Pandemic (Swine) Flu - Page 20

SMG · 29-04-2009, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I think you're missing a much more fundamental point, which is that 'potential' and 'likelihood' are two entirely different things. The total global nuclear stockpile has the potential to cause the extinction of the human race, but the likelihood of that happening was far greater in 1962 than it is in 2009.

Thats a very well explained point. Although this virus is spreading, & has now killed outside Mexico, there is very little we can do to protect ourselves from it. Masks do help, as does cleaning, disinfecting & keeping our hands clean, but not enough to ensure complete protection.

**Derek** · 29-04-2009, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

Perhaps they'll rename it Mexican flu then.....

Some people want it changed...

Quote:

One Monday, Israel's deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman, who belongs to an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect, said the outbreak should be renamed "Mexican flu" in deference to Jewish and Muslim sensitivities over pork.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/8022340.stm

Sir John Luke · 29-04-2009, 19:19

I'm surprised it's NOT called Mexican flu. Previous pandemics were Spanish, Russian, Hong Kong. Maybe the new fashion of naming after animals is to avoid offending particular nationalities?

RizzyKing · 29-04-2009, 19:51

It's political correctness gone mad i tell ya

.

Halcyon · 29-04-2009, 20:02

So is anyone here planning on going abroad this summer going to cancel their flights ?

Peter_ · 29-04-2009, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

So is anyone here planning on going abroad this summer going to cancel their flights ?

Best not to cancel as you may lose money, wait till they say that you cannot go then you should get a refund.

**Maggy J** · 29-04-2009, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir John Luke

I'm surprised it's NOT called Mexican flu. Previous pandemics were Spanish, Russian, Hong Kong. Maybe the new fashion of naming after animals is to avoid offending particular nationalities?

It is not a new fashion..it's because the Virus has been passed from animals to humans and thence on into the human population..nothing PC about it.

**Hugh** · 29-04-2009, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

Given all the fuss there's been about bird flu and other possible flu pandemics in the last year or two, how is that protective masks are being ordered only now?

---------- Post added at 19:03 ---------- Previous post was at 19:02 ----------

Perhaps they'll rename it Mexican flu then.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir John Luke

I'm surprised it's NOT called Mexican flu. Previous pandemics were Spanish, Russian, Hong Kong. Maybe the new fashion of naming after animals is to avoid offending particular nationalities?

Consider yourself unsurprised.....

It's Political Correctness gone sane, I tell you!

Linky

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the most recent research on swine flu has shown that the virus is not caused by pigs. The disease is now being referred to as Mexican flu or "2009 H1N1 flu". The WHO has moved the pandemic alert from four to five, the second highest. The first case of what was called swine flu was reported in Mexico and its first fatality was confirmed there two weeks ago.

The 23-month-old infant who died in the US state of Texas, in the first fatal case from the swine flu outbreak in the United States, was also Mexican. The child came from Mexico to Houston for medical treatment, officials said."

chaos23 · 29-04-2009, 20:34

They are raising the pandemic level to 5.

**Hugh** · 29-04-2009, 20:38

Ahem - note the post above yours......

And for further clarification, here are the levels defined

"Phase 1 no viruses circulating among animals have been reported to cause infections in humans.

In Phase 2 an animal influenza virus circulating among domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infection in humans, and is therefore considered a potential pandemic threat.

In Phase 3, an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people, but has not resulted in human-to-human transmission sufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks. Limited human-to-human transmission may occur under some circumstances, for example, when there is close contact between an infected person and an unprotected caregiver. However, limited transmission under such restricted circumstances does not indicate that the virus has gained the level of transmissibility among humans necessary to cause a pandemic.

Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.” The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic. Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way."

Osem · 29-04-2009, 20:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek S

Some people want it changed...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/8022340.stm

Now why doesn't that surprise me?......

**Hugh** · 29-04-2009, 21:28

To be fair, he is an ultra-orthodox Israeli Jew - if anyone was going to be offended, I would have put money on that classification.....

**Derek** · 29-04-2009, 21:30

I'll start getting worried when it goes to 11.

On a more serious note does anyone know what the previous 'We're all going to die' outbreak of SARS was rated at?

---------- Post added at 21:30 ---------- Previous post was at 21:29 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwar

To be fair, he is an ultra-orthodox Israeli Jew - if anyone was going to be offended, I would have put money on that classification.....

At least he hasn't called for it to be renamed Gaza Flu and started suggesting the only way to eradicate it is to napalm Gaza.

Yet...

Raistlin · 29-04-2009, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek S

I'll start getting worried when it goes to 11.

On a more serious note does anyone know what the previous 'We're all going to die' outbreak of SARS was rated at?

I think it was rated at 21.2 on the official 'Oh my God we're all doomed due to an evil virus released by <Insert Dictatorship Here>' scale as produced by 'Which Consipracy Monthly' magazine

**Matt D** · 29-04-2009, 21:33

Masks are for wusses. I'm gonna order one of these: