The swine flu racing across the world is an H1N1 strain, the same strain that killed 50 million in the 1918 pandemic.
On April 29th, the CDC raised the alert to phase 5, indicating a pandemic is imminent. However, they also indicate the current virus is susceptible to common flu antivirals. There is no available vaccine. As of 10:30 this morning EDT, 109 cases and one death have been reported in the United States.Here is what you need to know.
Here is what history has shown us.
Wash your hands people. Everyone. Everywhere. Wash Your hands.
Much more likely to be yet another case of overblown hyped up scaremongering ala SARS, WNV, Avian Flu and the rest of them.
ReplyDeleteThese scares are not without considerable harm and not just a case of "better safe than sorry".
Schools have been closed, events cancelled, pigs slaughtered, Mexico's economy decimated, etc.
I'm reminded of Swine Flu '76 where 1 person died of the Swine Flu and something like 20 or 40 died from the hastily constructed vaccine.
More recently - how about the tainted tomatos that weren't?
Yes, I'm still mad about them taking the tomato out of my Whopper!
Someone needs to get a grip, I've yet to see evidence that this particular flu strain requires this level of attention. If you have concrete evidence to the contrary, please share.
I was disappointed to see you jump on the sensationalist bandwagon with that header, Happy, you being a medical professional and all.
ReplyDeleteI doubt, general lifestyle have improved in the last century, and health care have improved too.
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