Look, the media has been jonesing for a good 'ole pandemic for some time now, ever since avian flu never really developed into one a few years ago. Logic, reason and common sense aren't going to deny them now.
According to my immunologist father, "The deaths are attributed to an over-response by the immune system, the same thing that the famous 1918 flu caused"
I heard someone on the news explaining that while they are calling this swine flu, it is actually a mix of swine, avian, and human flu viruses, which is why WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!!
Even in Mexico, the epicenter of the deadly outbreak, and home to a far, far worse health care system than we have, it's only killed 103 people. That's a lot fewer people than have been killed in the Juarez drug war this year.
Well, yeah, except those aren't comparable time periods. You may as well say polio has killed more people than swine flu. That's technically true, but kind of meaningless. Quick, everybody get to work on a polio vaccine!
We're talking about 103 deaths basically in the last week. I'm pretty sure that's more people than have died in the drug wars in that same time period. Whether it's more than have died of any single cause during that time I'm not sure (probably not), but it's still a lot, and it's expected to grow.
I did find all of your research pretty interesting and I do agree that the fear is kind of overblown, but I sense just in the past day or two that we're going from one extreme to the other here. Or maybe it's just that individual people are alternately either paralyzed with fear (the sheep herd/mob mentality) or in total denial (the contrarian mentality). I think "cautious concern" is probably a more reasonable response than either of these extremes.
One theory I heard bandied about that makes sense is that in Mexico the air quality is so poor that people's lungs are already compromised. That is why there are so many deaths there and none here, yet.
Still, the death rate in Mexico is around 7% and the Spanish flu was under 3. That is a fact that does make me a bit nervous.
No doubt, modern medicine is helpful and we all know how readily available it is and so easy to afford.
lol
The poor and elderly will be dying. Nice to see the compassion of the young, entitled and enabled, as it is clear the new age of "tolerance" is well afoot.
@rdecredico: Actually, I heard on the BBC this morning that this type of flu, like that of 1918, tends to kill the young and healthy (25-50 yrs old). So all of you who make snotty jokes about the olds, you just might help us solve the problem of unemployment in older people. I personally intend to cougar-stalk mercilessly any remaining handsome young'ns.
I happened to be reading about the pandemic of 1918 right when this story broke. Here are some reasons why this will not become a killer pandemic:
1) Antibiotics were not available in 1918. Most deaths from flu are actually from secondary bacterial infection - i.e. pneumonia;
2) Better hygiene in medicine and in general population - doctors started washing their hands between patients; 3) Existence of anti viral drugs, such as Tamiflu, lessen severity of symptoms and length of infection, reducing likelihood of secondary infection and an hyper immune response;
4) A lot of us have been vaccinated for various flu strains - this acts as an anti viral agent for other strains of flu,
5) overall better health/nutrition in non third world countries.
True, but: Commercial livestock practices today are probably contributing to a lot of these drug-resistant bugs as we keep pumping livestock full of more and more antibiotics in order to let them grow quicker on feedlots.
Too many antibiotics will result in these new drug-resistant bacteria making the leap to humans. This one may not kill us, but still...
04/27/09
04/27/09
Media: OMG WOLF!!!
Public:Oh, you. Always with the "wolf".
05/08/09
04/27/09
Famous 1918 flu!
04/27/09
I had a little bird,
Its name was Enza.
04/27/09
04/27/09
04/27/09
04/27/09
04/27/09
Momo, is that you?!
04/27/09
04/27/09
That sounds a lot dirtier than I thought it would.
04/27/09
Well, yeah, except those aren't comparable time periods. You may as well say polio has killed more people than swine flu. That's technically true, but kind of meaningless. Quick, everybody get to work on a polio vaccine!
We're talking about 103 deaths basically in the last week. I'm pretty sure that's more people than have died in the drug wars in that same time period. Whether it's more than have died of any single cause during that time I'm not sure (probably not), but it's still a lot, and it's expected to grow.
I did find all of your research pretty interesting and I do agree that the fear is kind of overblown, but I sense just in the past day or two that we're going from one extreme to the other here. Or maybe it's just that individual people are alternately either paralyzed with fear (the sheep herd/mob mentality) or in total denial (the contrarian mentality). I think "cautious concern" is probably a more reasonable response than either of these extremes.
04/27/09
04/27/09
Still, the death rate in Mexico is around 7% and the Spanish flu was under 3. That is a fact that does make me a bit nervous.
04/27/09
That said, I've mostly been mocking this. Great way to get salespeople not to shake your hand.
04/27/09
04/27/09
04/27/09
04/27/09
I don't know if I have that. I can't hear anything. I just see a man jumping up and down, pointing at my cup. What's that all about?
04/27/09
04/27/09
Add that to the history of stupid vaccines.
04/27/09
lol
The poor and elderly will be dying. Nice to see the compassion of the young, entitled and enabled, as it is clear the new age of "tolerance" is well afoot.
04/27/09
04/27/09
04/27/09
1) Antibiotics were not available in 1918. Most deaths from flu are actually from secondary bacterial infection - i.e. pneumonia;
2) Better hygiene in medicine and in general population - doctors started washing their hands between patients; 3) Existence of anti viral drugs, such as Tamiflu, lessen severity of symptoms and length of infection, reducing likelihood of secondary infection and an hyper immune response;
4) A lot of us have been vaccinated for various flu strains - this acts as an anti viral agent for other strains of flu,
5) overall better health/nutrition in non third world countries.
Basically, only the poors will die.
04/27/09
True, but: Commercial livestock practices today are probably contributing to a lot of these drug-resistant bugs as we keep pumping livestock full of more and more antibiotics in order to let them grow quicker on feedlots.
Too many antibiotics will result in these new drug-resistant bacteria making the leap to humans. This one may not kill us, but still...
04/27/09
04/27/09
04/27/09
04/27/09
Der. Oh shit. Good catch. Must have been thinking of e. coli.
04/27/09
04/27/09
Watchful waiting can substitute for panic or denial.