It seems that cases in other countries increasing massively, but not here...?

[fedup21]

Is that correct and if so, why?

If it‘a not true, is it just because it’s very early days?

I was looking at the stats someone posted about how quickly it was increasing in Italy and it doesn’t seem to be following the same pattern here?

I don't trust media or Govt.

Neither do I. However, they can't even keep a secret that only a handful of people know. It's entirely possible the state doesn't know the full picture itself but the chances of them deliberately hiding some shocking truth, that would be known by 1000s of civil servants and HCPs, is slim to none.

Elderave, a year later most people had antibodies to swine flu despite never having been diagnosed.

We don't seem to be taking things as seriously as other countries

Italy was taking temperatures at airports on the 8th Feb. A week later flying back into the UK they still weren't fussed.

Did most of us get Swine flu?
Yes the only time I've had flu, and it put me in hospital for a week. Ok I was heavily pregnant too.

Counties seem to be taking this far more seriously than swine flu. I don't recall any citys on lock down or schools closing etc. Which to me means it's either an over reaction or their is some thing they aren't saying.

It doesn't seem as though everyone is getting tested from anecdotal evidence on here and Twitter.

Isn't that the big difference with this one pickle? Most of us had Swine Flu antibodies already, as it had done the rounds in one form or another previously. We may have all been exposed but not necessarily in that episode. This one is completely new so no one has any immunity.

We're still in pre-outbreak stage, with isolated cases. Hopefully we'll stay that way, but likely will have some more cases like other European countries have had - but being an island, we do have a distinct advantage. If we can slow down spread so an outbreak doesn't have as many cases at once, that would be really good (avoid shutdown of services).

My friend works at PHE and judging by the phone calls, a lot of people would love certain towns to be quarantined. Not theirs. Those other people... Not to mention how many callers manage to claim "I'm not being racist, but..." Dealing with that is tougher than actually dealing with ramping up tests, etc.

At the time swine flu was new, and a big concern. I think the antibodies showed that despite the initial fear, and the severity of the first cases, it entered the general population without much fuss- most people never knew they'd had it.

What that means for us now is not clear because this isn't swine flu.

No it wasnt, the 1918 flu was a form of swine flu

I've just done some wiki reading, and adults had immunity from similar flu, you're right. That's not what I read at the time, though.

Only South Korea and Italy have performed more tests than the UK. It’s not because we’re not testing people. And the temperature thing at airports is basically a waste of time, picking up people who don’t have coronavirus and missing people who do. But basically it’s just been luck so far anyway. All countries have been trying to do the containment thing, sometimes they get lucky and it works and sometimes they don’t. Chances are our luck will run out sooner or later.

I remember them saying at the time the over 60s were less at risk of swine flu due to the exposure to previous similar flu. Possible Spanish flu. I can't remember the exact flues.

This is more like what I read- by the following year, 50% of school children had the antibodies though most of them didn't know they'd had it.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21194090

But with cases of reinfection being reported surely antibodies aren't sufficient protection.

“Being an island” as a PP mentioned, is not much of a protection when we have international airports the size of Heathrow!
I wonder if the British reserve - not greeting each other with continental double cheek kisses, maintaining a wider personal space, etc - has been a slight factor in delaying person to person spread?
Anyway, it’s here now, and we will just have to wait and see if containment and isolation will hold case numbers in check, until the increased sunlight of spring boosts people’s vitamin D and immunity levels.
Sensible precautions include wearing gloves when out, not touching your face (especially mouth, nose, eyes, where there is vulnerable mucosa rather than skin) and washing hands regularly with soap and water, for more than 20 seconds each time.
Avoiding close packed crowds if possible is also sensible, but may not be practical for commuters or city dwellers.
Self isolating if you have cough or fever is the decent thing to do, to protect the old, frail, or immunocompromised from catching it from you.
Finally, remember that the vast majority of us will just have a miserable 2 weeks of sweaty coughing, then be none the worse. Only an unfortunate minority will actually get pneumonia or need hospitalised.
And the overall (whole population) death rate is 2%. If you’re under 40, it’s only 0.2%. Panicking is pointless and counterproductive - a regular good night’s sleep will do far more for your wellbeing and immunity!

You’re quite right pickle.... I’m not scaremongering but remember that the incubation period for this virus can be anything from a week upwards, so imagine how many people can be infected by the time they discover someone who was infected went to the pool 10 days ago for example... I repeat I wear surgical grade gloves (big box from the chemist’s) every time I go out so that I don’t have to touch any surfaces which may be infected like shop door handles, etc. People laugh at me sometimes - You know what? I don’t care, because I’m doing everything in my power to protect myself. The virus lives on surfaces and in droplets when people sneeze etc.
Remember that you, as a Nation (and I count myself among you as I am also British) are an ISLAND, and this has protected you in the past from wars snd disease, but you’re not immune... This may also be one of the reasons you are a little behind in the development of the disease.😘

I reckon we've fought it off with all that high alcohol antibacterial lotion that everywhere's sold out of.

Ds is off school at moment with a nasty cough and high temp. I phoned 111 yesterday figured perhaps he ought to be tested etc but they were quite certain it wasnt coronavirus and told us to take him to the gp within 3 days.

And yet still people are on public transport coughing, sneezing and snorting without even a paper tissue to hand. I've been amazed in the last couple of years by the way nobody ever seems to use a handkerchief of any kind any more - now it's really freaking me out.

I have to travel around London this week, I have no choice about getting on trains, and I feel like telling people to at least buy a pack of tissues and cover their mouths when they spray their germs all over me. Just about every other person seems to have a streaming cold and they just sit hacking away and snorting phlegm back (sorry, tmi).

Seriously - do they not watch the news, read the papers? I suppose they don't and that's the frightening thing.

I'm in work with a minor sniffle and an annoying cough this morning. Not something I would ever usually stay away for and I have no extra risk factors re travel etc I am being careful to cough into my elbow though and I never leave home without tissues.

Yes, not people like you, Elder - I know lots of people are very aware of it, and unfortunately we’ve all still got to go to work with ordinary colds.

But there’s a definite thing of not using tissues and just sniffing/sneezing, that’s grown up in the last few years, and it’s not helpful given what’s developing now. I’ve no idea why, I was brought up to have tissues with me at all times and told off if I kept sniffing instead of blowing my nose!

I had a cold last week as well - luckily I didn’t have to be around other people too much.

See, I loathe tissues. I find paper dust really irritating, and public nose blowing embarrassing. BUT I don't use public transport much at all and usually have freedom and flexibility to manage my nose as I see fit.

I'm also one of the entirely contained sneezers, who let out a little squeak rather than a spray!

They are restricting the number of people they test by applying their strict criteria. I could prove a connection to someone travelling via Gatwick. I asked on 111 to be tested but was refused, they were quite happy to send me in to my doctor’s surgery if I wanted antibiotics though. It all seems perverse.

Would imagine numbers will start rising here soon with numbers have risen a lot in Europe though always think it would spread faster in countries where they kiss on greeting like Italy and France.

I imagine not having to pay for treatment makes a difference

Also we're an island