primarily affects poor people so the interest to actually invest money in research is very low. Fun fact: The pharmaceutical industry puts more money into research to combat hair loss and erection problems than into finding a cure for Malaria.

[etnlIcarus]

I didn't know we were separating ourselves from those who aren't as fortunate.
This is an even worse emotional diversion than bringing up malaria. Please, just stop.

[Dr.Vista]

The World Health Organization has just classified it as a category 4.

[Sealbhach]

The World Health Organization has just classified it as a category 4.

Is that bad?

.

[Giant Speck]

Is that bad?

.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/WHO_pandemic_phases.png

[sports fan Matt]

I was watching a major network evening report with a reporter down there and he had no mask..while others had it on..my first thought was "wheres your mask" and my second one was "why arent you protected" I wouldnt risk this...

[oack]

From the BBC, The World Health Organization raises the alert over swine flu to level five - one short of a full pandemic - as the virus spreads.

To my knowledge a level 5 means that a pandemic is imminent

[lisati]

Had my first ever free flu shot yesterday, not out of fear or panic, but as a precaution. A big "thank you" to everyone who made it possible.

I'm still waiting for the major outbreak of SARS that was feared a few years ago.

[swoll1980]

This is an even worse emotional diversion than bringing up malaria. Please, just stop.

This makes some kind of sense?

[Giant Speck]

Had my first ever free flu shot yesterday, not out of fear or panic, but as a precaution. A big "thank you" to everyone who made it possible.

Not to sound like a scare monger (and I know you didn't get the shot because of swine flu), but the current flu vaccination won't protect you from swine flu. It is specially formulated for this season's prominent strain of influenza. I've heard that Tamiflu is effective against this strain (Thank Goodness).

Anyway, the current statistics are as follows:

Suspected cases - 3,368
Confirmed cases - 193
Deaths - 152

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/H1N1_map.svg/800px-H1N1_map.svg.png

[hyperdude111]

Not that worried about this, if you trust the media we should all already be dead from terrorists, bird flu, nuclear war and global warming.

If you look at the stats, less than 200 cases in a world population of 6.3billion. And in the U.K. where I live 3 confirmed cases about 10 suspected and 0 deaths. Compare that to "Death by dangerous driving" stats, ALL media hype.

[lisati]

Not that worried about this, if you trust the media we should all already be dead from terrorists, bird flu, nuclear war and global warming.

Good point: I don't remember any planes falling out of the sky as soon as the clocks clicked over to January 1, 2000. My microwave didn't blow up either. One thing I do recall, however, is a TV preacher musing on how the people who were smart enough to design all the gadgets we take for granted these days could be so dumb as to let the date cause a major problem.

[mick222]

I was watching a major network evening report with a reporter down there and he had no mask..while others had it on..
Masks dont really protect you much ,think of the size of a virus and the size of even the smallest thread.

[aml1648]

Giant Speck,

By painting all of the U.S.A black you sort of left the impression that America is being overrun by Black Death the sequel with people dying left and right and corpses pilling up on the streets. Even though in reality there has been only ONE casualty in all 50 states and that is a 20 MONTHS old Mexican national who was only here on vacations and most likely brought the virus with her from Mexico.

In any case, I would not go into panic mode even if there have been more a few more isolated casualties from the flu... unless the victims' dead bodies come back to life and start to infect others by turning them into zombies... now that is an epidemic that would scare the hell out of me.

[MellonCollie]

Anyway, the current statistics are as follows:

Suspected cases - 3,368
Confirmed cases - 193
Deaths - 152

There have only been 8 confirmed deaths so far.

[etnlIcarus]

Had my first ever free flu shot yesterday, not out of fear or panic, but as a precaution. A big "thank you" to everyone who made it possible.The flu shot won't protect you from Swine flu, dude.


This makes some kind of sense?

Alright, let me try another angle: the same person who said they'd be okay with 80% of the population being wiped out is now attempting to act as our moral superior. Any of this getting through?

[swoll1980]

The flu shot won't protect you from Swine flu, dude.



Alright, let me try another angle: the same person who said they'd be okay with 80% of the population being wiped out is now attempting to act as our moral superior. Any of this getting through?

The fact that I believe the world is over populated, and a pandemic wouldn't be such a bad thing, has nothing to do with my morals. I also said It wouldn't matter if I myself had to die in this pandemic. As long as it brought some kind of balance to the planet, then it would be worth it. This is no different from sending people to fight a war, for the benefit of future generations. Maybe I'm just not as selfish as most people. I don't believe it is fair for it to be "OK" for millions of people to die just because they're poor. This doesn't help with the over population, because it's not these countries that have the population problems. When will we start worrying about them? When we run out of room, and need to take their land to survive? How long do you think it will take to find a cure for malaria then? You act like I'm fantasizing about dropping bombs on people, or something. Use that huge brain of yours, and figure out how long, at the current rate of population growth, it will take for humans to run out of resources. Then tell me I'm immoral, because I'm not walking around with blinders on, ignorant to the fact that the Earth has no way to sustain us if this keeps up. Maybe if you recognized your own mortality, and the fact we all die at sometime, you could see my point of view. Whether we die old men laying there miserable in our death beds, or in some pandemic that could actually help future generations doesn't really matter to me. That's for nature to decide.

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

This is an article from a radio station in Texas, USA. Do you think they are over reacting?

http://www.krld.com/Fort-Worth-Closing-Schools-Due-To-Swine-Flu/4295318

[oack]

This is an article from a radio station in Texas, USA. Do you think they are over reacting?

http://www.krld.com/Fort-Worth-Closing-Schools-Due-To-Swine-Flu/4295318


In this case when it comes to life and death the consequences of under reaction far out weight those of over reaction.

[aml1648]

It is interesting how the media talked about death from the swine flu yet they never, ever showed any pictures of the deceased or even pictures from the funerals.

Rumors say that we don't see any dead bodies because... they did not stay dead for long.

IT is speculated that the virus behind this new bizarre string of swine flu has the shocking property of reanimating dead tissues after the virus' host has died. The reanimate corpse, being devoid of conscientiousness, is guided by the most basic instinct of the virus. That is, to feed and to multiply. The reanimated corpses, now completely taken over by the virus, is instinctively attracted to the smell and sight of flesh, as emitted by living animals, including human beings.

Anyone who is bitten by the reanimated corpse is immediately infected as the virus travels from the bite, through the victim's blood vessels and reach the victim's brain, where it gradually corrupts the brain cells so that soon, the victim too is taken over by the virus and becomes insatiable for the taste of the flesh of other living human beings. Given that epidemic like this tend to expand rapidly in densely occupied urban areas, it is no surprising that, Mexico City, one of the most densely populated metropolitan area in the world, is seeing the scourge of the undead.

So stay put, hide yourselves and your loved ones and don't like the walking dead sense your presence or you too would soon joint their rank...

[etnlIcarus]

The fact that I believe the world is over populated, and a pandemic wouldn't be such a bad thing, has nothing to do with my morals.Um, yes it does. For instance:
I also said It wouldn't matter if I myself had to die in this pandemic. As long as it brought some kind of balance to the planet, then it would be worth it.Says a lot about how you value human life and how you approach ends-justifies-means scenarios (blown out of proportion as they may be).


I don't believe it is fair for it to be "OK" for millions of people to die just because they're poor. This doesn't help with the over population, because it's not these countries that have the population problems.Not to paint broad strokes but this is absolutely, positively wrong. Most highly developed countries have declining birthrates. Countries where poverty is rampant also tend to be the most over-populated (eg China and India). You're just making this up as you go along, evidenced by the fact that every time someone points out that you're wrong, you go off on another irrelevant tangent. First it was malaria, now it's 'you're not thinking of the poor people'. No doubt HIV and animal cruelty are next on your hit list.

[CraigPaleo]

Not to sound like a scare monger (and I know you didn't get the shot because of swine flu), but the current flu vaccination won't protect you from swine flu. It is specially formulated for this season's prominent strain of influenza. I've heard that Tamiflu is effective against this strain (Thank Goodness).


This season's vaccine contains a type of H1N1. Some cross-protection could occur. According to the CDC, they really don't know yet.

[swoll1980]

Um, yes it does. For instance: Says a lot about how you value human life and how you approach ends-justifies-means scenarios (blown out of proportion as they may be).


The fact that I value the humans that haven't been born yet doesn't mean I don't value the ones that are alive now. Without a doubt. There are going to be people born into a extremely over populated world. Most people don't care about them though, They are worried about right now. They are like these government officials that spend tons of money that their grand children have to pay back. You have to look at the big picture. I don't know how things are there, but in the US the population is exploding. What is the US going to do when it runs out of room? That's the problem that you keep ducking. China isn't a poor country. They just do things in bizarre ways that don't make any sense. If I'm not mistaken the Chinese already kill children to control the population, that might not be accurate though.
The comment I made about malaria had nothing to do with population control, but rather the fact that no one seems to care about something unless it affects them directly. All this nonsense is just a ploy to take attention away from the fact that you said I was stupid to compare the flu to malaria, because the flu affects us, and malaria only affects poor people. I don't care who points out that I'm wrong. I'll just have to assume that I have a better grasp of the situation than they do.

[etnlIcarus]

The comment I made about malaria had nothing to do with population control, but rather the fact that no one seems to care about something unless it affects them directly. All this nonsense is just a ploy to take attention away from the fact that you said I was stupid to compare the flu to malaria, because the flu affects us, and malaria only affects poor people.

You've already had this explained to you by that other fellow. It's a shame you didn't pay attention.


I don't care who points out that I'm wrong, I'll just have to assume that I have a better grasp of the situation than they do.This is what's known as arrogance. You'd best avoid it.

[swoll1980]

peanut butter

[jimi_hendrix]

exaggerated and sensasionalized. what's new.

more people die from seasonal flu than from this flu...

its leathal to infants and the elderly...or anyone else who has an unhealthy immune system

[Rainstride]

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=NOED27%20Apr%202009%2013%3A53%3A18%3A423Now I Here in the UK it's said that vaccination stock piles would cover just about half of the population and more produced if needed. :-o

you are better off without it, the vaccination will make you sicker.

do your selves a favour and lock your selves in your homes.... and post here:).

[Rainstride]

I was watching a major network evening report with a reporter down there and he had no mask..while others had it on..my first thought was "wheres your mask" and my second one was "why arent you protected" I wouldnt risk this...

those masks don't stop viruses. only nano masks do, and those are not nano masks.

[etnlIcarus]

I'd rather call it confidence, and it is something that should be embraced.Now you're just being childish (more so) and contrary. You've pretty much dropped any and all pretence of seriousness at this point.

[swoll1980]

Now you're just being childish (more so) and contrary. You've pretty much dropped any and all pretence of seriousness at this point.

Oh... I get it. I should assume I'm wrong, because somebody on the internet, who could be 10 years old for all I know, doesn't aggree with me. The fact that you keep resorting to personal attacks rather than what you beleive, and why you beleive it, destroys your credibility, and makes you hard to take seriously. Assuming that I have a better grasp of the situation, isn't very hard, when you behave in the way that you have.

[etnlIcarus]

The fact that you keep resorting to personal attacksI have not resorted to a single personal attack. If you can't distinguish between criticisms of the self and criticism of your conduct, I've yet again overestimated your capacity for mature, intelligent discussion.


rather than what you beleive, and why you beleive itIf you don't know what I believe and why I believe it, the fault can only lie with yourself.


...destroys your credibility, and makes you hard to take seriously
I don't care who points out that I'm wrong, I'll just have to assume that I have a better grasp of the situation than they do


Assuming that I have a better grasp of the situation, isn't very hard, when you behave in the way that you have.I (and others) have told you you're wrong; explained why you're wrong and your response has uniformly been one of the following:
- changing the subject
- unashamedly pulling the intellectual equivalent of putting your fingers in your ears and yelling, "nahnahnah".
My conduct is not in question.

[sir_nasty]

more people die from seasonal flu than from this flu...

its leathal to infants and the elderly...or anyone else who has an unhealthy immune system


In 2003 they estimated that over 30,000 people died from the seasonal flu. That's 82 people PER DAY 6 years ago... those numbers have grown... Not 100% certain on what they are but over 110 per day would be a safe estimate... The 'swine flu' hasn't even killed 100 yet AND of the deaths in Mexico not all of them were confirmed as being a direct result of the swine flu...

Now consider this... On approx. the same day as the 'swine flu epidemic' hit congress began working on passing the largest tax increase in the history of man. I'm not a conspiracy theorist but I do believe in facing the facts. Everything I have provided here is fact (look it up yourself before you flame me...) Draw your own conclusions....

[swoll1980]

comparing malaria to influenza is just plain stupid

Personal attack, has nothing to do with the facts.



Any of this getting through?
insinuating that I must be slow, because my views differ from yours.


Now you're just being childish
Personal attack

I have not resorted to a single personal attack. I've yet again overestimated your capacity for mature, intelligent discussion.

Personal attack.

Once again the malaria post had nothing to do with the other post. I didn't post it to "change the subject" It was in response to a series of post about the media sensationalizing the swine flew, and had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the other post. I don't know why you keep trying to link them together. they had nothing to do with each other. From what I saw there were only 3 people disagreeing with me, and 2 of them choose to do so in a very childish manner, the other wished I would die. You insulted me at least 4 times. I don't even think you made a valid argument against my beliefs in any of your post. All you did was tell me how I feel about life, and throw insults around. I would like you to find the post in which you actually made a point that was in contrary to my beliefs. Since I'm sure your bored, and insulting me for entertainment purposes. I will place you on my ignore list.

[etnlIcarus]

Personal attack

...

Personal attack

...

Personal attack. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

You have about as much respect for the phrase, "personal attack", as you do for the word confidence.


has nothing to do with the facts.It does when you quote the rest of the sentence:
comparing malaria to influenza is just plain stupid; the method of transmission largely precludes rapid malaria pandemics in developed nations.
Nice context-job.


insinuating that I must be slow, because my views differ from yoursNo, I insinuated that you were purposefully not understanding an argument you found inconvenient. You don't seem to be above putting up big mental walls when presented with something which doesn't fit within the boundaries of your established views.

As for your being slow, I'm doubtful. The overwhelming impression I'm getting from you is you're just dishonest, immature and have little respect for proper discourse.

[geekygirl]

Time to drag out the sandwich boards with "The End Is Nigh" on it..(and go and hang out with the other conspiracy theorists..)

If you beleive the media that is - just like believeing everything you see on the internet ;)

I have listened to a few talkbacks on ABC Radio National over here with Virologists (spelling?) (the one I listened to had a dude from the laborotoray in Geelong Vic which is one of the 10 'networked' viral and infectious diseases labs currently tasked with creating a vaccine for this - about 6 months before we might see one)and it really does seem (even if we do get to pandemic stages) that this has been blown out of proportion by the media....trouble is too many people take the media and its reporting as gospel...

They forget to highlight in their media reports, that the last pandemic we had was in 1968 - Asian Flu (my mum has had that - she is still kicking..lol) and of the several million who die from it they are elderly, young children with poorly developed immune systems, people with such things as underlying heart disease or they developed Pneumonia as a result of the flu and it is the Pneumonia that gets them. Sort of like the regular old flu we get to deal with every year.

I think if people want the facts they need to talk with their GP's rather than listening to the news or reading about it on the internets :P

[swoll1980]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

No, I insinuated that you were purposefully not understanding an argument you found inconvenient. You don't seem to be above putting up big mental walls when presented with something which doesn't fit within the boundaries of your established views.


What argument! You never made one. The only argument you made in the sum of all your post was that it was stupid to compare flu to malaria because of the people that it affects. I directly (with out insults) refuted it by saying that I don't think someones economic status should determine whether, or not they should get media attention. Except for this one remark in 5-6 different post there were no arguments ever made, only insults thrown at me, and all your link does is prove my point. You had no arguments to what I said, so you started insulting me.

[etnlIcarus]

Alright, lets take this to PM before I get another thread locked. I'm sure we're boring people to tears.

[swoll1980]

Alright, lets take this to PM before I get another thread locked. I'm sure we're boring people to tears.

Better yet just end the discussion, I'll agree to disagree with the argument you never made. Just so you know, I would be proud if you left that in your signature.

[Wiebelhaus]

Friends , you two can disagree without being disagreeable.

[etnlIcarus]

Just so you know, I would be proud if you left that in your signature. >.>

[CJ Master]

Alright, lets take this to PM before I get another thread locked. I'm sure we're boring people to tears.

No, no, please continue, I have nothing better to do tonight. :popcorn:

[etnlIcarus]

I'll be sure to forward you our PM battle.

I have nothing better to do tonight.Evidentially, nor do I.

[EnGorDiaz]

I'll be sure to forward you our PM battle.
Evidentially, nor do I.

pm battles to the extreme!!!

[billgoldberg]

Flu's can be very deadly, as in the case of the Spanish Flu of 1918 (http://virus.stanford.edu/uda/).

The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more people than the Great War, known today as World War I (WWI), at somewhere between 20 and 40 million people. It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. More people died of influenza in a single year than in four-years of the Black Death Bubonic Plague from 1347 to 1351. Known as "Spanish Flu" or "La Grippe" the influenza of 1918-1919 was a global disaster.

The guy who sits across the way from me at work told me his uncle died of it, shortly before the war ended.

Also, we're long overdue another pandemic.


.

The normal flue (if there is such a thing, as the ******* changes every year) claims more than 13.000 deaths a year.

Why the media is getting all over the Swine Flu is beyond me.

[cajunaggie]

Why the media is getting all over the Swine Flu is beyond me.

Unfortunately a free press doesn't imply a responsible press and "Swine Flu epidemic!" sounds more exciting than "Two people get swine flu!"

[lisati]

Unfortunately a free press doesn't imply a responsible press and "Swine Flu epidemic!" sounds more exciting than "Two people get swine flu!"

I agree: and sometimes what makes an "interesting" and factually accurate story doesn't always mean a balanced story.

I was greatly relieved to see a news item the other day about someone who experienced a nasty form of the flu and survived.

[Giant Speck]

Giant Speck,

By painting all of the U.S.A black you sort of left the impression that America is being overrun by Black Death the sequel with people dying left and right and corpses pilling up on the streets. Even though in reality there has been only ONE casualty in all 50 states and that is a 20 MONTHS old Mexican national who was only here on vacations and most likely brought the virus with her from Mexico.


Don't blame me for the map; blame whoever uploaded it to Wikipedia.

[etnlIcarus]

The normal flue (if there is such a thing, as the ******* changes every year) claims more than 13.000 deaths a year.

Why the media is getting all over the Swine Flu is beyond me.

Millions of people are infected with human influenza strains each year. You'd be lucky if that's even close to a 1% mortality rate. This is a new strain of swine/avian/human influenza. There are very few known infections and proportionally quite a few death associated with it. Even if the mortality rate turns out to only be a couple of percentage points, that's a very strong impetus to prevent this virus from becoming as prevalent as, say, your domestic human influenza.



Also, can people cut the constant crap about the media blowing this out of proportion, etc? Okay, we get it: you're not a drone, being spoon-fed whatever Rupert Murdoch wants to tell you. Good for you.

The map is a very good example of how your enthusiastic scepticism is devolving into something stupid: "the colours used are too alarming!" The map is entirely accurate: it's not meant to convey the severity of the pandemic, it's only meant to map which countries have confirmed deaths, infections, and, less usefully, suspected cases.

[ice60]

this new swine flu is a bit pathetic, not like H5N1 which has a mortality rate of 60%. the mortality rate doesn't seem too high - just a bit more than the average flu. it mutated from flu already in humans so there's already some resistence to it, i think.

actually, i had a spot of swine flu the other day, it was swine flu and bird flu mixed together. i'm a warrior and had a lemsip and went to bed and watched tv, i was fine the next day!!! i don't know what all the fuss is about?

[Giant Speck]

this new swine flu is a bit pathetic, not like H5N1 which has a mortality rate of 60%. the mortality rate doesn't seem too high - just a bit more than the average flu. it mutated from flu already in humans so there's already some resistence to it, i think.

Well, the reason why H5N1 didn't become a epidemic is because it didn't fully achieve human-to-human transmission. That said, viruses with high mortality rates don't necessarily cause widespread pandemics. Actually, they tend to die out faster than viruses with lower mortality rates. That's why when ever you hear about Ebola outbreaks in the Congo, they are usually restricted to the Congo and don't spread throughout Africa. The mortality rate is high enough that the virus doesn't even get a chance to spread because those who have it die before they can spread it. It's a combination of high mortality rate and low incubation period.

Now, if the virus had a high mortality rate, but an incredibly high incubation period, then I can see it being much much worse.

[SuperSonic4]

I've never had the flu so I don't know how severe it would be whether seasonal or otherwise so I'll take precautions and hope for the best. It's already here in the UK but hopefully the government will do something right

[ice60]

Well, the reason why H5N1 didn't become a epidemic is because it didn't fully achieve human-to-human transmission. That said, viruses with high mortality rates don't necessarily cause widespread pandemics. Actually, they tend to die out faster than viruses with lower mortality rates. That's why when ever you hear about Ebola outbreaks in the Congo, they are usually restricted to the Congo and don't spread throughout Africa. The mortality rate is high enough that the virus doesn't even get a chance to spread because those who have it die before they can spread it. It's a combination of high mortality rate and low incubation period..
i have no interest in viruses and next to no knowledge, but this is the internet so i suppose that qualifies me as an expert...

i think H5N1 needs to mutate inside a human who already has a human to human type flu, there might be another mutation needed too, then it could become a deadly human to human flu pandemic.

also, i think you're wrong about ebola, i'm sure whenever i've read about it they go looking for a source for the outbreak, it's not a human to human type virus - everyone catches it from the same source rather than passing it to one another.

[Giant Speck]

also, i think you're wrong about ebola, i'm sure whenever i've read about it they go looking for a source for the outbreak, it's not a human to human type virus - everyone catches it from the same source rather than passing it to one another.

While it may be true that those who become infected with Ebola could be getting it from one source, Ebola is more commonly transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids and in some cases, direct skin contact. God help us if Ebola ever becomes transmittable through the air.

[geekygirl]

Tom Clancy wrote one of his Jack Ryan novels about Ebola Virus being transmitted via aerosol cans from some terrorist group, then attacking mainland USA....

[chris200x9]

Well you have no idea how society would function with 80% of people missing, if it was a very gradual thing (lower fertility rates over a few generations) it may work out ok.
But if 4 out of every 5 people died in the space of a few years can anyone here say how well society would cope?

Oh also, even if society could cope in theory, you'd have to take into account that if everyone in the world sees on average 80% of their friends and family die, I'd say very few of them could go back to working and living a normal life. Would much of them want to work, socialise or reproduce?

that 20% would be kings KINGS! Seriously there is so much stuff produced if 80% of civilazation died me thinks the remaining 20% could go for YEARS with just farming and looting.


pandemics won't solve overpopulation. Give us a few hundred years and we'll be right back to where we were beforehand. Even diseases such as the black death didn't have a huge affect on global population growth.

The only way to successfully control the population is to ensure low levels of infant mortality, high levels of development and manage the population sustainably. Unfortunately no one in the west wants to encourage population decline. Decreasing populations are bad for the economy.

true the only way to stop over population is a "special yoga position" hey it worked in the book Island...

[phrostbyte]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Egyptians+seek+immediate+death+nation+pigs/1541927/story.html

These are the type of things worldwide panic can cause. Stupidity is more contagious apparently. :(

[garythegoth]

To be honest, there are plenty of reasons to keep away from America other than Swine flu....

[etnlIcarus]

To be honest, there are plenty of reasons to keep away from America other than Swine flu....

:D Cheap shot but a good one.


Also, lol @ killing the pigs. Granted, this isn't the first time a swine (retro)virus has adapted to human physiology and it won't be the last. Considering how similar our genome and physiology, you'd think the WHO and gov'ts would be regulating pig farms into the most sterile environments on earth.

[Giant Speck]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Egyptians+seek+immediate+death+nation+pigs/1541927/story.html

These are the type of things worldwide panic can cause. Stupidity is more contagious apparently. :(

Reminds me of when China exterminated all those birds during an H5N1 scare in 1997.

[ubuntu27]

Must read:

Avian Flu Virus and Vaccines (http://www.naturalnews.com/025760.html)

[craigeo]

To be honest, there are plenty of reasons to keep away from America other than Swine flu....

Why?

[etnlIcarus]

It's called a joke, dude.

[oack]

:)

http://g.imagehost.org/0897/Small.gif

[Grant A.]

Hehe...

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/swine_flu.png

http://www.xkcd.com/574/

[CraigPaleo]

You just ignored everything I just said, and twisted it 360 degrees.

Did Swoll really say that? Twisted it 360 degrees!? :)

[etnlIcarus]

Did Swoll really say that? Twisted it 360 degrees!? :)Sadly. There's also the issue of simultaneously ignoring everything someone said and spinning it. As this was the point at which he choose to block me, I can't say he ended our PM war on a particularly high note. Well, c'est la vie. ;)

[Johnsie]

Swine flu was a load of rubbish.... You don't really hear much about it anymore and the death rate turned out to be very low. The only country that thought it had a high death rate was Mexico and they weren't even sure about that. The likelihood is that alot less Mexicans died than previously stated.

[etnlIcarus]

The problem now is it's out in the wild (think we're at about 9000 confirmed infections, at this point), is still a virus in it's adaptive infancy and we've got no natural immunity to it.

Complacency is not wise at this point.

[connorh123]

More people over reacting over the deadly "Swine Flu", I see.
Why is everyone worrying? I'm not going to start anything like I did in my other thread, but it's really not a serious threat to a country with good health care. Obviously not Mexico.