Comments on: What Foretells A Pandemic?

Sunday Morning: What Do Health Officials Look For When Responding To A Virus? And Is A High Alert Level For H1N1 Justified?

[erasmus111]

"What if it weren't hygiene? What if being dirty was the key? Being dirty has got a bad rap by the status quo, if ya azzz me. "


The cleaner you are, the more often you get sick.

[erasmus111]

Actually what they said was that they check for the type "B" and when it doesn't show up as that, they know it's the swine flu.

[erasmus111]

Oh my goodness Erasmus, what is your problem? Wanted to be a doctor? Just weren't smart enough?
The swine flu is not "Type B". Neither was the flu post WWI - that was the Spanish flu. We have Type A, Type B, and Type C flu all the time. There are at least 9 types of flu. This is called SWINE flu. It is new (reread the article). Every year the drug companies and CDC try to figure out whether we will be hit with Type A or B flu so the flu shots can be specific.
How in the world can you tell people not to see a Dr. unless they are "really sick"??? How irresponsible! If you knew anything about the flu meds on the market, you would know that the viruses only respond to the meds in the first 48-72 hours. People MUST be diagnosed early so they can be treated! If someone has flu symptoms, they must go to the Dr. right away. People are dying from this, Erasmus. Young people. You can stay away from the Dr. if you like, but then be sure to stay away from us too. Do it anyway.

Posted by chachajoe at 10:49 AM : May 3, 2009

Are you reading the stories on here? Obviously not.

And as far as the flu meds go, in Canada, they are telling people that there is no need to take tamiflu, unless you are feeling really ill. You should be able to tell almost immediately. Tamiflu itself can make you ill, so you shouldn't be taking it unless it's really necessary. Any cases of the flu, here, have been very mild. There is absolutely no reason to take that tamiflu. They are also stating that it is unnececcary to go to the doctor unless you are really sick. Do you go to the doctor everytime you get the flu, normally? I don't. But then I haven't gotten it in years. If you lived in Mexico where people are dying, then YES, I would go to the doctor.

[erasmus111]

Yes he is but you are not with that silly childish question yesterday for no reasons at all getting me in trouble,are you happy now mommy .....Its a total shame in these senseless games to seek the shazmi fame without any gains just causing rear ends pain ...Be happy now..

Posted by shazmispanks at 10:26 AM : May 3, 2009

What are you talking about, getting you into trouble? How could I get you into trouble? I just asked why you get away with slamming ALL Americans and I get attacked for just criticizing the healthcare and guns. Like what's up with that? And then you didn't even give me an INTELLIGENT answer! : )

[chachajoe]

Oh my goodness Erasmus, what is your problem? Wanted to be a doctor? Just weren't smart enough?
The swine flu is not "Type B". Neither was the flu post WWI - that was the Spanish flu. We have Type A, Type B, and Type C flu all the time. There are at least 9 types of flu. This is called SWINE flu. It is new (reread the article). Every year the drug companies and CDC try to figure out whether we will be hit with Type A or B flu so the flu shots can be specific.
How in the world can you tell people not to see a Dr. unless they are "really sick"??? How irresponsible! If you knew anything about the flu meds on the market, you would know that the viruses only respond to the meds in the first 48-72 hours. People MUST be diagnosed early so they can be treated! If someone has flu symptoms, they must go to the Dr. right away. People are dying from this, Erasmus. Young people. You can stay away from the Dr. if you like, but then be sure to stay away from us too. Do it anyway.

[melpol1]

The public should never be thrown into a panic unless there is a clear and present danger. Media coverage of Jack The Ripper kept London in a panic for years. One madman on the loose kept millions indoors. The flu epidemic is a perfect example. Unless there are thousands dead we should pay it no mind. Fear and panic is the greatest killer. it destroys the health of a nation and takes years off their lives.

[legacyabq]

LAST YEAR THE REGULAR FLU KILLED A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE WORLDWIDE

IT NOBODY CALLED IT A PANDEMIC

SO RELAX

[chachajoe]

Perhaps this has not had such a bad outcome (so far) because we have been so careful with it. And it certainly never hurts to learn how to use basic hygiene precautions.
In WWI, the virus was hitting young men who were often battle-weary and rundown. And after you have had bullets zinging past your head, or hitting you, a case of the "sniffles" would not send a soldier to the Clinic. All over the world there were nutritional shortages and poor hygiene. Most of all, we are told that the H1N1 can be managed if it is diagnosed early and treated. They had nothing to treat flu in WWI, and nothing to treat the sequelae. For most of those who commented before me, "sequelae" refers to illnesses that arise from the flu, such as pneumonia and and other infections.
No, the virus cannot split genes. One would have to understand viruses to understand how there could be so many different types in one H1N1 virus. I can tell from past comments that that understanding would not come easily to you. Trust the Scientists.
Would it hurt us to allow the CDC to make these complex decisions? They know just a tad bit more than we do! If you were ill, you would be flying to the Doctor. Listen to them now, before you become ill!

[erasmus111]

This is getting ridiculous 800 people have gotten the flu and they are comparing it to 1918

I think this Swine flu is a lot of overblown hype being propagated by xenophobic, right wing elements ,who are using it to manipulate public opinion against Mexico and encourage the government to send troops to the border. Influenza Kills 30 40 thousand Americans EVERY year, and probably close to a million worldwide. What has the Swine Flu done? Killed a few dozen?

Posted by norcalruss at 10:01 AM : May 3, 2009

The type of flu that you see every year is type "A", the swine flu and the 1918 flu is type "B". There's a difference, and if people were actually READING the articles, you would know that.

I agree that your media overblows things, but you still need to be prepared. That doesn't mean you have to panic, it just means dealing in reality. This flu is capable of becoming a pandemic. That doesn't mean it will, but just in case it does, you need to be prepared. If you get sick, wear a mask so your family doesn't get it. Do not go to the hospital or clinics unless you are REALLY sick. And if you should have to go to the hospital for any other reason, that's where you need to wear a mask to keep yourself from getting it.

So far, in Canada and the U.S., this flu is quite mild. You shouldn't even need to go to the doctor.

But keep in mind that this is the way that the 1918 flu started. It then went away and came back. That's when it started killing people. It can mutate into something much worse.

[inventagod]

compare:
http://www.interbent.com/images/flu-pandemics.png