[3for3]

How bad will it be?

[mike777]

In the USA 36,000 die each year from the flu, the nonswine flu..............

[brianshark]

I suspect it is a seperate lethal but not-easily-transmittable virus that has killed those in Mexico who worked closely with pigs, and that the actual swine flu which is much more contageous and has appeared in other countries, is about as dangerous as normal flu strains.

[Hanoi5]

Why is it deadly? What's different from other flus? How do people die from it?

[G_R__E_G]

Here at work we have two people who just came back after being down in Mexico on vacation last week. Our Health & Safety department sent them home today and apparently has asked them to not come back until next week (assuming they are not ill). Seems a little over the top to me.

[mtvesuvius]

I got food poisoning yesterday night, and of course I had all the associated symptoms etc... I had all the same signs, but today, I am tired but luckily I don't have the Swine Flu (I'm still in NY, heading back to FL on Thursday). I just found it a little amusing that I got the food poisoning at nearly the same time that the Flu scare is happening.

[Winstonm]

brianshark, on Apr 28 2009, 07:46 AM, said:

I suspect it is a seperate lethal but not-easily-transmittable virus that has killed those in Mexico who worked closely with pigs, and that the actual swine flu which is much more contageous and has appeared in other countries, is about as dangerous as normal flu strains.

This is most likely a good guess. When a virus mutates to become inter-species transmittable, it usually loses some of its pathogenicity. I would guess this won't be the great killer that other viruses could be.

[mike777]

3for3, on Apr 27 2009, 07:29 PM, said:

How bad will it be?

In the past decade about ten million people have died from regular flu and in the coming decade about ten million people are expected to die from regular flu.

No doubt we can add hundreds to those numbers now from swine flu.

[kenrexford]

Am I the only one who thinks everyone has lost their collective minds recently?

I mean, I know some have. What the heck else could explain barnstorming Manhattan on Air Force One?

[mike777]

kenrexford, on Apr 28 2009, 08:33 PM, said:

Am I the only one who thinks everyone has lost their collective minds recently?

I mean, I know some have.  What the heck else could explain barnstorming Manhattan on Air Force One?

Agree this much more photo op compared to 20 million dead from regular flu....or millions from waterbording....

[barmar]

Hanoi5, on Apr 28 2009, 08:14 AM, said:

Why is it deadly? What's different from other flus? How do people die from it?

A significant difference I've heard is that it's hitting young, healthy people. Usually the people at risk from serious flu consequences are elderly or infants., that's why they get preferential treatment for vaccines.

[Al_U_Card]

mike777, on Apr 29 2009, 04:08 AM, said:

kenrexford, on Apr 28 2009, 08:33 PM, said:

Am I the only one who thinks everyone has lost their collective minds recently?

I mean, I know some have.  What the heck else could explain barnstorming Manhattan on Air Force One?

Agree this much more photo op compared to 20 million dead from regular flu....or millions from waterbording....

Perhaps if we torture the pilot to find out what their "real" plan was?

The fact that the "cases" in La Gloria, Mexico have more to do with the pig processing operations than they do with airborne pathogens.....why am I not surprised that a multi-national corporation is involved? (Smithfield Foods)

[kenrexford]

I saw that Obama is requesting something like 1.5 billion dollars to handle the Swine Flu problem.

WTF?!?!?

I mean, how much precisely will we be spending for the 20-30,000 deaths from the regular flu? Another TARP-style bill? Or, is this some nonsense created crisi to justify more money for government health care, a sort of sneak-in approach?

[luke warm]

Al_U_Card, on Apr 29 2009, 02:12 PM, said:

mike777, on Apr 29 2009, 04:08 AM, said:

kenrexford, on Apr 28 2009, 08:33 PM, said:

Am I the only one who thinks everyone has lost their collective minds recently?

I mean, I know some have.  What the heck else could explain barnstorming Manhattan on Air Force One?

Agree this much more photo op compared to 20 million dead from regular flu....or millions from waterbording....

Perhaps if we torture the pilot to find out what their "real" plan was?

The fact that the "cases" in La Gloria, Mexico have more to do with the pig processing operations than they do with airborne pathogens.....why am I not surprised that a multi-national corporation is involved? (Smithfield Foods)

yes, it'd probably be better if the gov't took over all multi natls... things would run smoother and safer and far more economically (not to mention 'greener')

[jdonn]

kenrexford, on Apr 29 2009, 02:17 PM, said:

I saw that Obama is requesting something like 1.5 billion dollars to handle the Swine Flu problem.

WTF?!?!?

I mean, how much precisely will we be spending for the 20-30,000 deaths from the regular flu? Another TARP-style bill? Or, is this some nonsense created crisi to justify more money for government health care, a sort of sneak-in approach?

Did he really request that kind of money? If so then I hope it's the last thing you say, just a trick to get more money for health care in general.

[kenrexford]

jdonn, on Apr 29 2009, 03:27 PM, said:

kenrexford, on Apr 29 2009, 02:17 PM, said:

I saw that Obama is requesting something like 1.5 billion dollars to handle the Swine Flu problem.

WTF?!?!? 

I mean, how much precisely will we be spending for the 20-30,000 deaths from the regular flu?  Another TARP-style bill?  Or, is this some nonsense created crisi to justify more money for government health care, a sort of sneak-in approach?

Did he really request that kind of money? If so then I hope it's the last thing you say, just a trick to get more money for health care in general.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...K-0nkQD97RKJ300

I found the last sentence funny. When a couple of hundred people get the sniffles, rushing to Congress for 1.5 billion dollars seems more on the side of panic. But, maybe this year only 1.5 billion dollars is "prudent" in comparison?

[Al_U_Card]

luke warm, on Apr 29 2009, 02:49 PM, said:

Al_U_Card, on Apr 29 2009, 02:12 PM, said:

mike777, on Apr 29 2009, 04:08 AM, said:

kenrexford, on Apr 28 2009, 08:33 PM, said:

Am I the only one who thinks everyone has lost their collective minds recently?

I mean, I know some have.  What the heck else could explain barnstorming Manhattan on Air Force One?

Agree this much more photo op compared to 20 million dead from regular flu....or millions from waterbording....

Perhaps if we torture the pilot to find out what their "real" plan was?

The fact that the "cases" in La Gloria, Mexico have more to do with the pig processing operations than they do with airborne pathogens.....why am I not surprised that a multi-national corporation is involved? (Smithfield Foods)

yes, it'd probably be better if the gov't took over all multi natls... things would run smoother and safer and far more economically (not to mention 'greener')

They would have to stop being owned and controlled by them first...

Whether it is in banana-republics or in your backyard, the less than reasonable corporative lack of concern is a direct function of government regulation AND ENFORCEMENT. The EPA is a prime example. Without teeth and being manipulated by the various campaign contributions of the poultry industry, the Chesapeake bay will be a "dead zone" soon enough.

http://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstori...ones-spread.php

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20...dead-zones.html

[mtvesuvius]

WTF?!?!?!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30480507/

[luke warm]

mtvesuvius, on Apr 29 2009, 04:35 PM, said:

WTF?!?!?!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30480507/

good thing egypt doesn't own all the pigs there, eh?

[kenrexford]

Well, one thing is for sure. The new globalism means that insanity is universal.

I kind of liked the idea of exporting democracy, but exporting insane panic?