The Swine Flu; H1n1

[20ReedsAll]

This flu seems to be the real deal. The WHO has raised the flu's pandemic potential to level 5 out of a possible of 6! This level suggests that a pandemic is IMMINENT! There's supposedly 6 unconfirmed cases in Maryland currently being investigated. I'm freakin scared! Be careful people! Always wash your hands!

[theFRANCHISE]

It's one of those things where a lot of people laugh it off (and somewhat for good reason), but at the same time, we don't know where it ends, so it might be more serious than people think.

It killed over 100 people in Mexico, and even with the poor healthcare in that country, that doesn't mean that it can't kill people in the U.S. or other countries with similar medical advances. (Yes, the first U.S. victim died today, but it was a 23-month-old toddler originally from Mexico, so draw your conclusions there).

We've jumped from 4 cases to 10 today at the University of Delaware, and yet, administrators are hesitant to take an extra precaution and shut down the school for at least ONE DAY so as to limit the spread. They've at least cancelled large events for tomorrow night (most notably the Young Jeezy concert) per the advice of the Division of Public Health, but you'd think that they'd consider the 6 additional cases from today as fair warning for how quickly the flu can spread.

Sure, it may be as "harmless" as the common seasonal flu since it has the same symptoms, but when you've got people from different parts of the world contracting the strain within the same timeframe, you'd think that people would want to be a little more cautious. (note that I said CAUTIOUS...NOT panicky...)

[Devastat1on]

I personally dont think much of it.. Out of the 6 billion people in the world, theres less than 200 cases of it i believe. I understand its spreading worldwide and this and that and i know is not a joke. I may have the wrong mentality about it, but ill wait until it gets a little worse before i start to panic.. I think its getting a bit blown out of proportion by the media and people are taking it way too seriously..

[BirdWatcher]

I heard on the news that about 36,000 people die of the "normal" flu each year so I don't understand why they're making such a big deal out of this.

[pats767]

[quote name='Moderator 3' post='188519' date='Apr 30 2009, 05:47 AM']I heard on the news that about 36,000 people die of the "normal" flu each year so I don't understand why they're making such a big deal out of this.[/quote]
Yeah that's true, but the WHO got bored and needed something to do.

The swine flu really isn't that bad...the media blows everything out of proportion.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Moderator 3' post='188519' date='Apr 30 2009, 08:47 AM']I heard on the news that about 36,000 people die of the "normal" flu each year so I don't understand why they're making such a big deal out of this.[/quote]
But what's the numbers for the countries with better healthcare like the U.S., Canada, England, etc.? (I seriously don't know)

To be honest, the only reason why I'm concerned is because I can't afford to get sick NOW when there's a lot of stuff going on. To miss a day of school at such a crucial time would set me back significantly; the last time I had the flu a few years back, I was stuck in bed even though I wanted to get out of bed, so I'm really trying not to chance a repeat of that when I NEED to be in class with the semester winding down.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='188536' date='Apr 30 2009, 10:57 AM']But what's the numbers for the countries with better healthcare like the U.S., Canada, England, etc.? (I seriously don't know)

To be honest, the only reason why I'm concerned is because I can't afford to get sick NOW when there's a lot of stuff going on. To miss a day of school at such a crucial time would set me back significantly; the last time I had the flu a few years back, I was stuck in bed even though I wanted to get out of bed, so I'm really trying not to chance a repeat of that when I NEED to be in class with the semester winding down.[/quote]

yeah i know what you mean, at the school i'm at here, today is our last finals, so you guys should be very close to being done if your not w/ the same program as school i'm in

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Reddawn36' post='188540' date='Apr 30 2009, 11:18 AM']yeah i know what you mean, at the school i'm at here, today is our last finals, so you guys should be very close to being done if your not w/ the same program as school i'm in[/quote]
Our classes end on the 20th and finals begin the 22nd and end the 29th, so this month is VERY important even though we're pretty close to being done. Most classes may be winding down in terms of workload, but there's always those professors that have a major assignment made due in the last couple of weeks -- and that's in addition to lectures on the material to be covered on the final. So my schedule (like a lot of students' schedules) is an EXTREMELY delicate balance in this final stretch.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='188545' date='Apr 30 2009, 12:03 PM']Our classes end on the 20th and finals begin the 22nd and end the 29th, so this month is VERY important even though we're pretty close to being done. Most classes may be winding down in terms of workload, but there's always those professors that have a major assignment made due in the last couple of weeks -- and that's in addition to lectures on the material to be covered on the final. So my schedule (like a lot of students' schedules) is an EXTREMELY delicate balance in this final stretch.[/quote]


ya, mines the same way haha.... actually have a HUGE project due today along with 2 different essays... as far as my actual tests.... done with those, today is my last day

[The Deadman 2]

well, if it knocks you on your ****** youll be worried now wont ya lol

[MKdave]

[quote name='Devastat1on' post='188483' date='Apr 30 2009, 03:16 AM']I personally dont think much of it.. Out of the 6 billion people in the world, [b]theres less than 200 cases of it i believe[/b]. I understand its spreading worldwide and this and that and i know is not a joke. I may have the wrong mentality about it, but ill wait until it gets a little worse before i start to panic.. I think its getting a bit blown out of proportion by the media and people are taking it way too seriously..[/quote]

There's more than 2 and a half thousand cases in Mexico alone...

[Devastat1on]

[quote name='MKdave' post='188577' date='Apr 30 2009, 02:23 PM']There's more than 2 and a half thousand cases in Mexico alone...[/quote]

I havent been paying much attention to it.. I just remember hearing a few days ago it was around 200.. Its spreading quickly in Mexico, but thats not a surprise with the health care they have..

[MKdave]

[quote name='Devastat1on' post='188583' date='Apr 30 2009, 07:54 PM']I havent been paying much attention to it.. I just remember hearing a few days ago it was around 200.. Its spreading quickly in Mexico, but thats not a surprise with the health care they have..[/quote]

It's spreading pretty quick in the US aswell. More than 600 cases.

[Moderator 2]

Ok guys there are somethings you can do to decrease your risks, WASH YOUR HANDS through Happy Birthday 0r 20 secs, carry hand sanitizer and USE it, stay away from sick people, if someone is sniffling and snarfling keep a 6 feet distance, keep your hands away from your face. Cheap surgical masks do nothing-- the virus is so small. If you feel symptomatic get to the doctor to get Tamiflu it does work BUT you need to take it in the first 72 hrs. Incubation is 3 to 7 days. For you college guys don't share drinks, beer bongs and all that kind of stuff.

[theFRANCHISE]

So, there have been 6 more probable cases announced today at UD in addition to the 6 yesterday; and the 4 from the day before have been confirmed by the CDC and Division of Public Health as being swine flu. That brings us to the grand total of 12 probable cases and 4 confirmed cases, which equals 16 sick kids.

UD has cancelled virtually all events and large gatherings this weekend, yet they haven't cancelled classes. If a lecture hall full of 200-300 people sitting elbow-to-elbow (as is the case with most lecture hall classes) isn't a large gathering, then I don't know what is. You would think that a large room literally FILLED with people would constitute a large enough gathering, but I guess not...

My logic is, there's no real solution to the issue if people are being dirty and can't use common sense when they're sick. Therefore, cancel class for one day and advise them to stay in their dorms for the weekend. Sure, that'd mean everyone in the dorms would be at risk, but at least it's contained in ONE area for each dorm, as opposed to having the students move around to MULTIPLE buildings AND come back to their dorms sick. The idea is to limit the exposure areas, as opposed to increasing it -- wasn't that the idea behind cancelling the events to begin with?

[darklight1216]

I think the important thing to remember is this: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid!

[Moderator 2]

Don't be afraid be vigilant.

[MKdave]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='188625' date='Apr 30 2009, 10:13 PM']So, there have been 6 more probable cases announced today at UD in addition to the 6 yesterday; and the 4 from the day before have been confirmed by the CDC and Division of Public Health as being swine flu. That brings us to the grand total of 12 probable cases and 4 confirmed cases, which equals 16 sick kids.

UD has cancelled virtually all events and large gatherings this weekend, yet they haven't cancelled classes. If a lecture hall full of 200-300 people sitting elbow-to-elbow (as is the case with most lecture hall classes) isn't a large gathering, then I don't know what is. You would think that a large room literally FILLED with people would constitute a large enough gathering, but I guess not...

My logic is, there's no real solution to the issue if people are being dirty and can't use common sense when they're sick. Therefore, cancel class for one day and advise them to stay in their dorms for the weekend. Sure, that'd mean everyone in the dorms would be at risk, but at least it's contained in ONE area for each dorm, as opposed to having the students move around to MULTIPLE buildings AND come back to their dorms sick. The idea is to limit the exposure areas, as opposed to increasing it -- wasn't that the idea behind cancelling the events to begin with?[/quote]
I saw you're FB status having a bit of a rant about this. It made me laugh out loud.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='MKdave' post='188925' date='May 1 2009, 03:47 PM']I saw you're FB status having a bit of a rant about this. It made me laugh out loud.[/quote]
Honestly, I was just pissed that I paid for tickets for a couple of events this weekend that my friends are involved in (the only weekend I've been free to support them all semester long), and now, those events have been cancelled or rescheduled to weekends that I can't attend.

[plesiosaur]

[quote name='Moderator 2' post='188622' date='Apr 30 2009, 05:01 PM']Ok guys there are somethings you can do to decrease your risks, WASH YOUR HANDS through Happy Birthday 0r 20 secs, carry hand sanitizer and USE it, stay away from sick people, if someone is sniffling and snarfling keep a 6 feet distance, keep your hands away from your face. Cheap surgical masks do nothing-- the virus is so small. If you feel symptomatic get to the doctor to get Tamiflu it does work BUT you need to take it in the first 72 hrs. Incubation is 3 to 7 days. For you college guys don't share drinks, [b]beer bongs [/b]and all that kind of stuff.[/quote]

Don't share beer bongs?!?! Are you insane? What are we supposed to do all weekend?

I heard an epidemiologist say that You can also sing the first part of "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen while you wash your hands. Then you can dry them off by air-guitaring the solo.

[purple52-92-20pain]

HAHA, I live in Canada and as far as I know it is not up here. I think. And even if I do get it, our healthcare is FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MKdave]

I thought I heard the other day that there was a reported case in Canada... Maybe not.

[pats767]

[quote name='MKdave' post='189661' date='May 4 2009, 01:08 AM']I thought I heard the other day that there was a reported case in Canada... Maybe not.[/quote]
I heard that too...
Sucks to be pain

[Tighthead420]

[quote name='purple52-92-20pain' post='189583' date='May 3 2009, 08:58 PM']HAHA, I live in Canada and as far as I know it is not up here. I think. And even if I do get it, our healthcare is FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/quote]


Free??? OH...you mean taxpayer funded. (sorry mods...maybe a bit close to politics)

Anyway, reports are surfacin that Mexico GREATLY inlfated the number of deaths they had. This is no bigger a threat than every flu season every year. WAY to many panicked folks out there for no good reason.

[MKdave]

[quote name='Tighthead420' post='189717' date='May 4 2009, 07:36 PM']Anyway, reports are surfacin that Mexico GREATLY inlfated the number of deaths they had. This is no bigger a threat than every flu season every year. WAY to many panicked folks out there for no good reason.[/quote]
Or Maybe Mexico decided they were taking too big of a hit to the tourism industry there (which is huge) and now they're trying to scale it down. It happens all the time when disasters strike in less developed countries.

[Moderator 2]

Part of the problem is they have never seen this strain of flu before so they did not know how it would act and they erred to the side of safety. They developed this handy dandy alert system after the Anthrax of 2001 and it does work well. I read something earlier that it seems like only the young getting this because at least in the US, because us older people may have some immunity from something we have been exposed to in the past. Now they are going to be watching the Southern Hemisphere because as we go into Summer they are going into Winter. It still means be careful because virus have not learned how to read the calender. The US only death was not American, but he died in an American hospital.

[Moderator 2]

Part of the problem is they have never seen this strain of flu before so they did not know how it would act and they erred to the side of safety. They developed this handy dandy alert system after the Anthrax of 2001 and it does work well. I read something earlier that it seems like only the young getting this because at least in the US, because us older people may have some immunity from something we have been exposed to in the past. Now they are going to be watching the Southern Hemisphere because as we go into Summer they are going into Winter. It still means be careful because virus have not learned how to read the calender. The US only death was not American, but he died in an American hospital.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='Moderator 2' post='189784' date='May 4 2009, 06:16 PM']Part of the problem is they have never seen this strain of flu before so they did not know how it would act and they erred to the side of safety. They developed this handy dandy alert system after the Anthrax of 2001 and it does work well. I read something earlier that it seems like only the young getting this because at least in the US, because us older people may have some immunity from something we have been exposed to in the past. Now they are going to be watching the Southern Hemisphere because as we go into Summer they are going into Winter. It still means be careful because virus have not learned how to read the calender. The US only death was not American, but he died in an American hospital.[/quote]


ooh i want to pull a Code of Conduct joke so badly right now lol jk lol

[Moderator 2]

This is NOT political! I am a nurse and I don't like seeing bad info getting out there to scare people.

[purple52-92-20pain]

[quote name='Tighthead420' post='189717' date='May 4 2009, 02:36 PM']Free??? OH...you mean taxpayer funded. (sorry mods...maybe a bit close to politics)

Anyway, reports are surfacin that Mexico GREATLY inlfated the number of deaths they had. This is no bigger a threat than every flu season every year. WAY to many panicked folks out there for no good reason.[/quote]

well, im 13 so in my case its free lol