Seriously thoughtful Run for the Hills! Swine Flu!

[dreams]

Reading MR and watching the various world news reports about this outbreak. There seems to be a lot of downplaying going on now as fear of the outbreak is causing global economic downturns--fragile world economy.
It's interesting to note the varying number reports.... current report - Mexico 149 dead and 2000 cases plus a 5.6 quake, USA 42 confirmed and 0 deaths, NZ, Scotland, Spain, etc .... Main concern seems to be how the NY stock exchange is reacting and other world economies ... hence the major downplay around here.

Haven't spotted the 4 little wise guys around here but have heard reports of some up around the CA capital city...

[tirsales]

I dont think the downplay is regarded to the world economy - there is simply no sense in overrating the dangers of this disease - and ATM nobody knows how dangerous it really is.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by tirsales

I dont think the downplay is regarded to the world economy - there is simply no sense in overrating the dangers of this disease - and ATM nobody knows how dangerous it really is.

The first case I heard of, in Sale, Manchester, is not swine flu as it turns out. So that's something encouraging at least.

[carld]

There's a case near me, a bit more than a stone's throw away, but not a lot. I'm not worried, plus I'm too tired to go out and buy all that duct tape, plastic sheeting and antiseptic spray.

[dreams]

Originally Posted by tirsales

I dont think the downplay is regarded to the world economy - there is simply no sense in overrating the dangers of this disease - and ATM nobody knows how dangerous it really is.

You are right. The downplay is to keep the panic down.
The concern seems to be because this is a human to human transference now and a change that has happened in the H1N1 virus (from what I understand). The news that schools have been closed until May 6th in Mexico and that some schools here are being closed for a major cleaning is interesting. I don't remember that this has happened before with a flu outbreak. What is scary for me is that I work with children and we have a large Mexican population in our area. Needless to say, I will continue to wash my hands and not touch my face. (normal everyday precautions)

[DixieGal]

I just watched the WHO press conf, and they upgraded it from danger level 3 to 4, which is worse. Kept repeating that it can't be contained because it is so widespread already. Will focus on "mitigating" the spread, which I am not sure what he meant by that.

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by carld

There's a case near me, a bit more than a stone's throw away, but not a lot. I'm not worried, plus I'm too tired to go out and buy all that duct tape, plastic sheeting and antiseptic spray.

That's EXACTLY what they told people in a many miles radius of Ft. McClellan in Ala when the army began shutting it down. There were thousands of chemical weapons to be disposed of, many old and leaking. The populace was taught to make a plastic bag around themselves with plastic and duct tape. I'm not sure of the details, but how were they going to breathe all sealed up like that?

[carld]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

That's EXACTLY what they told people in a many miles radius of Ft. McClellan in Ala when the army began shutting it down. There were thousands of chemical weapons to be disposed of, many old and leaking. The populace was taught to make a plastic bag around themselves with plastic and duct tape. I'm not sure of the details, but how were they going to breathe all sealed up like that?

Well that would solve the problem of being exposed to chemical weapons, permanently.

There are two more suspected cases of swine flu in another town in my county. Rethinking that too tired thing

[Faenad]

I was living in Shanghai in 2003 (during the SARS) and now I am living in Mexico.
I guess the quote “May you live in interesting times” apply here

I must say the reactivity of the people here impressed me. I'm in the center of the country in a state where no case have been confirmed yet, but already half the population is wearing masks, everybody is purchasing hand sanitizer gel by the kilos, and all schools have been closed.

I'm not really worried so far. All these precautionary measures are great -always better safe than sorry- and it will hinder the virus's spread a lot. The flu appears to be rather mild in every country except Mexico. And were are not in 1918 either.

Since we are ground zero, the virus have already been floating here unnoticed since a few weeks, including during one of the biggest week of vacations here -semana santa-. If it was really as virulent as in Hollywood movies, we would already be dead. A lot of mild cases must have passed unnoticed.

I will have to rent 28 days later and some similar movies. It seem the perfect time to watch them
Any suggestions?

[desertgrandma]

[QUOTE=Faenad;441144]I was living in Shanghai in 2003 (during the SARS) and now I am living in Mexico.
I guess the quote “May you live in interesting times” apply here

I/QUOTE]

I LOVE that quote! I first read it in "Shogun".

[rgeorg]

Just for a perspective:
I haven't read this entire thread, so please excuse me if this is repeat news. But I just read (Reuters) that on average 250,000-500,000 people die each year from "regular" flu.

It's probably next winter-spring (2009-2010) that might be the big problem for the swine flu (according to articles I've read) - and hopefully there will be a vaccine by then.

[GeoffC]

what will be, will be ....

[columbus]

Originally Posted by GeoffC;

what will be, will be ....

My Thoughts entirely!

Ah' ChOO

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Yikes! I didn't know about that, and I lived outside of Reston around that time.


Don't be scared MoeJoe, it's really just a flu.

A really great book on the subject is The Hot Zone by Richard Preston

[HarryT]

I often wonder if people actually realise that wearing a face mask is to prevent them from infecting other people, and that it has zero impact on protecting the wearer against infection . Surgeons wear face masks to prevent them infecting the patient - not vice versa.