Swine Flu - my thoughts

[DigiSLR]

Wow, all I see is news about Swine Flu. Yes, I am concerned, but I really think this is another case the media is sensationalizing the event.

Remember SARS, Avian flu, Mad Cow...

Hysteria and exotic-sounding disease outbreaks go hand in hand. Whether it's anthrax, mad cow disease, foot-and-mouth disease, bird flu or, going back to the 1990s, ebola—news of an outbreak generates fear that's disproportionate to the risk of catching the disease. In each of these cases deaths, if they occurred at all, were minimal

During the SARS episode, the U.S. quickly cranked itself into full freakout mode. Each of the eight U.S. patients who contracted SARS had picked up the disease in Asia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet travelers donned face masks no matter where they were flying. Pedestrians in U.S. cities followed suit. Families canceled vacations. Shoppers and diners avoided Chinatowns and Chinese restaurants like they were leper colonies. Companies scaled back their business in Asia, and then blamed bad financial results on SARS.
Cable news channels and other media sensationalized the outbreak as if it were a Hollywood movie--a real-life sequel to Dustin Hoffman's 1995 hit Outbreak. A medical historian at the University of Toronto, Edward Shorter, watched what was going on and called the phenomenon "mass psychosis."



Meanwhile, that year--and in every year this decade—between 30,000 and 50,000 American deaths were recorded from complications related to the seasonal flu. Another 40,000 people died in automobile accidents. And each year, gunshot wounds account for 30,000 deaths, around 4,000 people drown while swimming or boating and 60 people die from lightning strikes.

[ngoduyviet]

Except this time swine flu actually already killed a bunch of young healthy people and with a thousand plus suspected to be infected as well. That's a sign of a pandemic if not contained properly.

[toverman]

Just like the financial crisis: there are real issues, but hype and fear is stalling a return to normal.

Just like the financial crisis: reality knocks on your door and the economy/swine flu becomes extremely important. We're not doing anything differently, but if one of the kids comes down with flu-like symptoms we're more likely to call/visit the doctor than ride it out. And I still don't have a full-time job.

[Bella]

This is different, and while your statistics are valid, it's the difference that's scary to people. As Viet pointed out, this mutated virus is attacking and succeeding in making ill what is typically considered the "healthy" age population . . people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Most of the people who die in an average flu year have weakened or compromised immune systems. Not so with this strain.

Yes, there is a certain degree of sensationalism in the media, there always is. But I read something this morning that made sense . . .with SARS and the avian flu scare, the virus was so good at infecting and killing it's host, it didn't have a chance to spread from victim to victim. This mutated version is obviously very capable of spreading (just look at the NY school) and we don't know what, if any immunities we have because it is a combination of human and other viruses.

Is it time to panic? I don't think so. But it is time to take sensible precautions. Unfortunately, for some people, it's panic or do nothing, there is no middle ground, and the media tends to cater to that group, it seems.

Cindy

[RKEnnis]

There is definitely an element of sensationalism in the news stories. Of course, the same could be said for many items in the news.

As Viet pointed out, this flu has killed healthy people in their 30's and 40's. The global flu pandemic in 1918 did the same thing. For me this is the most disturbing aspect of this flu.

Normally flu exhibits a "U" shaped death curve - exhibiting mortality peaks in the very young and the very old. The one in 1918 exhibited a "W" shaped curve. It now seems that this flu may show a similar death curve to the one in 1918.

[Jenny Z]

We're not really going to be able to tell how bad it will be for another week or two. The hype is definitely preemptive.

[jeffkohn]

There haven't been any fatalities outside of Mexico, have there? I was under the impression none of the cases in the US were considered life-threatening so far.

[Whumbahcumba]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

There haven't been any fatalities outside of Mexico, have there? I was under the impression none of the cases in the US were considered life-threatening so far.

Last I heard there have not been.

[Jenny Z]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

There haven't been any fatalities outside of Mexico, have there? I was under the impression none of the cases in the US were considered life-threatening so far.

2 possible deaths in LA, but not confirmed yet:

http://www.ktla.com/landing_news/?Tw...903&feedID=171

[texkam]

young healthy people

I haven't heard that either. If indeed it is an unusually deadly strain then the hype is 100% justified.

I wonder how much our antiseptic, anti-germ society has contributed to resistance issues. Are our lifestyles eliminating beneficial bacteria?

[ShaneKislack]

Fear mongering to sell drugs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk

[Truckman]

A Mexican government official died from it the day after shaking hands with President Obama after his visit...Coincidence?...Ben

[darktiger]

I blame the media creating paranoia for ratings. More people die from the regular flu or on the roads of austin, and they do not hardly do anything about those....

[ka5txl]

Originally Posted by Truckman

A Mexican government official died from it the day after shaking hands with President Obama after his visit...Coincidence?...Ben

but mexico has a deadlier flu, bullet flu a known airborne pathogen.

[Whumbahcumba]

Originally Posted by texkam

I wonder how much our antiseptic, anti-germ society has contributed to resistance issues. Are our lifestyles eliminating beneficial bacteria?

I wonder how much that has affected us in general with diseases. Subjecting yourself to germs and bacteria is going to help build up your immune and defense system. Anti-bacteria is just going to weaken it, in my opinion. I'd much rather feel bad for a couple days to beef up my defenses then run the chance of getting really sick later on down the road. That, and a proper diet, are probably why I hardly ever get sick. It was a few weeks ago when I finally caught a decent cold after probably four or five years of not being sick.