Swine Flu epidemic in Mexico (and possibly US)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just came back from a trip to the ER. Not for suspected Swine Flu, but for something else. Oh boy, that place was packed, everyone was wearing masks, and most of the people were sure they had Swine flu. Oy!

I think the pollen count is really high. People who have never had allergies before have been getting them in the past two days, with sneezing, and coughing, which leads them to worry.

If people don't have a fever, aches and pains, it is really doubtful they have the flu.

[Anonymous]

Do you think my son's pet guinea pig can transmit swine flu to the family? I knew that guinea pig was bad news!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think my son's pet guinea pig can transmit swine flu to the family? I knew that guinea pig was bad news!

No.

[Anonymous]

Flu Stories: Things to Expect

With the first reported US death (a 23 month old in Texas, being announced by the President), it is perhaps helpful to put into perspective that the very young and very old are at risk from flu. This is true every flu season, where there are approximately 36K deaths per year. This is influenza. Flu spreads, just as it does every flu season. and we will hear about more cases today. Expect it. Concern, not alarm.

There will be cases in new states (possibly CT, and possibly others), and cases in new countries (Germany). CDC updates once per day, so late cases from yesterday will be listed today. The numbers don't matter. It is going to go up before it goes down. Look for geographic spread.
You will hear about schools closing (individual schools with an involved case are supposed to consider closing as per CDC guidelines.) Closing schools is relatively easy. officials will be working on the more difficult part - when to re-open.

You will hear about WHO considering changing the pandemic phase (currently at 4)

You can expect new cases to be closer to where you are, if not today than over time. This is flu. Flu spreads, people get better, then it's over (but not gone.)

Remember, you are not powerless. In addition to hand washing, covering you cough, and staying home if you are ill, you can also start to think about what to do if your local school needs to close for a few days or a few weeks. And if someone gets sick with this mild flu, can you stay home and take care of them for 10-14 days without leaving the house? If you are going to stock up on sanitizer, consider getting basic supplies you'd need to do so.

(more at link -- including links to good resources for more information.)



http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3224

[Anonymous]

Are guinea pigs related to farm pigs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are guinea pigs related to farm pigs?

Guinea pigs are rodents.

[Anonymous]

I bet islamic theocracies are happy. Pigs are evil dirty creatures and they don't keep them.

[Anonymous]

As a muslim I find the above post to be ignorant. We don't eat pork, YES! But neither do (practicing) Jews!!!

And all normal muslims (not talking fanatics) are not happy about swine flu. It's not even transmitted from eating pork.

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming (hoping) that 9:20 is joking. Also loved 7:36!

[Anonymous]

I'm very, very troubled by 9:20's intemperate post and maybe also just a tiny bit by 9:32's bringing Jews into this. It is true that as a Jew (and perhaps also as a city girl), I'm rather put off by pigs. Of course, this is the least of all of our problems re. the whole issue of many people getting sick, some of them very sick, with only the distant connection of some human somewhere having been infected by a pig at some point in the past. At this point, even though CNN insists on accompanying every story with a close-up snout shot icon, the connection to actual livestock is pretty distant, with person-person transmission as the real threat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm assuming (hoping) that 9:20 is joking. Also loved 7:36!

10:20 here- 9:20 shouldn't take such liberties with a sensitive topic. 7:36 is a comic genius.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm assuming (hoping) that 9:20 is joking. Also loved 7:36!

10:20 here- 9:20 shouldn't take such liberties with a sensitive topic. 7:36 is a comic genius.

I'm happy to report I'm both.

I'm sure there is some Islamic nutcase somewhere declaring this an infadel disease. It is simply a matter of time before this decalaration if publicized on an infadel hating website. I take such liberties with all religions,every single on of them says and does things that are absurd. Didn't Jerry Falwell blame 911 on America's moral decay? I'm equal opportunity.

I was once called an infadel by my ex-boyfriend for consuming bacon in his presence (who also thought the only thing Hitler did wrong was...well, you can fill in the blanks).

[Anonymous]

10:20 again- In that case, stick with the guinea pig gone bad jokes. Don't poke at real wounds with barbs that aren't funny.

[Anonymous]

infadel

it's infidel, sweetie

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

infadel

it's infidel, sweetie

10:20 once again... yeah, I wasn't gonna say it.