Swine flu outbreak

[Locut0s]

Whether this is overblown or not only time will tell. One thing if for certain though, there is no stopping it now. Cases in Mexico, US, Canada, New Zealand there is no containing it at this point. The thing that worries me more is the possibility of this or some other seasonal flue swapping genes with the H5N1 (bird flu) strain.

 

[NoStateofMind]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/?GT1=43001

 

[babylon5]

The side effect of globalization

 

[microbial]

Originally posted by: babylon5
The side effect of globalization

Spread is made easier by free travel human habits, but the real side effect of these viruses and mutations is modern industrialized animal mills.

The good news is that it looks like this new strain is effectively treatable with normal swine flu treatment (unlike the H5N1 bird flu in Asia). Out of 1300 plus case in Mexico, over 900 people infected have already been cleared.

No doubt there will be many more cases in the next few days, already over 300 cases in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and 4 more dead.

The key is to get treated early.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/h...uestions-answers_N.htm

 

[Genx87]

It has been a good couple of years since we had a media frenzy over the West Nile SARS Bird Flu Virus Pandemic.

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: Genx87

It has been a good couple of years since we had a media frenzy over the West Nile SARS Bird Flu Virus Pandemic.

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss this as a "media frenzy." All the right factors are in place for all the wrong results. It's a type A virus strain, which is a stronger, more painful flu, and unlike H5N1 bird flu, this one spreads easily between people, and it's a never before seen combination of swine, bird and human flu strains so there's no vaccine against it.

Even if/when they develop a vaccine, it will take time to make enough of it and more time for immunization to take effect.

I live in L.A., and we get a lot of ground and air traffic from Mexico, every day. It's not time to panic, but it's sure time to pay attention.

A number of years ago, I got another type A flu, the Hong Kong flu. It was a disease for psychadelic masochists. The hallucinations were great... as long as you could stand the pain. :Q

 

[herm0016]

dr. pizza, are you drunk? this could turn into a situation that none of us want, would you rather nobody take the cautious approach and prevent the spread? We have no idea how quickly this will mutate or how it will effect different ethnic populations. there is a bit of over hype, but I, personally would rather know what is happening with a little hype than to not have any clue and find myself infected when it could be prevented.

 

[zephyrprime]

We can at least be glad that it broke out during spring rather than fall or winter when it would have been easier to catch.

 

[jpeyton]

I guess the Muslims and Jews were right about not eating bacon.

 

[herm0016]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
I guess the Muslims and Jews were right about not eating bacon.

this has nothing to do with meat...

 

[microbial]

Gotta remember to thank Al Gore for inventing the internets...

http://darwin.zoology.gla.ac.uk/~rpage/flu/

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
I guess the Muslims and Jews were right about not eating bacon.

/facepalm

 

[MikeMike]

Ohio is confirmed too..

 

[nullzero]

Here are a few tips to avoid the flu;

*Stay away from crowded areas
*Wear protective gear to prevent spread (gloves, masks, and eye ware)
*Be aware of what you are touching; door handles, gas dispensers, atm machines, etc. can all be carrying the virus. I would get some disposable gloves and lots of hand sterilizer.
*If someone is coughing stay away from that person at least 20ft.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: nullzero
Here are a few tips to avoid the flu;

*Stay away from crowded areas
*Wear protective gear to prevent spread (gloves, masks, and eye ware)
*Be aware of what you are touching; door handles, gas dispensers, atm machines, etc. can all be carrying the virus. I would get some disposable gloves and lots of hand sterilizer.
*If someone is coughing stay away from that person at least 20ft.

So, basically stay home and don't go to work.

 

[nullzero]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: nullzero
Here are a few tips to avoid the flu;

*Stay away from crowded areas
*Wear protective gear to prevent spread (gloves, masks, and eye ware)
*Be aware of what you are touching; door handles, gas dispensers, atm machines, etc. can all be carrying the virus. I would get some disposable gloves and lots of hand sterilizer.
*If someone is coughing stay away from that person at least 20ft.

So, basically stay home and don't go to work.

Work should be fine as long as no one is going in sick, I would wear disposable gloves at least. Depends where you work to though... if you work at a grocery store and there is a major outbreak you are pretty much screwed working.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: nullzero

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
So, basically stay home and don't go to work.

Work should be fine as long as no one is going in sick, I would wear disposable gloves at least. Depends where you work to though... if you work at a grocery store and there is a major outbreak you are pretty much screwed working.

People DO come in sick, that's the point.

 

[soccerballtux]

A notable comment on slashdot--
http://science.slashdot.org/co...d=1212387&cid=27723727

Basically, similar to the 1918-20 outbreak, we don't have much to worry about until the cooler months.

My opinion-- it's too early to tell. This definitely carries the potential for a pandemic but we'll have to see how effective it is at spreading.

So far it only seems terribly lethal to Mexicans. Of the Americans infected, only one was hospitalized.

88 deaths may pale in comparison to the 30K deaths due to flu each year; the key is in the mortality rate. Wikipedia pegs standard influenza at 0.1% mortality, usually affecting the (very) young and elderly.

This H1N1 is different in that, like the 1918-20 H1N1, its lethality comes from cytokine storm-- immune system runaway, begins attacking your healthy cells. Hence the much higher death rates among the most healthy individuals-- their immune systems are strongest, and therefor the most able to damage their own bodies.

The Mexican death rate is currently 70 (edit sorry, 70, bad maths) times the standard influenza mortality rate by conservative estimates. 7% is very high. Usually death rate is 5% of those hospitalized, not 5% of all infected.

Letters to BBC from Doctors in Mexico city are claiming mortality due to this thing are understated by as much as 10x. There's a lot of doomsdayers on the internet, and they could just be anarchists posing as a Mexican Doctor hoping to drum up fear.

Regardless, this does not appear to be your run of the mill flu.

 

[Pocatello]

Grab your guns and run for the hills folks! For those who haven't done so already.

 

[dguy6789]

http://www.crazymonkeygames.com/Pandemic-2.html#game

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
A notable comment on slashdot--
http://science.slashdot.org/co...d=1212387&cid=27723727

Basically, similar to the 1918-20 outbreak, we don't have much to worry about until the cooler months.

My opinion-- it's too early to tell. This definitely carries the potential for a pandemic but we'll have to see how effective it is at spreading.

So far it only seems terribly lethal to Mexicans. Of the Americans infected, only one was hospitalized.

88 deaths may pale in comparison to the 30K deaths due to flu each year; the key is in the mortality rate. Wikipedia pegs standard influenza at 0.1% mortality, usually affecting the (very) young and elderly.

This H1N1 is different in that, like the 1918-20 H1N1, its lethality comes from cytokine storm-- immune system runaway, begins attacking your healthy cells. Hence the much higher death rates among the most healthy individuals-- their immune systems are strongest, and therefor the most able to damage their own bodies.

The Mexican death rate is currently 70 (edit sorry, 70, bad maths) times the standard influenza mortality rate by conservative estimates. 7% is very high. Usually death rate is 5% of those hospitalized, not 5% of all infected.

Letters to BBC from Doctors in Mexico city are claiming mortality due to this thing are understated by as much as 10x. There's a lot of doomsdayers on the internet, and they could just be anarchists posing as a Mexican Doctor hoping to drum up fear.

Regardless, this does not appear to be your run of the mill flu.

Run for the hills some random guy on slashdot said so.

 

[sportage]

Wow... Netflix is a perfect way to spread the flu to you :roll:

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: nullzero

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: nullzero
Here are a few tips to avoid the flu;

*Stay away from crowded areas
*Wear protective gear to prevent spread (gloves, masks, and eye ware)
*Be aware of what you are touching; door handles, gas dispensers, atm machines, etc. can all be carrying the virus. I would get some disposable gloves and lots of hand sterilizer.
*If someone is coughing stay away from that person at least 20ft.

So, basically stay home and don't go to work.

Work should be fine as long as no one is going in sick, I would wear disposable gloves at least. Depends where you work to though... if you work at a grocery store and there is a major outbreak you are pretty much screwed working.

Really? You're going to be wearing disposable gloves to work? Are you one of those people who also won't drink directly out of a soda can because you're afraid of the germs on it?

ZV

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: smack Down

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
A notable comment on slashdot--
http://science.slashdot.org/co...d=1212387&cid=27723727

Basically, similar to the 1918-20 outbreak, we don't have much to worry about until the cooler months.

My opinion-- it's too early to tell. This definitely carries the potential for a pandemic but we'll have to see how effective it is at spreading.

So far it only seems terribly lethal to Mexicans. Of the Americans infected, only one was hospitalized.

88 deaths may pale in comparison to the 30K deaths due to flu each year; the key is in the mortality rate. Wikipedia pegs standard influenza at 0.1% mortality, usually affecting the (very) young and elderly.

This H1N1 is different in that, like the 1918-20 H1N1, its lethality comes from cytokine storm-- immune system runaway, begins attacking your healthy cells. Hence the much higher death rates among the most healthy individuals-- their immune systems are strongest, and therefor the most able to damage their own bodies.

The Mexican death rate is currently 70 (edit sorry, 70, bad maths) times the standard influenza mortality rate by conservative estimates. 7% is very high. Usually death rate is 5% of those hospitalized, not 5% of all infected.

Letters to BBC from Doctors in Mexico city are claiming mortality due to this thing are understated by as much as 10x. There's a lot of doomsdayers on the internet, and they could just be anarchists posing as a Mexican Doctor hoping to drum up fear.

Regardless, this does not appear to be your run of the mill flu.

Run for the hills some random guy on slashdot said so.

Relenza producer Biota shot up 80% today.

 

[ranmaniac]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8021483.stm

149 swine flu related deaths in Mexico.