Swine Flu

[westsidesooner]

but does that make it worse or better?

like with defcon.. the higher the number the lower the risk?

Much Much worse.





"Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way"

[fuzzytoad]

Much Much worse.


"Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way"

so you're saying we're just one step away from a porkcalypse?

[FritterGirl]

so you're saying we're just one step away from a porkcalypse?

Exactly. It's time to break out the ham sanitizer.

[westsidesooner]

You are making me sooooo hungry. I love pork.

[Luke]

so you're saying we're just one step away from a porkcalypse?

Exactly. It's time to break out the ham sanitizer.

Yesssss!

[Thunder]

Swine Flu Outbreak

LATEST ON SWINE FLU OUTBREAK:

WHO Raises Pandemic Alert Level to 5
CNN Reports Swine Flu Confirmed at Marine Base
10 States Report Swine Flu Cases
Virus Extends Deeper Into Europe
Egypt Orders Slaughter of All Pigs

[Karried]

Fort Worth just closed all of their public schools.

[fuzzytoad]

Fort Worth just closed all of their public schools.

This is one of those times where I wish I had the ability/mindset/opportunity to teach U.S. history. I would *love* to be a high-school history teacher in the 2020s-30s just so I could go over the last 35 years with first-hand knowledge of the sheer idiocy that we've all been through and are going through..


1976 - Swine flu.. one confirmed death in the US.. 300+ deaths due to mass histeria(due to innoculation)

2003 0 deaths in the US for SARs

2006 0 deaths in the US for bird flu(H5N1)

2009 1 death in the US for swine flu(H1N1)


It's comedic to try to place any substance to these "issues" that seem to roll around every 6-18 months..

If I were the type to suggest a conspiracy was at play, it would only suggest that the news media was attempting to downplay other issues while focusing the general population into believing that the government was hard-at-work "fixing" a non-issue...

since we all know that this current adminstration would never attempt such a thing, especially in occlusion with news media as we know, one can only assume that people who fall subject to the mass histeria of this current "pandemic" are complete morons, there's no other course of action than to laugh at them after-the-fact and teach our children to respect government medical oversight...

I'm fairly confident that the future history books of the United States of America will label the late 20th and early 21st century as a very comical period.. Namely for these "pandemic" episodes we are currently experiencing..

[Karried]

I agree.. a lot of this is probably so overblown and fear is definitely taking over.

But, then again, we can look at it another way too .. maybe the lack of deaths above can be attributed, in part, to the fact that precautions were taken due to the 'hysteria' caused by the government.

Who knows... I like to err on the side of caution when it comes to my kids but wow, is this going to be a huge financial strain on so many people.

From parents forced to pay for daycare to travel industries suffering and everthing in between, it's going to be costly.

[kevinpate]

From a friend's email yesterday

For decades folks swore we'd only see a minority elected as POTUS when pigs fly.
And today, here we are. You can't turn on radio or the telly without someone carrying on about swine flu

[PennyQuilts]

I know I am going to regret writing this but I am just so sick of the swine flu coverage. I am in court all the time. I will probably catch it and die. Either that or my immune system is so strong that I am invincible.

[kevinpate]

You can't die! Who will adopt Thunder if you go on to that great wallow in the sky?

[PennyQuilts]

You can't die! Who will adopt Thunder if you go on to that great wallow in the sky?

I should at least adopt him before I croak so he gets a share of my massive estate.

[Thunder]

I should at least adopt him before I croak so he gets a share of my massive estate.

OMG! I don't want your massive estate. Just being a loving mother is enough for me.

Somehow, I get the feeling that you do know me.

[PennyQuilts]

OMG! I don't want your massive estate. Just being a loving mother is enough for me.

Somehow, I get the feeling that you do know me.

Oh, Thunder. Have I mentioned you are precious?

You crack me up.

[Thunder]

Oh, Thunder. Have I mentioned you are precious?

You crack me up.

[westsidesooner]

I agree.. a lot of this is probably so overblown and fear is definitely taking over.

I sure hope so, and if I have overblown anything I apologize.

The only thing that I keep going back to as far as worrying is this. The CDC and everyone else keeps telling us to treat this like any other flu. But, in the past I don't remember them raising alert levels, talk of border closings, daily press confrences, pig slaughters in other countries, preemptive school closings....etc. I keep thinking there is something they are not telling us.

For now I'll take their advice and just see what happens.

Thunder....I think we see you behind the couch. You're kinda yellow, you feeling ok? lol

[Thunder]

Thunder....I think we see you behind the couch. You're kinda yellow, you feeling ok? lol

Coughing a lot and fever at 104. Just threw up.

[Karried]

I sure hope so, and if I have overblown anything I apologize.

oh no, I'm not talking about you! The media...

[PennyQuilts]

Coughing a lot and fever at 104. Just threw up.

You'e kidding, right?

[kevinpate]

.oO(some folks would say anything for their bacon cheeseburger)Oo.

[Thunder]

You'e kidding, right?

Just being prepared (and testing a mother's love).

[PennyQuilts]

Young man, that's not funny! You nearly gave me a heart attack.

[Thunder]

Young man, that's not funny! You nearly gave me a heart attack.

[PennyQuilts]

Here is a discussion about the swine influenza on Dolittler's vet blog.

Dolittler: ?Swine influenza? from a vet?s perspective (now, can we all stop blaming the pigs?)

I love that blog, btw.