Here Today... Gone To Hell!

I feel this topic may deserve its own thread.  I feel its very serious. 

Janet Napalitono may not feel like its a "big deal" and that we are "over reacting" but I would rather be prepared and ready than not be ready like we were for Hurrican Katrina.  Countries in Europe have shut down passengers from the US and Mexico.  Why are we not acting like them?  The number of infected people in America doubled in one day.  Had the kids in New York listened to our warnings about going to Mexico during the drug war, they would not be infected. Had Janet demanded more caution and advised stronger not to go, maybe less Americans would be infected. Its scary and real what could happen.  I pray this thing passes, but the numbers and rate its growing are scary.

Thoughts?

Mmmmm, bacon  :drool:

About 5 years ago when I was taking Biology, my teacher brought up the deadly flu outbreak of 1918. At least 20 million people were killed by it,and although we never found a cure it suddenly stopped.

Since then I have been anticipating a return of the bird flu in some form. I agree that we should take precautions. Its always better to be safe then to end up with another case of mass deaths. This could turn out to be something we should be extremelly concerned about or it could go away, but I wouldn't risk it.

Flu's often occur at spring and yes, can kill weak and elderly people.

I think the mutation is the sole reason for the extra alerts, unless it something else. Mexico...

Most deaths so far are people between 20-40 years old.  Now, Mexico does have some dirty places, and some nasty water, and not the best hospitals, but still, the numbers are down right scary.  I don't like this passive tone Janet is taking.  I want to nip this thing in the bud before we have major issues.

I'm scared. It's just a matter of time before we get patients at our hospital. Take this homepathic herb ASTRAGALUS as a preventive. It boosts your immune system, and it has anti-viral properties.

File it with SARS and all these other end of the world bullshit scare tactic diseases.

I agree.

well Mexico as other places in the world have indeed dirty places, but what does that have to do with the flu? the principal point of the flu eruption was here in Mexico city, not in a dirty place. it has nothing to do with the water, all the big deal that Americans do about the water in mexico is nonsense, you just have to know something,in Mexico the water its not sanitised in the plumb pipes, so you dont drink it directly from the pipe. so in houses people have filters or they boiled the water or you buy it in bottles. its not that the water its dirty and its going to kill you. i hope this flu thing is resolved quickly, what seems weird its why in Mexico City? they said that people from the US got sick at the spring break, but the spring break its in the beaches, cancun, acapulco etc.  so why the eruption has been stronger here? and not in those places?

Great point!  I thought this started south of a pig farm where pig waste was dumped into the river or something and they quaritined the whole town not long ago and killed all the flies and mosquitos...  All I know is this thing is real.

the secretary of health here in Mexico indeed said that they now know of a new case, in february a 4 years old kid got sick in veracruz, the comunity openly said in that month that it was probably the farm of pigs that was in the comunity, but nobody did a thing, until now, they tasted a sample of the boy that they kept and result positive. that means that since february something was going on. the kid is alright, the mistery of why the flu is stronger on  Mexico city continues for me. maybe because theres 20 million people here, and the virus spreads faster between persons.

Remember bird flu anyone?....


*tumbleweed*


Exactly. Scare tactics. The last flu was ment to be an epidemic too and shit everyone up and jack shit went down thank god. Aslong as your country isnt a dirty shithole. Im sure we can do a decent job at containing it.

Weather conditions. heat.

Perhaps since its desert your air is harder to breathe, very dusty. Making it harder for people to cope with the disease.

I was looking for a topic on this yesterday, almost started one too :hihi:

I think that any flu outbreak that kills people in their prime (rather than infants/children and the elderly) has to be taken seriously.  Especially one that is transmitted person to person easily.  In today's world, any illness that has an incubation period of a day or more is going to travel far and fast.  That means that a person can feel fine for days after being infected, and would spread the infection where ever they went.  People travel around ALOT.

One good thing that I've seen in the last day or so of coverage is that the disease seems to diminish in intensity as it spreads.  So it may not be as deadly as first supposed. 

I'll tell ya though.....I was scared for a while there.  My 9 yr old daughter had been coughing a little bit last week. She went on her first sleepover camping trip over the weekend, right when this news broke.  I can't tell you how worried and scared I was, reading the symptoms and everything.  I had no way of getting in contact with her and had almost convinced myself that she had the damn flu! :hihi:

She's fine, it was just allergies (I think), but wow, what a scare!

Just don't kiss any pigs and you should be fine  :P

^Ladypigs?

Anyone ever see "Outbreak"? Looks like we're gonna have to quarantine Mexico and eradicate the problem.  :hihi:

Right now: File this under "Media scare".  Right now.

Could it turn into a pandemic?  Sure, so could any of the hundreds of thousands of cases of flu seen every year in the US.  But so far, the cases seen in this country have been relatively mild...even amongst those who were infected in Mexico.  No deaths...not even any real serious manifestations.  People are being prudent about seeking treatment if they've been to Mexico, been exposed to someone who has, etc..and that's the key: Catching it early.  It sounds like most of the deaths are coming from closer to "ground zero". In other words, as this thing jumps...it doesn't look like it's getting stronger, but like it's getting weaker.

At the very large health care institution I work at, we're taking all the normal precautions when the CDC starts sounding their warning bells.  Hand washing, keeping anyone appearing infectious out of the ICU's, Pediatric areas, seperated in the ED's, etc.  But nobody here is really worried, yet...and I work amongst some of the world's most prominent experts on infectious disease.  They're "Just in case" precautions.

Now, if you're in Mexico...I'd be more concerned.  If you're feeling like you've got the flu (fever, congestion, body aches) GO TO A DOCTOR.  Don't sit at home and wait to see if you get better....and for gods sake, don't go out to public places or come in contact with young children or the elderly.

oh shit.

You fool!

SARS killed billions! How dare you mock it!

Wait..sorry, it was bird flu that killed those billions

....no, er.....Mad Cow Disease?

Fucking idiotic media

HIV kills 20 million a year - but no one cares, it only affects ''Africans'' and ''queers'' right?

WE ARE ALL DOOMED!!!

2 Dead in LA.

Hundreds now sick in New York....

This thing has wheels.

God forbid anyone looks at worldwide figures for deaths and injuries on roads...

No one thinks twice about getting in a car or crossing a road - but 100 die in Bongo Bongo Land and its Resident Evil 4?!?

Repent your sins now!

You have control of how you drive. Accidents happen.  This is out of your control.  People are dying.  Its spreading at a fast rate.

S Guns, yeah, I'm definitely concerned.  I hate the non-fatal version of the flu...if anybody here's had a bad case of the flu you know...sometimes you feel like you're gonna die.   :(

A4P, glad to see you just aren't "blowing" this off like our other Gunner fans are.  The threat is real. 

Genius.

 :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Damn some funny shit on HTGTH tonight.

Had we enforced a stricter border policy.


Seriously, I live in Tennessee, so as long as it doesn't come here, I may sound like a dick, but I could actually care less.

u don't know the health circumstances surrounding the ones who die. Maybe they have some other disease like HIV or what have u that has already given them a very weak immune system.

I would seriously be pissed if I died at 30 by the fucking flu. All the running, health conscience shit I've done.....

D, these people don't have aids....  Do you think the 17 kids infected from new york that were on spring break had aids too?  Ha, kidding. 

It?s the end of the world. Viruses, crime, earthquakes, Tsunamis, Economic Crisis, Global Warming...we are doomed.

I remember when I was a kid and got freaked out over this horrible disease that if u got a paper cut or something, u could get this flesh eating bacteria and people were dying etc.

I was scared shitless for a long time.

Now I ignore shit like this.

If I get it and die, who cares, there isn't shit I can do about it and I am not shutting myself in and wearing a surgical mask to go check the mail.

well they are shutting us down, they have closed a lot of things, restaurants,theathers,gyms,bars.  it does look scary, i hope everything gets better. i cant go anywhere, theres nothing open. its pretty weird to see the city like this.

Are the ladypigs immune?

I ate Bacon yesterday.

It gave me bad wind.

i guess they could call this symptom, Swine Poo.

He wasn't saying you need AIDS to become infected, but it would make sense if the deaths were due to a pre-existing immune system issue (which doesn't have to be as serious as AIDS).

Like I said, 17 KIDS FROM NEW YORK ON SPRING BREAK IN MEXICO ALL GOT INFECTED.  The odds of them ALL having weak immune systems is pretty much impossible.

A 23 month old died yesterday in Texas.  THIS IS REAL.

Young kids and the elderly die EVERY YEAR from the flu.  They're the most "at risk" group.  Tragic, but true.  This, so far, is FAR less virulent than other flu outbreaks we've seen, including the one back in October/November (which got zero press, FYI).  Most of the cases in the states, (including the 17 kids from NY) have been eminently manageable manifestations.  It remains to be seen just how infectious the disease turns out to be:  So far, it seems to be contained to the groups actually exposed with little sign of secondary infections.  In other words, those 17 kids were likely all exposed multiple times (if not continuously) over the course of their trip.  I haven't seen any reports of infection stemming from casual contact with those patients, YET.  We'll see.

RIGHT NOW, you're in more danger from the sleep you'll lose over this than you are from the actual disease.  That might change...just like it might have changed, or might change, with every flu outbreak we see each and every year.  Right now, it's the media driving the hysteria...not the disease. 

It is NOT time to panic.  Wash your hands.  Try to keep the elderly and very young children out of places they might be exposed, especially if there are reported cases in your area.  Sleep.  Eat well.  Cancel your trips to Mexico.  Watch what the CDC has to say.....and listen with a jaded ear on what the media is reporting.  But any hysteria is a wee bit premature.

Again, our ID people are monitoring it, but are not yet worried. 

We got first one in Finland. Luckily we have 1,7 million units of vaccine to this.

...Creed reunion...



j/k, I only know one of their songs and just wanted to make that bad one liner.

I'm confused... D said that death could be attributed to immune system issues. He never said anything about the initial transmission being related to an immune issue. So until any of the 17 New York College students die, their immune systems wouldn't factor into D's argument.
And like Pilferk said children and the elderly die every year from 'common' strains of the flu. That's why they tend to prioritze free flu clinics for Children and the Elderly.

apparently the UK has half a billion units stockpiled.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30471035/

Of the 91 cases of documented swine flu in the US, only 5 have required hospitalization, including the mexican toddler who passed away in Texas.

The boy DID have other underlying health problems, and apparently his parents didn't seek treatment immediately, but watied a few days after symptoms developed.

Thank god someone's got their head screwed on.

As you said people die of flu every year usually the weak, young and elderly. For now this is no different, just a different strain of flu.

NO NO NO u misunderstood me

I am saying the ones who DIE probably have some type immune deficiency.

elderly- immune systems are weaker
infants- weak immune systems

I can't see a healthy younger person dying unless they don't get treated. sure its possible but highly unlikely.

That's not necessarily true. The deadly Spanish flu pandemic which hit during the first world war killed mainly healthy people 20-50. Older folk were protected because of an immunity gained through an earlier outbreak of Russian flu, which was similar.

I found this... http://www.unitedjustice.com/death-statistics.html

Granted, take the figures with a grain of salt, as it is the internet, but anyways, there are thousands of deaths each year associated with the flu in the US. We're at 1. I'm not into conspiracys or anything, but if you ask me this is just something for people to get upset about to forget everything else thats fucked right now.

"Killed by the Common Flu

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 35 to 50 million Americans come down with the flu during each flu season.The CDC estimates that in the US more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and more than 20,000 people die from the flu and its complications every year.

The Bottom Line...

An Anthrax Epidemic?

 
Killed in car accidents 42,116* 
Killed by the common flu 20,000* 
Killed by murders 15,517* 
Killed in airline crashes
(of 477m passenger trips) 120 (1)
Killed by lightning strikes 90* 
 
Killed by Anthrax 5
 

(1) Annual average over 19 year period.
*Average annual totals in United States."


So my advice, chill the fuck out. Don't go to Mexico, not that I'd want to anyways.

 

I think that's when the pandemic label is used, when it kills people in their prime years rather then their early or late years.  At least, that's what I would consider most dangerous.  When the media first started on this, they were saying that it was striking people in that age range, but it seems that it's only really sickening the very young or the very old.

I think it's something to watch, but it's not something to freak about.  The first days, I was frantic, but only because there was so little info, my daughter had been sick, and I was unable to contact her.  Those factors will send any parent into a total panic :hihi:

I think more people are going to be found with the disease because of all of the coverage, but it will only hit those with weakened immune systems hard enough to kill them.

The term pandemic refers to the number of people infected i.e. thousands or more across a country or continent. It's nothing to do with the severity of the infection or how many die.

The pandemic tag is not age related. I think latter 20th century flu pandemics hit the elderly and the young moreso.

I do not think there is any need to worry too much right now with this current outbreak. Many parts of Mexico are quite backward with their medical coverage and moreso with their reporting.

Elderly folk are clued up though with their immune systems. It is secondary infections which tend to kill them. Countries need to ensure they have stocks of antibiotics.

I was watching NIGHTLINE last night, and it seems the source of this infection is corporate greed. The first swine flu victim was a little boy In Mexico who has completely recovered. He lives near these pig farms that are all about profit. They treat the animals very badly, and there is alot of pollution from the farm that is not handled properly. It made me very sad. Just wash your hands and seek medical attention if you get a fever and flu-like symptoms.

the thing its that they keep saying "if you have any sintom, head ache,fiber,muscular pain etc" go inmediatly to the doctor. thas why people get so scare , because this sintoms are very common. also i known of cases of people that go to the doctor and they are returned because they didnt have all the sintoms. so they say to the public to go to the doctor with just one sintom and then they discard them for not having all the others?  ???

Apparently this shit has invaded Toronto :crying:

U just have to keep in mind all this shit is just a scare tactic.

The economy is doing better and God forbid people are able to chill and relax. all of this shit is propaganda to control you.

I am not worried at all about this. If I get sick, I will go to the doctor, get pumped full of antibiotics and survive.

If I die, everyone of u can come on here and laugh and say I told you so


but this isn't worth being worried or frightened about.

I'm only concerned because I will eventually have to care for a patient who has it, and I have become very ill from the flu in the past.

True, but if u mask,gown and glove up, U have a great chance of not getting it.

That's true. I'm not so concerned about myself, but more of bringing it home to family members. It will be interesting to see how we limit visitors to patients with swine flu, I worry about them spreading the infection more than the actual hospitalized patients. I am good about following precautions, but alot of people aren't, esp the MDs.

D, this isn't a "scare tactic", are you serious?  People are dying... I know what the normal flu does, but this is killing people at a much higher percentage of the normal flu.  36,000 people died from flu last year, okay.  But how many millions had the flew?  Now you have what, 2,500 infected, and what, maybe 15 deaths?  Ask the families in veracruz mexico if this is a scare tactic.

Hahahahaha, sitting here at home, with the flu, I can't help but laugh.

I went into work all late today and they sent me home.  I was like, "Seriously?"

I just love a good health scare.  I can get even more days off from work now! 

And no, I'm not going to go see a doctor.  I don't even have 'surance.

Haha, show off  ;D
.
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our population is 5,3 million :)


Anyone seen this?

(http://kuvaton.com/bshit/mexicooooooon.jpg)

FYI, antibiotics don't help with the flu.  It's a virus.  You basically have to let it run it's course....though Tamiflu can reduce severity.  Keep hydrated (VERY important), rest as much as possible, and if you get a REALLY high fever or have trouble with or painful breathing, see your doctor again.

Actually, not it's not.  Not if your numbers, above, are accurate.

0.6% of people infected have died (all confined, really, to a single geographic point of origin...the Texas death STILL had a POO in Mexico).

The death rate, every year, garnered from REPORTED cases to the CDC (which completely ignores people who get the flu, never go to the doctor, never get tested, and just self-care through it because the symptoms are relatively mild) vs deaths, according to the CDC, is pretty much right in line with that %.

The Mexican govt was reporting a 6% or 7% death rate, because they were only counting deaths over reported cases (and may have only been using the "hospitalized cases" as their demoninator...no one is quite sure), at that point, in their country.  They also made the mistake of not counting the patients who had not reported their flu to a physician.....that's part of what has fueled this media barrage.

Again, the FACT is that the death rate doesn't appear to be any higher, so far, than what we see with the "regular" flu we see every year.   AND the deaths all appear to be confined to a regional POO.  So FAR, if you're not in Mexico....your risk level seems to be pretty low for any really serious consequences.

Don't buy into the media frenzy...

I don't know...I've been to parts of Mexico where that last one is certainly a very real possibility.  Tijiuana back in the 80's, after dark?

This is TOO funny. I once went to Tijiuana by myself on a lark one afternoon. I don't know what possessed me to do that, that was REALLY STUPID!!!!!!

the death toll from this (to whom all my sympathies) are Mexicans so far?


Take precautions against the worst then no worries.

Yes, all native to Mexico.  The ONE death outside of Mexico occurred in Texas, and was a 23 month old boy who lived in Mexico, had other immune system issues that predated his flu infection, and was visiting extended family in Texas (with his parents, obviously).

I still get a kick out of people who are so mindfucked by the media,govt or whatever


I was saying a while back, there was a "NEW" study where more women were dying of heart attacks after child birth

Hilariously retarded way of trying to control the population by fear.

I saw this on another website...


1) If I catch the swine flu will I die?

Very unlikely. In fact, there is new research that has just come out that says that the current swine flu is less potent/deadly than the common seasonal flu virus we have every year.

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3606923.story

Bear in mind, there is the possibility of it being deadly for the elderly, the young, and the already sick, or a very minute chance it may kill you. Make sure you go see your doctor if you have concerns.

All i'm saying is that there is a statical chance of you dying from the swine flu, but you have a greater chance of getting killed going to work or getting anally raped by a Giants fan.

2) But, but the media is making it sound super dooper deadly!

It's the media. With 24 hour news, they are in the business of making news, not just reporting it.

3) How do I prevent myself from getting infected with the Swine Flu?

Practice proper hygiene tactics. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water (or use an alcoholic gel like purell), cough with your mouth closed, don't stick your fingers in your mouth and nose, etc. For those of you that are really paranoid, you can wear a mask, but the efficacy of them are subject to debate.

4) If I have a flu vaccine/shot will it keep me from getting the Swine flu?

Unfortunately no. The Swine flu is an entire new strain of the Influenza virus. The vaccine that you took targets the viral proteins of other strains of the influenza virus that are most likely to be present during the flu season (the vaccine is essentially a scientific guess).

Beacause the influenza virus has the ability to mutate very rapidly, it is hard for scientists to come out with a vaccine that permanently protects against the flu?

5) What are Swine flu symptoms?

The symptoms are the same as the average flu: cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills, aches, etc etc. If you have 2 or more of these symptoms, it is advisable to go see a doctor ASAP (no need to panic, its just a precaution).

6) Are there medicine to help combat the flu?

Fortunately there is. Oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza) do have the ability to combat ANY flu virus by blocking the spread of the virus to other cells.

Therefore, if you experience flu like symptoms, it is very important you go see the doctor ASAP so they can give you meds. 24-48 hours after presentation of symptoms is the time period in which these meds work the best in.

7) Can you prescribe me meds?

No. I'm not a doctor yet. Go ask your primary doc.

8) Are there certain foods that will help me while I have the flu?

Believe it or not, your mom's home remedy is spot on: Chicken soup is good for the soul. For some reason, chicken soup has some inherent anti-inflammatory properties that help alleviate symptoms. Some spicy foods as well will help too.

Most important is for you to drink plenty of fluids (water, diluted gatorade, juice, etc). Eat your veggies as well--they have strong antioxidant properties that help combat the flu.

Also, don't forget to take your vitamin supplements. I usually take one vitamin supplement + Ester C and a B complex pill.

Be sure to follow all instruction on labels.

Makes you wonder if the makers of Tamiflu got together with the media one night and came up with a win-win plan. 

Just to be safe though I have stopped kissing pigs.

More likely to contract

Swine Flu or the second coming of the Red Death  the West Nile Virus!

Oh God............. get me a space suit so I don't die from all these diseases!

I ordered a himalayan salt inhaler to clean out my lungs. Salt water in neti pots also helps to flush out your sinuses and keep bacteria and viruses from catching hold of you. Hey, it's better than panicking!

Why didn't I think of that?

I think the Government should harness some of my fart gas. cause its so powerful i think it would kill the microbes.

I just randomly came across it in a catalogue. It's really interesting, breathing in salty air really purifies the respiratory system. What kills people from flues are secondary infections like pneumonia. We don't have any confirmed cases yet at our hospital, but they have severely restricted visitors. Only parents are allowed into the hospital, and they don't want employees coming in the ER entrance.

Hence the high prices for beachfront property.

There has now been another death here in Texas.  She had not been to Mexico from what I understand, but had been in the hospital for other health problems.  She had just given birth to a baby boy.

^That is very sad to hear :(.

It is.  She was only 33.

aren't most of the victims rather young?

Yes it is. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.

(http://kilo.naurunappula.com/nn/0/396/962/s_485230.jpg)

Ahh shit guys.. this shit has gone dire..

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/swine_flu_mutates/ (http://bouncewith.me.uk/europe/8027043.htm)


I just read about situation in London via  frontpage of Yle.fi. (It's like the bbc of Finland ) some 10 mins later  I refresh my browser....and the entire news clip has been changed, and now theres just some shit about prime minister of Hungary in it's place? Wtf?

haha, nice fake news there.  Zombies ftw?

Unusual? How do you mean?:O

I have a cousin in London?  And I forgot how to spell?? Damn, this Swine Flu is getting bad! :P

Yes, I call bullshit ;D

(http://kuvaton.com/kuvei/swine_flu.jpg)

That is cute and sick at the same time.

If it makes people feel better, I met someone yesterday who had swine flu. She was really sick for 3 days, but she made a complete recovery with no secondary infections. She doesn'r know where she contracted it and she only passed it on to one person who is also fine.

news just reported its broke out in my area in england so bad that they cannot contain it anymore.

I took care of a patient with swine flu the other day. To be honest I was kind of freaked out about it, especially when she threw up all over me, but I didn't catch it.

you a Nurse?

Yes.

(http://i43.tinypic.com/5d4b2p.jpg)

Nurse Annie :hihi:

I look more like the nurse in DATE WITH AN ANGEL.

HAHAHAHAHA WELL DONE

that was classic! :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:



Annie is obsessed over "Twilight" like Annie was obsessed over "Misery"

So, I'm not so familiar with that movie.  What would that look like? 

A cute little blonde girl. I work in pediatrics, and when i worked at university of Chicago I was off the floor with my patient at the snack shop. A young man says to me, "Look what he gets for a nurse, I've got an old battle ax." I never saw MISERY. For me to be obsessed with a movie, there has to be a great romance!

Those are my favourite kind of anecdote. Got any more?

Poor little Piggy, said he is sorry all his friends are sick, and now he is left with the grunt of the punishment.

The worst ones invlove patient's Dads falling for me. One guy had the nerve to call the unit looking for me telling me that he and his wife were getting a divorce. Another one said to his wife, "Anne's working today, I'm wearing my tightest jeans." Another ex-con said that he would ask me out if he wasn't in a relationship. I told all these guys that they had beautiful wives and Gf's and they shouldn't bother with me. Besides I only like musicians or surgeons!

So, you're that hot, huh? 

I don't know. Everybody has a different definition of what is hot.

I look for beauty on the inside, not the outside.













 :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

It seems to me that if men are in pain, having a cute little blonde nurse definately helps take their mind off their issue, am I right guys?

Would it be possible to change title of the thread to something more accurate? Like  Annie and the guys discussing just how hot Annie is"?

^
(http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3307/annielennoxposters.jpg)

The orange hair/blue tie look looks very 80s...

Please no.

I hate Annie Lennox is that her fricken name?

CDC: 76 children dead of swine flu as cases rise
         Oct 10, 6:41 am ET
ATLANTA ? Health officials said Friday that 76 U.S. children have died of swine flu, including 19 new reports in the past week ? more evidence the new virus is unusually dangerous for the young.

The regular flu kills between 46 and 88 children a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That suggests deaths from the new H1N1 virus could dramatically outpace children's deaths from seasonal flu, if swine flu continues to spread as it has.

CDC officials say 10 more states, a total of 37, now have widespread swine flu. A week ago, reports suggested that cases might be leveling off and even falling in some areas of the country, but that did not turn out to be an enduring national trend.

"We are seeing more illness, more hospitalizations, and more deaths," the CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat said at a press conference Friday.

The new virus, first identified in April, is a global epidemic. The CDC doesn't have an exact count of all swine flu deaths and hospitalizations, but existing reports suggest more than 600 have died and more than 9,000 have been hospitalized. Health officials believe millions of Americans have caught the virus.

The virus is hitting young people harder. Experts believe older people are suffering from it less, perhaps because they have a bit of immunity from exposure over the years to somewhat similar viruses.

Most healthy children recover and often suffer only mild symptoms. But some have died from it, often from a second infection that moves in while the body is weakened from the flu.

Kids with asthma or chronic heart or respiratory conditions also are at greater risk for serious complications.

Experts say it's important for parents to watch their children's symptoms carefully. If a child appears to get better, but fever and a cough return, there may be a second infection. Other trouble signs are rapid or difficult breathing or bluish skin color.

Vaccinations against swine flu began this week and so far, states have ordered 3.7 million doses. Demand is exceeding supply, and people seeking the vaccination should ask their state or local health department where to go, said Schuchat, who heads the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Health officials also said more data is trickling in from several clinical trials of the new vaccine, and so far no serious side effects have been reported.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091010/ap_on_he_me/us_med_swine_flu

Just thought I would pass on this update for those who are interested :P.

i think i might have it.

It starts out with a sore throat right, then progresses into the other symptoms?

Im at the "progressed to" other symptoms point.

Better get checked out by the Doctor to be on the safe side :yes:  I myself have had the flu for a week, feeling better now though.  As soon as school starts every year, I swear, in which attendance has been on the low as well.

My oldest daughter works part time at a daycare and she sent a toddler home on Friday morning, parents called the daycare back after child went to doctor, results "Swine Flu".  Hopefully Britty doesn't get it, she said she took all precautions such as gloves and cleanlisness by sanatizing. 

Hope you are feeling better merlee, take care of yourself : ok:.

Everytime I get sick it starts out with a sore throat. You likely don't have it.

i hope i dont.

but i sure do feel like shit today

Some of my friends all ready had it and I think I had it too, sure it was worse than any flu I've had before, but nothing life threatening.

Well thats good then aint it, Duke.

It does cause some dangerous complications in some people, so you must see a doctor.
Don't just sit at home trying to ride it out...

Exactly, it is not just the flu itself, more so about what else can occurr due to the already weakening effects the flu has on you. Ultimately, the body is so much more susceptible to other ailments at such a fragile time, and especially for those with pre-existing ailments, like mentioned below:

Most healthy children recover and often suffer only mild symptoms. But some have died from it, often from a second infection that moves in while the body is weakened from the flu.

Kids with asthma or chronic heart or respiratory conditions also are at greater risk for serious complications.

Experts say it's important for parents to watch their children's symptoms carefully. If a child appears to get better, but fever and a cough return, there may be a second infection. Other trouble signs are rapid or difficult breathing or bluish skin color.

Related story on MSN today in regards to this. 

It seems like one thing is often overlooked by some.

Just because you can handle the flu doesn't mean you don't need the flu shot...

Maybe you're surrounded by people who might not be able to handle a bout of the flu. If you get it, they might get it from you....

So the shot isn't just about you. In some cases, yes, but not always....



/jarmo

Hey guys. For those that are concerned haha. I dont think i had Swine Flu in the end. I spoke to a friend on the internet who really does have it, n he says you suffer from bad fatigue. I didnt lose much energy.

Also while i felt very bad yesterday, things seem to have cleared up alot today. Just stuff left in my system i need to get out. Spoke with another friend who has something similar, apparently just a form of cold going around my area atm.

So basically. Man Flu.

Will you just go to a doctor, you chicken? :hihi:

"I spoke to a friend on the Internet..." Come on...

i dont need to go to the Dr haha. im fine!!! My dr doesnt care anyway, he;d just tell me to stay in doors n get lots of rest.

I was diagnosed with "probable" swine flu about 20 days ago, a lot of the symptoms disappeared after a week (they prescribed tamiflu but I didn't wanna touch it after some of the things I'd read/heard.) So anyway as the feverish temperature/sweats started to go, my glands swelled up big time, by day 8 or 9 the swine flu is supposed to have gone, had a check up over the phone (still wasn't allowed down to the doctors) and my doctor tells me he thinks i might have glandular fever....still cant eat, drink etc. its incredibly painful and this is after 20 days of being ill now....really gets you down after a while :/

^Wow!! Sorry to hear you are so ill :(.  So am I reading this right?  Are you saying they will not allow you to come to the dr's office?  If this is true, how are you to get any help? ???

I was told "you really need to stay indoors at the moment, we'll get the doctor to give you a call", as i said this was 8 or 9 days after apparently contracting swine flu. So anyway, the doctor calls me, asks me lots of questions and seems to think i may have glandular fever....have to take penecillin at the moment and he said if symptoms don't improve i'll need to have a blood test. Strangely though, after posting here last night, my glands have gone down this morning! Maybe i'm finally getting over it....although to be honest my muscles really ache and don't think i can do a lot anyway right now  :P

There's a wide spread epidemic of H1N1 amongst the LAPD.

My 10 yr old daughter has/had it.  Sunday she came home from a friends house and immediately puked. She ended up having a 103 F fever, so I brought her to the hospital. They did a nose swab and it came up negative, but the doc said he didn't trust that and said that his opinion was that she had the flu, but did not say it was H1N1.  He gave her Tamiflu, which she immediately started taking.  Monday, she started feeling better with no fever.  I was all set to send her to school on Tuesday, when she started getting sick again. She was coughing very, very badly and had a high fever again.  Wednesday, I brought her back to the hospital.  I had a different doc, and she said that she was sure that my daughter had H1N1.  She said the Swine tends to hit, go away a little, and then hit hard with coughing and possibly pneumonia.  She x-rayed my daughter's lungs, no pneumonia thank goodness.

She's feeling much better now.  No fever for about 2 days now.  When I called work, they told me I am not to come back to the office for 7 days!  And at first, they wanted me to get a doctors note!  They dropped the doctors note, at least.  I don't wanna have to spend money to go back to work, for crying out loud.

I think we are ok though :) I was a little sick* the week before, so I think I had it.  From what I understand, it tends to be much milder to adults for the most part.  I tried to have my daughter out of the house when I was sick...but I'm a single mom....that's kinda difficult :hihi:

*a little sick = very sore throat, coughing, couldn't keep my eyes open because I was so tired, and a mild fever. Last about 3 days.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

don't know if anyone else will get that

well done

ha ha. There is a wide swine flu outbreak here in utah.  :-\

I got the h1n1 and seasonal flu shots.  I will be enjoying the flu season.
Get vaccinated folks.  As Jarmo said, it's not just about you.   :peace:

can you get these in England at the age of 19. Or is my country cheap n wants us to suffer XD?

You have universal healthcare in England, STFU.

Still doesnt mean it isnt cheap.

10 Pounds for just about any medication seems like a deal to me.

Ugh, just came down with the symptoms and it is going around here.  Setting up an appointment for Thursday, but god my throat sucks and my chest hurts, but just minor coughing so far.  They finally got the vaccine around the area here, but of course I am not amongst the first wave to get it.  Rough stuff!

Hang in there.  Hopefully it's just a regular miserable flu experience for you.  For over 99% of folks out there who get H1N1, you'll be fine.  On a positive note, you obviously won't have to get the shot now!  :)

Norwegian article about it for those intrested.

http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/ostafjells/telemark/1.6848185



Here's some translations:

The Folkhealth-Institute in Norway are being anmeldt (similar to being sued, but not quite) to the police by people behind http://vaksineaksjon.no/ for spreading unecessary fear and to (in their opinion) trick people into taking a untested vaccine that is poisonous and can be hazardous to your health. The leader in the anti-vaccine group Kjetil Dreyer have the opinion that the Follhealth-Insitute makes illicit information-errors. They claim the propaganda reflects the capital-intrest of an international health-industry and ecomomic intrests, not healthcare for the people.

They wanna wait until a poison-free vaccine is produced before mass-vaccinating people against a disease that 'almost doesn't exist'.


(http://i36.tinypic.com/24xf58m.jpg)

Siri Hauge from the Folkhealth-Institute say they use the best vaccine available.

When asked about wether she take the police-anmeldelse serious she says she haven't read it yet.

These guys thinks the Folkhealth-institute spread fear.

I just had my official "phone check-up" since they are very hesitant about wanting me down at the doctor's office.  It's great feeling like a leper, I just don't understand how they are to actually test me for this shit.  They are to call back in a while.  I probably shouldn't be going to work today though.

Propably?!?!

Get well mon, and stay the fuk away from work.

Vaccines are not poison.  I expect morons like this in the States, but Norway?  Oh, so disappointing.
Vaccines don't cause autism.  Vaccines don't sicken people.  Vaccines have saved millions of lives since they were invented in the 20th century.   :peace:

same shit in Sweden, dumb ignorant fools, i'm getting my vaccine shot on monday

not the suing (yet) but people don't believing in the vaccine and thinks that it'll get you paralyzed and all kinds of shit, and don't believe the flu is dangerous

Several european countries like Switzerland and Germany advice pregnant women against using the pandemrix-vaccine.

They will produce vaccines without the "poisons" instead.

I know what you mean about feeling like a leper.  My family wouldn't let my daughter go trick-or-treating with them...even though she had been fever free for about 2 days or so.  Oh man, did she cry. And I wasn't allowed back to work for a full week after her fever went away! A WEEK!

I was going to go into how the media and others are treating this like a plague.....but I understand why people are upset and scared.  It kills healthy kids sometimes.  That scares the crap out of any mother.  I just have the opinions I have because both me and my daughter survived it with hardly any problem.

About 9 days after I got the live vaccine, I came down with the worst case of bronchitis. It lasted about a month. it was  not infectious, but People on the airplane were totally freaking out that somebody was coughing. I am glad that you and your daughter are OK.