H1N1 or Swine Flu

[gb70]

The news reported that it was a 23 month old. Most deaths that occurred in Mexico City was from healthy adults between 20-50 years of age. Chances are that they did not seek medical attention before it was too late if at all. However, the immune system is strongest in this age group.
Since this is a new strain the CDC and the WHO are very concerned. They just don't know how strong this strain is.

[SBR]

I am hopeful that with the summer months coming that the virus will go dormant until this fall at which time a vaccine should ready for use.

[rubbinisracing]

I think this is way overblown. Just like the local newscast when dark thunderstorms are in the forecast. Your TV meteorologist gets a "weather weenie" and wants his time in the spotlight. With the hundreds of hours of news programming on television each day you've got to fill it with something. A warning to stay out of Mexico, and some advice on washing your hands and/or using hand sanitizer would be sufficient. Closing schools and stoping UIL sports is an overreaction IMO.

[DarrenX33]

Nuclear war, bird flu, metorite, terrorist attacks, the economy and swine flu. All viable causes for mass death? How bout mass death from panic? In the end that's how we'll all go.

[Mr BB Chevy]

Critical Swine Flu prevention tip:


Don't do this!

*
*
*
*
*
*
*

[gb70]

Seriously though, not that I believe that this situation is blown out of proportion, nor do I think that the sky is falling and we are all gonna die, but this is a very serious pandemic. Watch, as it spreads this will not be a joking matter.

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]
Nuclear war, bird flu, metorite, terrorist attacks, the economy and swine flu. All viable causes for mass death? How bout mass death from panic? In the end that's how we'll all go.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or maybe suicide because we're tired of listening to this crap!

[COPO 70 RS/Z28]

As I understand this the current strain is swine which is relatively mild due to the fact that it is a non human strain and it is not as adaptive to a human host. If this virus circulates long enough to combine with a human strain of flu virus which commonly emerges in the fall the two can combine and form a highly aggressive virus which is very adaptive to a human host. This is the pattern which caused the flu pandemic of the early 1900's.

[gb70]

That was the Spanish Flu of 1918 that did just that and killed about 5% of the total population of the world between 1918 and 1920. It is believed to be a distant cousin of the virus today but thought to be not as deadly.

[Mr BB Chevy]

The media frenzy surrounding the swine flu has sent people into mass hysteria. Sales of facemasks are ramping up, and antibacterial cleansers are flying off grocery store shelves in record numbers. But the fact is, it's difficult—if not impossible—to get an accurate handle on the real impact of the swine flu.


The news media is reporting skyrocketing cases in Mexico, but the figures are unreliable—and the number of laboratory-confirmed cases is small in comparison to suspected cases. As of today (April 30, 2009), there has only been one reported death in the U.S.—a toddler from Mexico in Texas.


Yet, the World Health Organization immediately issued health alerts. The U.S. government, after just 20 cases of swine flu and no deaths, declared a public health emergency. And President Obama is calling for billions of dollars to stockpile drugs, monitor the disease, and help with international efforts.


This high level of panic is reminiscent of the 1976 swine flu debacle. As you may remember, several army recruits at Ft. Dix, NJ, got swine flu and one died (after a strenuous, five-mile, overnight hike). Yet, the government rushed into a nationwide vaccination program. All told, 45 million Americans were vaccinated at a cost of $135 million. Shortly thereafter, Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralyzing neurological disorder, cropped up in hundreds of the vaccinated people. Meanwhile, the swine flu epidemic never materialized.


The role of the drug companies


The truth is, our government has been preparing for a global flu pandemic for years, stockpiling medications and working on new vaccines.


Obviously, this is a windfall for the companies that manufacture these drugs. Their profit potential is enormous, yet their accountability is limited. Thanks to government intervention, any claims of injury caused by vaccinations must be filed through the Federal Court of Claims, which will require years of bureaucratic red tape. Furthermore, individuals can only sue if they have proof that a vaccine manufacturer did intentional harm.


So, what can you do to protect yourself?


The first step is not to panic. All of this media hype is doing far more harm than good. In reality, run-of-the-mill flu is likely more dangerous and deadly than the swine flu. Don't believe me? According to the Center for Disease Control, 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized each year with regular flu and 36,000 die from related complications. Despite the hype, the swine flu is behaving much like the regular flu—and most cases in the U.S. have been "mild."


Your best defense is to stay healthy. Eat a good diet, exercise, and get enough sleep. Practice scrupulous hygiene by washing your hands regularly. Keep your distance from people who have symptoms—and if you're sick, do everyone else a favor and stay home.


I also recommend that you make a point to bolster your immune system. Take a good daily multivitamin and mineral supplement, along with extra vitamin D (2,000-5,000 IU/day) and vitamin C (a minimum of 1,000mg/day). You may also want to consider using immune-boosting products.


Folks, there's no reason to panic. Of course, you should seek medical care if you need it, but for most, preventive measures should work just fine.


To your health,


Julian Whitaker, MD