Swine flu funnies

[Sidoh]

We're prepared, but not this prepared. If the infection rate gets really terrible, then very few nations are even equipped to handle such a disaster.

It's a fucking flu! Like the flu last year. Lets say hypothetically the infection rate gets amazingly large: There's a lot of people with the flu.

Again, the typical flu symptoms are not the only symptoms caused by flu viruses.  It seems you're assuming that you know more about epidemiology and pathology than you really do.

Cytokine storm is a good example of why Influenza viruses can be really nasty.

I'm quite familiar with that outbreak.

I really don't think it's reasonable to compare our knowledge and methods for handling a flu on an individual basis to those of 1918. People were dying from dehydration, that doesn't really happen anymore in America.

I don't think dehydration was what caused all of the deaths.  Certainly it was a contributor, but I think it caused an over-reactive immune system as well.  I think Influenza can cause a variety of symptoms beyond the mildly obnoxious ones like vomiting, diarrhoea, etc.

Regardless of the cause of death, the 1918 pandemic infected up to 50% of the population.  I'm not an epidemiologist, but I think that alone is a pretty serious cause for concern.  Don't viruses mutate pretty quickly?  Doesn't this mean new, more serious symptoms could arise because of this?

I think it'd be foolish to prepare for a disaster right now, but it'd be even more foolish to not take steps that prevent one.

I wasn't suggesting that everyone died of dehydration, I was just suggesting that our knowledge of how to handle a flu has gotten considerably better over the years.

This virus is as prone to mutation as last year's flu, and I would think a very large portion of the population got last year's flu.

It is, but if it becomes as virulent as the 1918 strain, there will be a lot more infected people on hand.  Again, I think you're assuming you know more about pathology/epidemiology/virology than you really do.

[Warrior]

yes, it's just the flu, until the number infected exceed the number of vaccines / treatment we have on hand, or the number we're able to deliver in a timely fashion.

theres only so much tamiflu, but hey, let's not prepare at all right?

[Towelie]

I would like to point out that there is yet to be an American death

[rabbit]

I would like to point out that there is yet to be an American death

But there has been a death in America.

[Sidoh]

I would like to point out that there is yet to be an American death

Again, this isn't relevant.  It's under control right now, but it's not impossible that this changes.  This is exactly why the WHO is being so cautious.

Sure, it's probably not inaccurate to call it an overreaction, but it's still prudent to be cautious.

[iago]

I would like to point out that there is yet to be an American death

Again, this isn't relevant.  It's under control right now, but it's not impossible that this changes.  This is exactly why the WHO is being so cautious.

Sure, it's probably not inaccurate to call it an overreaction, but it's still prudent to be cautious.

From here:
"Dr. Embarek warned that it is important, though, not to become complacent, noting that the 1918 pandemic started mildly in the spring, then returned with a deadly vengeance in the fall."

[Sidoh]

An excellent video on this issue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W57pnVhEhjU