To think that people really need to get a grip over the whole swine flu business?

[wannaBe]

Let's face it, we are all going to die. Nobody knows how, nobody knows when.

100 people have died of swine flu. 100 people. And yet people are talking of panic buying/keeping children home from school/wanting to know why flights from meccico have not been stopped.

100 people. worldwide.

I wonder how many people were killed on the roads during that time?

If you're going to catch swine flu, you'll catch it whether you panic about it or not. And given only 100 people have died of it so far, currently, the odds are pretty slim. And even if it reaches pandemic level (such as bird flu/sars didn't but the media were desparately hoping they would) there's still not much you can do about it.

100 people.

seriously.

apropros of nothing, there's a great comment on that web page : "why was our president obama on a golf course today, instead of making sure that the americian people
were safe. i think we need to fire all of the so called goverment officials, and take back our great country"

• I didn't think people actually wrote stuff like that, I thought Private Eye made it up

Ewe I have tears in my eyes, with amazement and laughter, from that link. I now have to send it to everyone I know. Bloody marvellous! Thank-you.

It's a good thing there aren't many flying pigs around!

"In the UK, even in winters with a low incidence, 3,000-4,000 deaths have been attributed to flu.
In the 198990 season, a flu epidemic was responsible for 23,046 deaths in England and Wales. "

Fromhere

I was unaware that this many people died from 'normal' flu
Seems 1989-1990 was a bad year.

Flu is horrible and you do feel like you are going to die. Colds are horrible and you feel like you want to die. Big difference and only when you have flu will you know the difference. If you can make it to the drs you don't have flu! The last time I had it was twenty years ago (ouch) and I will not forget it in a hurry (obviously! )

Flu usually only kills the young, elderly and the infirm, those whose immune systems aren't up to getting rid of it on their own. The only worrying thing about the reports so far is the fact that the healthy middle years are being killed off, just like the 1918-20 outbreak. But until I hear differently I'm not going to go into panic mode. It's just not the British way!!

ROFL at homeland security! Those danged terrorists - what will they think of next...

i have a cold

i haven't been to Mexico recently

I'm staying off work just incase its swine flu

Rofl at vinegar.

Its Not the same strain. It is a new strain of H1N1 which contains a mix of swine, avian and human flu. That is why we cannot vacinnate as there is no vaccination available yet. It kills the young adults because their immune system is better and rather oddly exacerbates the symptoms.
The uk is really well equipped to deal with it, we have large stocks of antivirals to treat it and ease the symptoms. Mortality is low at the moment.

I think its wise to keep an eye on it, international travel will spread it fast, as will peoples general stupidity, the economical implications are huge.

VinegarTits what did you phone in as your excuse?

I think it's a nice change of pace from the recession worrying. Gives us something else to worry about instead.

As long as it doesn't mutate again into Swine MAN Flu, I think we'll cope

vinegar.

A couple of years ago, when the avian flu scare was all over the news, my friend was at work talking to a woman on the phone.

The lady sounded rough (it was a customer at home) so my friend commented that she didn't sound well.

"Yes," the woman croaked, utterly serious, "I've got bird flu."

If it gets worse and the media keep reporting it the way they are doing, the recession is about to get alot worse.

ROFL at "I've got bird flu"

LOL at 'croaked'. Was she 'raven' mad

DH has already mentioned getting his gas mask out of the attic FFS. He is usally quite rational.

People have zombie plans? Seriously?

DS1 is poorly, head ache, tummy ache, high temp, aching legs, first thing my mum said when I spoke to her this morning was Pig flu I have no doubt that this is a very bad strain of the flu virus but I am not about to think DS1 has it.

Will see how he is tomorrow and if no better will speak to Dr,

on bbc it says though that the fact that people have only died in meccico has led to the belief that the virus is combining with another virus there which is leading to the deaths rather than the flu itself.

And sorry but you can't compare an outbreak that happened 90 years ago - medicine has changed for starters.