Swine Flu: U.S. declares public health emergency.

[alexmst]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/26/swine.flu/index.html

CNN) -- The United States government declared a public health emergency Sunday as the number of identified cases of swine flu in the nation rose to 20.
The declaration is part of a "standard operating procedure" that will make available additional government resources to combat the virus, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said at the White House.

Mexico City advises against kissing people, closes schools, etc.

I wonder if this will result in less hobbying here.

 

[ig-88]

are ham sandwiches ok?

 

[Cycleguy007]

are ham sandwiches ok?

Better stay away from bacon as well!

 

[anon1]

are ham sandwiches ok?

Yes, get them before they get you.

 

[herames]

Better stay away from bacon as well!

pork is Muslim Kryptonite

 

[rockl]

are ham sandwiches ok?

wasn't for Mama Cass.

 

[The LoLRus]

So I guess hobbying in Mehhico is out of the question then

 

[El Mariachi]

THE UNITED STATES. Nothing but trouble jk .. its the pigs !

 

[Aardvark154]

Just a precaution, still this has the potential to be really bad.

In 1917-1918 50 million deaths, in 1957 a million deaths, and in 1968 a million deaths.

 

[Aardvark154]

There have now been six confirmed cases reported in Canada.

 

[El Mariachi]

103 confirmed deaths in Mexico from the Swine Flu

And its spreading. Possible cases in France, Netherlands and Australia and Israel.

Canada, US and Mexico for sure.

It seems like it will get worse and possibly a world wide emergency. I say be on the safe side and be EXTRA CAREFUL.

Wash your hands very often with warm water and soap.
Cover when you sneeze.
Stay away from crowded places.

Atleast until it comes under control....

 

[CapitalGuy]

Between the Sun and AM 640 today, it was all doom and gloom. Flu pandemics normally occur about every 30 years, and the last one was 40 years ago (the '68 event that Aardvark listed). Scientists have been warning that we are due, for the past decade. The one doctor from the Ontario Government was saying that we could see one in three Canadians getting this flu, in varying degrees. Shit, I cant' remember why he said the number 53 000. It was either the number of Canadian deaths that could occur, or the number of Canadians hospitalized. Either way, when it hits, its gonna suck. This could be the biggest story of the decade. Damn.

edit. Ok I looked it up. Up to 140 000 Canadians could be hospitalized, up to 58 000 could die. These numbers are the top end of the scale (worst case). Greatest risk is, as always when it comes to the flu, kids, the elderly, and those who are alread sick with something else.

The good news they had was that tamiflu is supposed to be effective against this strain. Anyhow, the link here is a good but scary read from Health Canada.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/occup-travail/pandemic_fs-if_pandemie/influenza-grippe-eng.php

 

[DistantVoyeur]

All the cases in Canada had very mild symptoms, as have most of the people who have contracted it so far. So far just over 100 deaths, out of thousands who have shown any types of symptoms.

The good news is that it is near the end of flu season, viruses do not transmit as effectively in the warmer season.

Bizzare thing is the susceptible group seems to be early adult, where the immune system should be the strongest. Wonder if this strain uses the immune system against itself to replicate.....

 

[modprod]

Bizzare thing is the susceptible group seems to be early adult, where the immune system should be the strongest. Wonder if this strain uses the immune system against itself to replicate.....[/QUOTE]


Or the folks who were exposed to early strains or had immunizations in the late 60's and during the 70's still have some some partial immunity