Swine Flu - WTH

cindyg

cindyg

New member
I can't figure out if the news media is blowing this WWWAAAYYY out of proportion or if I should be scared to death:blink:
 
Mm... I dunno. I don't trust the media or "the man"... I find that they usually withhold information to avoid having to deal with mass hysteria. Well, maybe not the media but whatevs.

They're saying the death rate is "only" anywhere between like 5 and 7%... well... that could mean wiping the equivalent of the entire United States off of the planet. The 1918 flu pandemic's rate was only about 2.5%... mmyeah... and that was INFAMOUS. Granted, that was 19-freaking-18... they didn't have the medical care we do today... but still...

ETA: I don't throw those numbers out there to be apocalyptic or contribute to the hysteria... I'm not hysterical... it's just my logical side looking at this as objectively as possible. They put 7% out there and we think "Whew... just 7" without really considering what that is.

I wouldn't say to be scared to death... but have a plan, you may have to "hide out", depending on what happens (it doesn't look likely but who knows)... and be careful. Buy lots of hand sanitizer and use that and wash your hands OBSESSIVELY. But besides that... pray. It can do one of 2 things... fizzle out into nothing or mutate and get bad... unfortunately, they can't stop it so yeah... plan and pray. That's our motto here.
 
Last edited:
I get that some people are dying from this new flu. BUUUUT I'm a believer that the media sensationalises almost anything they can and that it's not really as big a deal as they make it out to be. Anyone remember the bird flu? SARS? Mad cow disease? Some people will be affected (though I don't think anyone was by the bird flu, lol) and that's sad for them and their families, but people will also get in car accidents, get cancer, be diagnosed with a multitude of other serious diseases, etc.
 
I don't think bird flu ever mutated in a way that allowed it to transmit from human to human... they had "suspected" cases but I haven't found any confirmed cases. Though I could be mistaken.
 
AnnieBananie said:
I don't think bird flu ever mutated in a way that allowed it to transmit from human to human... they had "suspected" cases but I haven't found any confirmed cases. Though I could be mistaken.
Click to expand...
That's what my DH was saying to me too. But there was a LOT about it on the news back when it was newsworthy, lol...and they made it out to seem like it was going to wipe out the whole planet. :blink:

I don't watch the news anymore, lol...
 
Oh trust me, I'm the last to believe the media (I had an unpleasant run-in with them a few years back and went 3 years without watching the news or picking up a paper)... it's kind of a cafeteria thing with them, you find the bits that DON'T change from report to report (like one saying the death rate was like 4% when clearly the math said it was different) and take what makes sense and leave the sensationalism.
 
Not only that but people die from the "regular" flu every day, or at least due to complications from the flu symptoms, especially in third-world countries that do not have the medical technology that we do.

I'm not panicking - yet...
laugh.gif


And yes, I believe that the media is making more out of it than what's really going on, as usual. *sigh*
 
I am trying not to watch the news b/c I'm one that would get very panicky over something like this. It aggravates me how they keep advising people not to panic and then completely sensationalize any little story that comes up about it which will only cause someone TO panic.
 
the mass hysteria being induced by the media is tres annoying..

here are the things that I gather..
yes, people are dying.
yes, it is bad in mexico.
yes, we've been told not to travel to mexico if possible.
No, there is no epidemic in the US at this time.
The cases in the US.. the ones that were ACTUALLY the swine flu were because of people traveling to mexico and spreading it here (like in NY).
No, it is not untreatable.. tamiflu (and something else) can treat it just like the regular flu.
No, there is not a vaccine available yet, it could take a few months to make one.. but like Kat said, people die from the regular flu all the time.
Yes, normal precautions should be taken.. just like with the regular flu.. wash your hands, don't put your fingers in your mouth, don't let people cough on you etc.

Swine flu has been around forever.. yes, this is a new strain.. usually it just spread from pig to human.. this strain is a combo of swine, bird and human flu or something and has taken on characteristics allowing it to pass from human to human.. but like I said in my previous point.. normal precautions to stay healthy.. apply here.. and everything is fine.

oh and last but not least.. you can't get swine flu from eating pork.. if I have to read one more person tweaking about that I will bonk them in the head.
the end :]
 
Kat Stokes said:
Not only that but people die from the "regular" flu every day, or at least due to complications from the flu symptoms, especially in third-world countries that do not have the medical technology that we do.

I'm not panicking - yet...
laugh.gif


And yes, I believe that the media is making more out of it than what's really going on, as usual. *sigh*
Click to expand...

Exactly...I wondered today, if the "outbreak" had started in America rather than Mexico would we have even realized it was not just a "regular" flu. We have such better healthcare and anti-viral meds here that maybe not as many people would have died from it and it wouldn't have been noticed as much kwim? But b/c it seems to have started in Mexico where people weren't as able to get better attention for their illnesses..that's why it was discovered to be a "new strand" and now this worldwide freak-out...does that make sense? I mean season flu mutates every year and we get a new strand of it right?
 
Exactly Nikki...and the reason you can get more than one flu in a flu season is because you're catching a different strain. But it's still the flu. Your body builds up immunity to the strain you have but obviously can't build an immunity to something it hasn't 'met' yet.
 
I'm right there with you Annie. If the death rate is that high a percentage, I can't figure out for the life of me why the borders haven't been shut down and the school in New York (and its people, and other places of outbreak) hasn't been quarantined. What's the harm in doing that and doing all you can to keep it from spreading, even if nobody in the usa has died from it yet? No need to go all crazy panic, but there's nothing wrong with common sense precautions either. I hear one case in NC or the surrounding areas I'm shutting this door and NO kids are coming over here. We have had a family discussion about washing hands, cleaning door knobs, not touching faces, keeping hand sanitizer with you, buying some vitamin C powder when we go shopping thursday, etc...
Preparation - good.
Panic- not good.
But tell the people the truth and please say a little more than "wash your hands, but you can still travel to Mexico". We can handle it. Oh, and if I was in Canada I'd stay out of the USA if I was you- especially in the effected states. Apparently the airports in Taiwan (some small eastern country, i can't remember exactly) are using body scanners and if your temp is high you're pulled to the side. But we're still letting people in and out of airports just like things are normal. Sounds odd to me.

AnnieBananie said:
Mm... I dunno. I don't trust the media or "the man"... I find that they usually withhold information to avoid having to deal with mass hysteria. Well, maybe not the media but whatevs.

They're saying the death rate is "only" anywhere between like 5 and 7%... well... that could mean wiping the equivalent of the entire United States off of the planet. The 1918 flu pandemic's rate was only about 2.5%... mmyeah... and that was INFAMOUS. Granted, that was 19-freaking-18... they didn't have the medical care we do today... but still...

ETA: I don't throw those numbers out there to be apocalyptic or contribute to the hysteria... I'm not hysterical... it's just my logical side looking at this as objectively as possible. They put 7% out there and we think "Whew... just 7" without really considering what that is.

I wouldn't say to be scared to death... but have a plan, you may have to "hide out", depending on what happens (it doesn't look likely but who knows)... and be careful. Buy lots of hand sanitizer and use that and wash your hands OBSESSIVELY. But besides that... pray. It can do one of 2 things... fizzle out into nothing or mutate and get bad... unfortunately, they can't stop it so yeah... plan and pray. That's our motto here.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
amy.. that IS all there is to do though.. wash your hands and take normal precautions like we all do so you don't get sick. And they are stopping people coming in from mexico, if they have any signs of sickness they're sent immediately for treatment (this may be a super new thing though ,cause I just read it this morning ^_^ ) and they're telling us NOT to travel to mexico unless you really really really really need to.
 
lauren grier said:
amy.. that IS all there is to do though.. wash your hands and take normal precautions like we all do so you don't get sick. And they are stopping people coming in from mexico, if they have any signs of sickness they're sent immediately for treatment (this may be a super new thing though ,cause I just read it this morning ^_^ ) and they're telling us NOT to travel to mexico unless you really really really really need to.
Click to expand...

I guess Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt really, really, really needed to honeymoon in Mexico. :mellow:
 
maybe they'll catch it...another "reality show" bites the dust.

LMAO J/K...I think.

IDK I'm not too worried about it, besides we have enough food and water stored for a short apocalypse so we'll be good.
 
Mandy said:
I guess Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt really, really, really needed to honeymoon in Mexico. :mellow:
Click to expand...
Yeah XH and his wife-to-be are honeymooning there and then wanted to come the next day to pick Faith up for a week. Uh nope... you two INSIST that you HAAAAVE TO go there... then you're not coming anywhere NEAR us for at least a week. :glare: F-tards.

Unfortunately, we won't KNOW it's a pandemic (IF IF IF it comes to that) until it's raging all around us and by then, it'll be too late to prepare.
 
I hadn't watched any news today (or maybe yesterday too?) so that is good news to hear!

lauren grier said:
amy.. that IS all there is to do though.. wash your hands and take normal precautions like we all do so you don't get sick. And they are stopping people coming in from mexico, if they have any signs of sickness they're sent immediately for treatment (this may be a super new thing though ,cause I just read it this morning ^_^ ) and they're telling us NOT to travel to mexico unless you really really really really need to.
Click to expand...
 
We have 18 non-stop flights to and from Mexico EVERY day. It will be here in this state soon. And while they said they would stop people who appear sick...guess what, they are already here and have already touched a hundred things on their way. I'm not panicked, but they need to close the borders until things are figured out and they get a handle on and treat those who are already in the country. That's just common sense.
 
I am not too worried. I think the media is both "blowing it out of proportion & not telling us everything." I try really hard to ignore them and do what is best for my family. So I have been doing what Annie said at first, "pray and be prepared!" What else can you do. It is here, and I will deal with it accordingly.
 
I'm not worried, but I'm not a worrier about these types of things anyway. I realize it is very problematic in Mexico right now (even though it's showing up in other places, even Canada), but my thinking is that these people that are dying down there, probably don't have the same medical care we do, kwim?

Oh well. No need to panic...that's my motto about these things!
 
They shut an entire school district down here because there were 3 confirmed cases of it. My district is on high alert..
 
newfiemountiewife said:
I'm not worried, but I'm not a worrier about these types of things anyway. I realize it is very problematic in Mexico right now (even though it's showing up in other places, even Canada), but my thinking is that these people that are dying down there, probably don't have the same medical care we do, kwim?

Oh well. No need to panic...that's my motto about these things!
Click to expand...

I heard today that Mexico hadn't even yet treated or quarantined the people who were close to those who had died. So yes, it is definitely a different scenario down there.
 
It's been quiet in the news lately, just a rehashing of the economy and a millisecond by millisecond analysis of whether it is going up or down. Monday the recession is almost over, Tuesday we haven't hit bottom yet, Wednesday reports are up for consumer spending, Thursday there is a surge in layoffs.

So naturally the media is jumping on the swine flu, it has all the makings of an excellent story, lots of analysis, speculation and constantly updated figures, plus it appeals to everyone, same as economic stories do. I do think it is newsworthy & something to be aware of but I think modern news cycles can't help but over hype things to get an audience

I think 24/7 news from dozens and dozens of outlets is not always a good thing. It is impossible to get perspective.
 
*Kelly* said:
They shut an entire school district down here because there were 3 confirmed cases of it. My district is on high alert..
Click to expand...


This scares the crap out of me.

I teach at a school in California. 75% of my class is Hispanic. Many of them have relatives that go back and forth between Mexico and California.

I already have a weak immune system due to my Thyroid disease and just going to work scares me. :(
 
Those who think that we, in Canada and the U.S. are more likely to survive than the people in Mexico because of health care should really go see the link that AnnieBananie put up about Dr Niman. I've been reading about this for quite some time and the fact that we have good health care might not affect the fatality rate, because, for one, Tamiflu is not working properly on this type of flu, two, the docotors, even in our medical system, cannot do much to help somebody fight a virus and three, it is NOT the flu that is killing people. It is their own immune system that turn against them and shut down the organs. That's how you die of this flu, that is the same from 1918. And the fatalities always target the strong adults, from 25 to 45 years old. The young and the old are surviving just fine, because their immune system is not as strong. That is really alarming.

So no, this is not like any old flu, and really, without panicking, we should not put our heads in the sand about this. For now, it seems mild, because we now have the technologie to track it, and it's in the beginning stage, but chances are that it will get worse, sadly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top