Pandemic (Swine) Flu - Page 5

**Hugh** · 26-04-2009, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos23

We may as well stop all flights around the world. Lets face it the world economy is F***** already so i cant see it doing any harm.

---------- Post added at 19:32 ---------- Previous post was at 19:28 ----------

The World Health Organisation have just said that this Swine Flu strain could become more dangerous.

It's quite possible for this virus to evolve... when viruses evolve, clearly they can become more dangerous to people," said Keiji Fukuda, of the global health watchdog.

Mr Fukuda also called for international vigilance as health experts wait to see whether the virus will turn into a worldwide pandemic.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wor..._United_States

---------- Post added at 19:34 ---------- Previous post was at 19:32 ----------

6 confirmed cases in Canada now.

He also stated BBC
"The international community is better prepared than ever to deal with the threatened spread of a new swine flu virus, a top UN health chief has said.
Dr Keiji Fukuda said years of preparing for bird flu had led to improved stocks of anti-virals worldwide"

keith · 26-04-2009, 20:11

Looks like I picked the wrong week to give up smoking!

TheDaddy · 26-04-2009, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie_Bubble

*cough*

Can some one suspend his account before he infects us all, the swine

---------- Post added at 20:28 ---------- Previous post was at 20:27 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith

Looks like I picked the wrong week to give up smoking!

Looks like I picked the wrong week to give up orange juice

---------- Post added at 20:29 ---------- Previous post was at 20:28 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos23

Sorry to be such a pessimist but we are way overdue for a pandemic its a fact that one will occur very soon.

That's absolutely true sadly

fireman328 · 26-04-2009, 20:46

It would be a bummer if you were just about to switch to another ISP and got locked in to another 12 months with VM whilst dead.

Charlie_Bubble · 26-04-2009, 21:11

*sniff*

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.

RizzyKing · 26-04-2009, 21:34

Well it's good to see the internet working for the good of all with a nice dose of panic lol. Seriously this has a very very long way to go before it becomes something to worry about and as for our one poster advising people to stock up and barricade themself in well just

.

chaos23 · 26-04-2009, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

I already mentioned that it can change strain quite easily in post 6

Sorry missed that one bender.

---------- Post added at 22:29 ---------- Previous post was at 22:25 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Well it's good to see the internet working for the good of all with a nice dose of panic lol. Seriously this has a very very long way to go before it becomes something to worry about and as for our one poster advising people to stock up and barricade themself in well just

.

Well what i actually said was this:

Stock up on food, bottled water, medication. If there is a outbreak in the UK then the best you can do is stay at home.

Before this occurs though everyone should be questioning their government on what plans they have to keep this virus out of the UK. Again i ask why are flights still being allowed in and out of Mexico and then onto the UK? If you want this thing to spread thats the best way to go about it.

idi banashapan · 26-04-2009, 22:58

at this time, the biggest risk to the health service are all the people who will now think that every time they sneeze, they have swine flu and book themselves inat the doctors, meaning people who are actually ill and finding it harder to get an appointment...

**Chris** · 26-04-2009, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos23

Sorry to be such a pessimist but we are way overdue for a pandemic its a fact that one will occur very soon. I dont want it to happen, but there are things we can do rather than relying on this corrupt government.

That's just the gambler's fallacy chaos. It doesn't matter how many times you toss a coin, if you get five heads in a row the likelihood of a tail on the sixth toss is still only 50%.

There is evidence that a flu pandemic occurs on average once every 30 years, but even if we go without one for 50, 75 or 100 years, the chance of one happening this year is still only 1 in 30.

To be a little more blunt: your statements that we are "way overdue" and "it is a fact one will occur very soon" are a pile of dingo's kidneys.

TheDaddy · 26-04-2009, 23:16

It may be here

Two people have been admitted to a hospital in Scotland with flu-like symptoms after returning from Mexico.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8018887.stm

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie_Bubble

*sniff*

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.

Looks like we're all giving some thing or other up, if 1 or 2 members I can think of gave up posting, that'd be good

SMG · 27-04-2009, 00:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by freezin

Aren't the comparisons between present day flu strains and the 1918 epidemic a bit over the top? In 1918 the population had been ground down by 4 years of war, and medical treatment then wasn't what it is now.

Edit: Typo

Thats quite a good point, however, one Billion people caught the flu, this was at a time when international travel was nowhere near as common as it is today, now, millions of people roam the world freely. How would those numbers transpose today?

Flue is an airborne virus, one which mutates, foul or swine, who knows where it gets to, or who carries it. How many of us catch a cough or a chill by traveling on an aircraft, 200 people breathing the same air? What about the 500 people plodding round the cattle pens in the airports?

Come to think of it, next time I go to Spain I think I`l wear my respirator!

Local councils, emergency services regularly carry out drills, based on scenarios relating to, war, epidemics, civil uprising, etc. Areas for graves are allocated, as are buildings suitable as hospitals.

If the 1918 flu became active, & spread, then it would kill again, perhaps more than 20 million, my point is, there is no cure, for this, or any other flu virus.

lauzjp · 27-04-2009, 02:19

I'm quite worried about my brother, as he travels a lot, especially in the Americas...

I will send him an email and ask if he's been tested methinks!

TheDaddy · 27-04-2009, 06:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMG

there is no cure, for this

Yes there is, oinkment

**Damien** · 27-04-2009, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMG

Thats quite a good point, however, one Billion people caught the flu, this was at a time when international travel was nowhere near as common as it is today, now, millions of people roam the world freely. How would those numbers transpose today?

No doubt this would be countered by our far better hygiene and understanding of viruses. As well as our health being less fragile as well. So I don't think we would encounter something worse than 1918 unless the virus involved was significantly more dangerous.

**Chris** · 27-04-2009, 09:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMG

Thats quite a good point, however, one Billion people caught the flu, this was at a time when international travel was nowhere near as common as it is today, now, millions of people roam the world freely. How would those numbers transpose today?

One billion people caught the flu precisely at a time of unprecedented levels of international travel as many millions of people returned home from the Great War. Levels of malnourishment were higher and hospital treatment was less available and less sophisticated even where you could get it.

It's highly unlikely that, in the West at least, those numbers would transpose into anything like the level of death that occurred in 1918.