to think that if the media didn't make a big drama out of swine flu there'd be a lot less hysteria?

[spicemonster]

You're as likely to die from swine flu as you are from ordinary flu according to Professor Azra Ghani, an epidemiologist at Imperial:

"Our best estimate, based on the cases that come to the health system is around 1 in 200 (deaths) at a maximum which is very similar to the estimate you would see for seasonal influenza but that doesn't take into account many of those milder infections where individuals may stay off for a few days or not display any symptoms at all."

So not very likely at all. And yet we have people jamming NHS Direct lines, flooding their GPs' surgeries and hysterically avoiding wedding/M&T groups/any other group occasion.

Now, while I want to shout 'get a grip' at them, AIBU to think that the media hysterically reporting that someone has died is massively contributing to this mass panic? If they reported every single death from flu every winter, there'd be just as much panic, surely.

It makes me really, really cross.

It is unnecessary mass hysteria.

And it achieves nothing. There is nothing we can do to prevent the spread of swine flu. Nothing. We cannot avoid catching it. So worrying about doing so achieves nothing.

I had "normal" flu last December. I was very ill for 3 weeks (the recovery was longer). That's worries me personally about swine flu, I am frightened of being so ill again as it really knocked me about and affected family life. (also I would worry about dd2 who is only 2 next month)

wannaBe you are right. No point in worrying.

yes, that's true onepiece. Though I did not move with normal flu for 3 days, even after that, it took about a week to leave the house and another couple of weeks (I reckon about 3) till I started feeling normal again. It was absolutely hideous.

Let's hope it stays as a mild flu (swine flu) and most of us get it that way.

I was horribly, horribly ill with Beijing flu - I don't think I've ever felt worse in my life. On the other hand, my 8 YO nephew was sent home from school last Wednesday, massively high fever Thursday which didn't come down with drugs, by Friday he was weak but improving and back to school on Monday. Could have been swine flu. Could have been AN Other nameless virus. It's just the drama that I find so wearing.

I think the issue re people with underlying health conditions is difficult though. Fact is, if you don't have underlying health conditions it is you are unlikely to die. Only one of the 29 people who have died did not have underlying health conditions.

That of course doesn't mean that those with health conditions aren't people too, but perhaps is more emphasis was placed on care and treatment for those who do have other problems, those who don't wouldn't be wound up into such a frenzy, and the nhs could concentrate on treating those who genuinely need treatment, rather than handing out tamiflu basically to anyone who wants it.

Comparing the main news in the Uk and in France shows the vast difference in the way it is being treated by the media.

Here in France there was NO mention of it today. In the UK it's the main headline and it goes on and on and on. The amount of reassurance they feel they need give is enough to panic anyone...

YANBU.

Thankyou

I had 'normal' flu in November 08 and it was very very difficult.

I am remotely worried about swine flu atm, though we've just had a letter from dd's school announcing their first case - and guess what, she's one of dd's closest friends. Even so, I am getting fed up with people turning up on the doorstep insisting on reassuring me. I'M NOT BOVVERED OK?*

• yet

Meant, of course, I am not remotely worried ....

I am worried about swine 'flu. I am asthmatic and have spent time in hospital (up to a week) because of asthma and subsequent lung complications just as a result of ordinary colds. I am more worried about swine flu than normal flu because I am vaccinated against normal flu every year. I will continue to worry about swine flu until the vaccination is available and offered to me. I would rather not die.

I hope people worry enough about it to follow the health advice about how to avoid spreading it. I have seen many people not following the advice.

And I got the correction wrong. I give up.

This is a wonderful thread.

Have been trying not to panic as I am pregnant and have a two year old with a wheezy chest (he develops bronchiloitis when he has a bad cold, but it is not serious enough for ongoing treatment, just an inhaler when he is sick.)

It's a good job we've stopped worrying about terrorists.

Please excuse my post, but i have tried talking to my DH and he says i am being silly. I am 33 and have one 11 month old boy. I know all the statistics say that only a small percentage of cases are fatal and i know i am being irrational but i am petrified that my little boy will get sick. I just couldn't cope if something happened to him. As a new mum, perhaps the more seasoned of you could let me know the best way of coping with such anxiety. Thanks

There was something on the news last night Nigella coincidentially about how this flu posed more of a threat than terrorists.

I'm not particularly worried being of the persuasion that if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen.

I only found out a couple of days ago that we had a big flu where 000s of people died in 1999/00. Somehow that piece of history escaped me.

The media blows everything out of proportion.

However, if it does follow the 1918 flu (which they are beginning to believe it may) it's not the immunne suppressed and the old and really young will get it. The major casualities of it were 25-40 years olds. Why? Because their immune system was that strong it went into overload and killed them.

Jemli

Follow the Government's health advice. I worry less if I have done everything that I can do to reduce the risk. For example, do you have a 2 weeks worth of food in the house in case you or your son become ill?

I try and only worry about the parts of the problem that are within my control.

yanbu

i take (lots of) immunosupressant drugs and am an infectious disease epidemiologist who worked on sars.

h1n1 will/won't infect me/those i work to care for. it will/won't kill me/them. that's life and death. am positively cheery it's such a well behaved virus tbh. and being properly can't get out of bed ill and recovering is usually good for the soul, as i'm finding.

i often think the worried well just enjoy having something to worry about. i guess life really lacks drama nowadays otherwise.

MillyR - Thanks for that advise. I do tend to keep well stocked up on baby milk/food and do try to keep everything disinfected etc as per guidelines. I know my fear is irrational, as before swine flu i would worry about silly things like i would trip and fail down the stairs whilst carrying the baby. Stupid i know.

stings - tbh I'm more inclined to believe that the huge number of deaths in 1918 were due to the poor health conditions around WWI. Many of those 'healthy young men' in the 25-40 bracket probably spent months fighting in the trenches. Also, there were no antibiotics to treat the dangerous complications of the flu such as pneumonia. Of course gloom and doom and death make much better headlines though....

Jennii, just enjoy him, do what your family think is ok to provide for yourselves

try visualisation 101. when you are cycling worries around in your head, look at them straight, acknowledge how terifying it all is take a deep breath, close your eyes and try:

imagine the scary thoughts as a large crushing boulder you can push away from you (sometimes uphill, but just do it, you're strong)

or dig an imaginary moat around a sunny island you sit on with him, and imagine yourself turning on the sluice gates to wash away any encroaching worries.

practice and elaboration can make perfect of these, until you just shrug things off rather than spending mental energy on it. also, sod's law will be you worry about flu, then something will come along and give you an actual problem and once you've dealt with that you'll feel better in future about uncontrollable threats to you family

No disrespect meant MillyR (and I do know that's gvmt advice) but seriously - 2 weeks' food stock? That just seems a bit melodramatic to me.

Jemli - if your DS is in good health he's going to be fine, even if he does get it. My DS got bronchiolitis when he was 9 months old. He was blue, rushed to hospital in the middle of the night, put in isolation for a week, put on oxygen and fed by NG tube. Have a look at his photo on my profile. He's in rude health now. I'm not saying it wasn't scary and I wouldn't wish for anyone to go through that but my point is that even if your DS gets it, he is very likely indeed to make a full and complete recovery. And to be brutally honest, he's more likely to be killed when you're in the car.

sorry. jemli

MillyR - Have just read your previous post about your asthma. I am sorry to hear about that, but just as you encouraged me I would say that up until about 2 years ago I was a really chronic asthmatic and like you spent much time in hospital (even died for a few minutes as a child). However since moving to a farm believe it or not (animals, grass, hay, oilseed rape, all the bad triggers etc), i have virtually grown out of it. Maybe it was an age thing, or even the hormonal changes with pregnancy, but now it has virtally gone. Ventolin lasts for months now and can even leave house without it. I hope you have the same luck as i had.

LeninGrad - there's a whole topic??? Even MN has succumbed