Flu outbreak....

From the news today:

"The WHO update, which came out before yesterday’s confirmation of the death of a 23-month-old Houston boy from H1N1, found that nine countries reported 148 confirmed cases of infection, with a total of seven deaths, all in Mexico. Mexican authorities put their death toll at 159, including 10 in the last 24 hours. It’s not yet clear why Mexico’s numbers are so starkly different (perhaps Mexico hasn’t “officially” reported to WHO) from the WHO figures."
 
koyote said:
From the news today:

"The WHO update, which came out before yesterday’s confirmation of the death of a 23-month-old Houston boy from H1N1, found that nine countries reported 148 confirmed cases of infection, with a total of seven deaths, all in Mexico. Mexican authorities put their death toll at 159, including 10 in the last 24 hours. It’s not yet clear why Mexico’s numbers are so starkly different (perhaps Mexico hasn’t “officially” reported to WHO) from the WHO figures."
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I think that was out of 2,500 or 2,600 cases of infection.
 
No cases as of last night in Tennessee. But I can honestly say that there have been at least two cases in TN, myself and my wife.
 
Watchful said:
How many folks know the difference between epidemic and pandemic? Hint: they're not necessarily related. One is a mathematical function, the other regional. And epidemic is declared after a certain percentage point has been passed among the general population point, whereas a pandemic is declared after a certain number of otherwise unrelated geographical boundaries have been crossed. We have a pandemic of common flu every year, as it hits so many countries at once.

I am concerned that "pandemic" is being misused by the press to enhance the scare factor, when many, many illnesses become pandemics rapidly due to worldwide travel. It's not worse than an epidemic: the two terms are not interchangeable, technically.

I'd welcome anyone to clarify the differences better, as I'm doing this from memory!
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The pandemic is already here - the alert system is somewhat of a formality.

This is a very informative video:

http://www.wpxi.com/video/19313969/index.html

Since it is likely that you will die from ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) triggered by a cytokine storm (as a result of being infected by H1N1) I would recommend keeping some aspirin, fish oil, and curcumin on hand in case you get sick.

http://diseases-viruses.suite101.com/article.cfm/swine_flu_cytokine_storm_cures

IMHO, there is too much fear about something which is fundamentally beyond our control. Someday (might be a long time from now, might be next month) the earth is going to be hit by a really big asteroid - do you want to spend your days worrying about it? Someday (maybe next week or later this year) some of us are going to die from an influenza pandemic - do you want to spend your days worrying about it? When you're sick, start worrying. Until then, enjoy life - it's a short, brief experience that should be savored.

Control the risks you can - accept the rest. :thumbup:
 
My wife got word today that there is a case in Machias, Maine, which is in a pretty remote corner of the country (with a small university... spring breakers returning from Mexico). The hospital she works at is taking this very seriuosly, making preparations for a wide variety of scenarios.
 
My symptoms: 102 temp, the usual aches and pains for the flu, vomiting. Hits real fast.

Vomiting is something that I haven't done in 20 years. So this was unusual. Did not go to the doctor. It cleared up in a couple days.
 
the thing about this is the swine flu has the exact same symptoms of all the other flu viruses. The only way to confirm is to get a sample under the microscope.
 
Ottoshot said:
the thing about this is the swine flu has the exact same symptoms of all the other flu viruses. The only way to confirm is to get a sample under the microscope.
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So far, if you don't live in Mexico, it seems to have all the effects of regular flu, too. Except lower mortality......
 
Fcros.jpg
 
Man, am I ever glad I stopped working out. All that healthy lifestyle can literally kill you. Honey pass another piece of that KFC mystery chicken why don't ya! Hmmmmmm cytokine blocker!!!
 
Seems like unless you get really sick, nobody will even know you had this flu. That is the reason I think it is far more widespread than reported. Wife works in hospital. They are making preparations and taking precautions.

Go KFC!!
 
I'm concerned but only somewhat... I'm in the front lines of public health in one of the biggest and busiest cities in the world... there is always some boogie man disaster waiting to happen.. any one of the 1000 I've been through could have been the real deal. If I stressed each one I'd be a miserable person.. the truth about life is that "on a long enough time line
everyones life expectancy drops to zero" that's natures way... we could stress it but unfortunately it won;t change the outcome... work out, eat healthy, wash your hands,
don't smoke.. maybe you'll buy some more time. but as the buddha has taught us misery comes from attempting to attach permanence to impermanent things..Love the time you have take precautions. hope for the best and make peace with you maker but in the end whether its the flu, the asteroid, the under equipped psk, a heartattack or old age... no-one gets out alive. Love life while it lasts "fear is the mind killer"
 
22-rimfire,

How do you know if you had this particular strain?

If you did have this strain, why have we not heard of your infection?
 
My kids are going to be out for 7 days here in Weslaco, Tx. They just let us know this afternoon. We had a high School kid with a confirmed case of this swine bug. He is already past the worst and is recovering at home I believe. This is going to be very interest ing how this plays out in the long run.

-frank
 
How do you know if you had this particular strain?
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The fact is I don't know. The only way to know is to have it cultured and identified microscopically by those that do this sort of thing professionally. Wife was off work for a couple of days. She spent those days in bed. It hit on a weekend, so getting to a doctor is more of a hassle. She felt pretty good by Monday (past). The plan was to go to a doctor on Monday if it seemed necessary. Neither of us go to doctors unless we REALLY have to. My experience was less severe than my wife's, but I suspect I'm in a lot better shape physically.

Since getting flu shots a couple of years back, I have not had the flu as I typically did each year. Yes, I know flu shots are no guarantee that you won't get the flu as there are so many strains. The flu season is essentially over. This flu seems to be much more aggressive with very high fevers. The fever is what wipes you out.

I am keeping an eye on my health and those around me for more serious flu-like symptoms to develop. At this point, I am not that concerned about this flu. You get over it just like any other (for most). There are something like 55,000 flu deaths in the US each year. (About the same as gun deaths... and some get all concerned about guns.)
 
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