Swine flu!!

[Furby]

We have recorded 150+ deaths in mexico believed to be related to the Swine Flu, i think 9 cases in the U.S thankfully none fatal yet. We are now considering this infulsima A PANADEMIC. All are advised to stay in your house as long as you can, wash your hands after you touch anyone or after an activity, avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose as much as possible. If you have ANY FLU SYMTOMS THIS ISN'T FLU SEASON, CALL YOUR DOCTOR AHEAD OF TIME SO YOU DON'T SPREAD THE DEASISE IN THE WAITING ROOM!

ALSO THE MOST IMPORTAIN WERE A COUGH MASK GET THEM AT YOUR LOCAL DOCTORS OFFICE MABYE EVEN GROCIARY STORES!!!!

Let us know if you have anything else importaint to add that I missed and i will be more that willing to edit be safe everyone!

[Archos]

It is a pandemic, yes. But..
I have caught flu around this time last year, it's not flu season. Just because you have a cold does not mean you have Swine Flu.
Also abought the masks, they do nothing. Not sure why, but they were reporting on it.

[Sapphire]

Calm down, the slightest hint of a cold or the flu does not mean that it's swine flu.

It is a pandemic, yes. But..
I have caught flu around this time last year, it's not flu season. Just because you have a cold does not mean you have Swine Flu.
Completely agree!
It is not unheard of to get a cough, cold or sore throat between the months of May and August. I, myself, have been unfortunate enough to be under the weather with a summer cold on my very own birthday in June.

[Jean Poutine]

ALSO THE MOST IMPORTAIN WERE A COUGH MASK GET THEM AT YOUR LOCAL DOCTORS OFFICE MABYE EVEN GROCIARY STORES!!!!
I laughed.

You're paranoid.

[spanky]

Dude, i hope io don't catch it. But i stay in my house all day ^_^ home schooled

[Aneklusmos]

dude calm down. I can understand why you are afraid, the media is blowing this out of proportion. But it IS a pandemic and the CDC just moved it up to a phase 5 one
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/index.htm
but seriously, spreading hysteria isn't a good idea

[Oblivion]

An average cough mask does near nothing. Scientists and doctors have concluded that the particles that make you sick are too small to be kept out by a flimsy mask.
To make it work, you need a tight mask around the face and nose that is sealed.

6) What about a mask? - The data shows that masks do work - as long as there is a tight seal about the mouth and nose. That means the floppy blue pleated mask you sometimes see hanging below a person’s nose isn’t doing a thing for anyone. And, if you’re a guy, a beard is probably stopping any mask anywhere from ever working for you. Expert panels and pandemic review boards, in general, do not recommend masks despite saying they work, both because masks often aren’t properly fitted, and because masks in public are not “widely accepted.” If you’re exposed to people who cough on you, and you are able to wear a mask, be sure to pinch the metal strip across your nose down snug, and tighten the straps so the mask touches skin around all the edges. And shave that beard.

[cool person]

Okay 2 thinga: A. masks do nothing. that simple.
B. scientists have reached the conclustion, the swine flu is MILDER tha nthe normal flu. repeat: the swine flu IS LESS SERIOUS than the normal flu

[Oblivion]

For # 2:A two year old girl in Reno has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta as Nevada's first confirmed case of swine flu, and state health officials are waiting for test results on her mother, who has also become ill.

In a news conference Wednesday in Washoe County, Governor Jim Gibbons said the two year old is responding well to medications, and was never hospitalized.

No cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Southern Nevada, but local pediatricians' offices were packed with concerned parents and their children even before Wednesday's announcement.

Dr. Kenneth Misch of St. Rose Pediatrics reassures parents that swine flu symptoms are much more severe than regular flu symptoms; including serious upper respiratory infections, a high fever, nausea and extreme aches and pains.

He says parents can calm fears of their children becoming infected with regular check ups and good hygiene.

There's no word yet on how the 2 year old girl in the Reno area contracted swine flu. Health officials say there is no immediate link to Mexico or anywhere else the virus has turned up.

But they are investigating the day care center she attends, and awaiting test results on her mother from the CDC.

Yeah.. I'm pretty sure it is worse actually. Theoretically it's the human strain, swine (pig) strain, and avian (bird) strain all together into one flu.

It is similar though, and not very much more deadly if treated.
The bad part is there is no vaccine, which is what makes it scary.

[Requin]

I heard a guy talking about this on the news this morning. THe main thing that interested me is that people do not understand what the word 'Pandemic' means.

Pandemic means that there is an illness that can kill spreading geographically over the world. It doesn't mean 'lets all panic we're all going to die' as some think it means.

So please don't panic. You've had flu before right? The most strange thing about this is that its a mutation of flu viruses, and that it passes from human to human.
That's it really.
BUT, there's already going to be two types of people about things like this: One set who are very worried and panicky about this, and one set who don't care.

Now, I should have a right to panic as much as everyone else, a school just outside my home city has confirmed that one of its students has swine flu. We have 13 confimed cases in the UK. THese people have got it through either having come back from Mexico, or being in contact with someone who had come from Mexico.
It doesn't float in the air, it has to be passed on. Through handles etc. As long as you maintain a good hygine.....:)

[BlackenedSilver]

Well said Joe ^ :D
Is anyone sick of these jokes about it? "I think Ive got swine flu, Im coming out in rashers" and "I may have swine flu, I rang the helpline but all I got was crackling" :mad:
And Ive heard people saying that if 8 more people in the UK get it then all schools are going to be closed. I don't see why people want that to happen, Yea the schools are shut but we will be confinded to our houses. :/

[INFERNO]

First, relax. Having common sense will definatately ensure you are less likely to get H1N1.
Second, masks might as well be put on your foot, they're useless as the bacterial and viral particles can get through easily.
Third, take what the media says with a grain of salt. It's been exaggerated immensely and people are acting as though getting this flu equates to you dying. Yes it has killed some, yes it is spreading. It's not something to panic about or be paranoid about. It's not something where you should be house-ridden for fear of even saying hello to the mailman. It's not that severe, it's not going to be the end of humanity as we know it, so relax.
Fourth, I say relax for a reason. The more stressed you get, the lower your immune system is, hence the more suspectible you are to getting H1N1.
Fifth, you need to have direct contact with an infected person in order to be infected with the disease. I'm not saying to walk around wearing latex gloves and a full-body protective suit, but rather, use hand sanitizer, etc... .

[Aηdy]

I fail to see what the huge fuss is about. It's doing my head in hearing about it all the time.

[INFERNO]

I fail to see what the huge fuss is about. It's doing my head in hearing about it all the time.

2 words: media exaggeration.

People see it in the news, they accept it as truth because it's in the news (horrid logic, I know). From there, they panic, shit their pants, run around like headless chickens, tell others and it spreads much like how the actual H1N1 is spreading. It then gets fueled by more and more documented deaths and it spirals uncontrollably.

The solution to all this unnecessary chaos is solved by 1 word: Think.

[Antares]

Oh dear god.

Okay, don't worry about N1H1. And seriously, the masks don't really help.
WaYYY out of proportion

I have a cold right now. Does it mean I have a fatal strain of influenza? No.

[Requin]

Do you know what one newspaper headline was over here:
'The whole of hummanity is at stake'. - That is why people panic, the media.
AND the fact that there is so much false info floating around, one person will here something that is apparently true, and someone else will here something else that is 'true' only its completely different.

Thats humans for ya. :) We're a panicky bunch when we're grouped together, if we we're on our own we'd all look at something logically and with sense.

[INFERNO]

Do you know what one newspaper headline was over here:
'The whole of hummanity is at stake'. - That is why people panic, the media.
AND the fact that there is so much false info floating around, one person will here something that is apparently true, and someone else will here something else that is 'true' only its completely different.

Thats humans for ya. :) We're a panicky bunch when we're grouped together, if we we're on our own we'd all look at something logically and with sense.

Not entirely true. Humans won't always panic when in a group and won't always be logical when alone. But, I get your general idea, just wanted to be a thorn in the side :lol::D

And yes, I agree fully that the media is driving this exaggeration.

[Stevo 69]

Calm down! I've heard that scientists now are saying that it's not harmful, it's just like seasonal flu.

I think the media scares people by talking about it so much, yes it's worrying that a new type of flu has appeared but they were making such a big deal over it when they didn't know what it was or how bad it could be.

[CestDan]

I think you have to calm down, I live in Mexico and let me tell you that I consider that the situation is being controlled very carefully. I´m completely sure that this sickness will pass soon.

[Specter]

This whole swine flu thing is stupid, do you guys have any idea how many people die of the normal flu each day, the number is astronomical. The swine flu is just a bump in the road compared to real issues in the world.