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Are people really so ignorant that they panic over nothing? Do they really buy into the hype of the news item de jure? Do they not look at statistical significance and probability in order to make logical decisions?
This swine flu "outbreak" is about to get on my last nerve. Let me give you some really scary numbers ... are you ready? Just know that there is something out there lurking ... waiting to infect you ... in fact ...
- Since January, more than 13,000 have died of complications from it
- The worldwide annual death rate is estimated between 250,000 and 500,000
- It resulted in no fewer than 800 related deaths were reported in any week between January 1 and April 18 2009
Let's compare that to current swine flu numbers, shall we?
- Worldwide death rate - 160 (although I saw a "projected" death rate in the U.S. of 1,700)
- 65 confirmed cases in the U.S.
So, what are those top number? They are the current data as reported by the CDC for SEASONAL FLU! This is not an exercise in rocket science people, but rather an exercise in common sense.
Yesterday, there was a flier sent home from the school district regarding the precautions they have put in place to combat a swine flu outbreak in the local schools. They have placed a temporary ban on all student contact - no hugs - no high fives - no physical education components that might result in bodily contact. Any infraction will result in disciplinary actions. Right ... disciplinary actions for a high five. Go ahead. Call me at work and tell me Cam is serving in-school suspension for a high five.
Listen ...
Take a deep breath ...
Be logical ...
Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough (do we really need to remind people to do these things?) ...
And OINK when you sneeze! Humor is a critical component of common sense recovery!
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31 comments:
36,000 Americans died of the flu last year...the same number as car wrecks.
LOL @ the last line. I am sick of this crap too. We live in TX so the border to Mexico is so close they are flipping out. I have a close friend in Mexico who had to put schooling on hold because of it. It is 'hog' wash...
People just need to use common sense. However I do not think we need to look far to see how rare common sense is.
2 people in my town were tested for Swine Flu. One of the people - who actually happens to be in fantasy baseball league - had been in Mexico City 2 weeks ago and now he is sick.
Regardless, I think it is like anything else. It can potentially hit the young, the old and the sickly. I don't like to think I fall into any of those groups, so I don't panic.
I agree with the comments on panicking. But...
What if in 1918 we knew what we do now about influenze transmission? Would 10 of millions of people died worldwide? Keep in mind that the strain of swine flu is the exact same one that caused the 1918 pandemic.
I wonder if NY Diva and her public health background will see this post. I love to read her thoughts on the topic.
Okay, I commented already but I don't see it. Blogger is putting up two comment screens again.
I'm with you, I am so sick and tired of hearing about this. It's all over the freaking news, all the time. And what's really scary are the numbers you posted. I knew people died from the flu all the time, but I certainly didn't know it was that many! And only one person (baby) has died in the US so far and now every one is scared. I think the news just needs fillers. It's pathetic how they use something like this to scare people.
*rolls eyes*
Just wash your hands, people.
C stole my hogwash comment.
Are you going to keep your head in the sand like that?!? Don't you see? It's the end times, also known as THE APORKALYPSE!
It would be really helpful, if at times like these, we have a media in this country that wasn't all "EVERYBODY PANIC. WE'RE ALL GONNA DIEEEEEEE!!!!! HELLLLLLLLP! I WANT MY MOMM-EEEEE!"
Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Just good old common sense practices. The issue with the new flu is that we don't have a good vaccination for it yet. Lucky for us we have the best doctors and medical facilities in the world.
Hammer, I only wish that those numbers would put everyone in a panic so they would stay out of their cars ... especially the ignorant ones!
C, I just cannot get over how the media has so sensationalized this story, and how many Americans have not only bought into the panic, but escalated it!
Karen, and I could get hit by a taxi cab in downtown Chicago, but I use common sense to avoid it!
Hubman, and keep in mind that it is 2009, not 1918. Health care is FAR better, we ARE aware of how viruses are spread and the probability of this being a pandemic in the U.S. is next to ZERO. I'm just waiting for the far right wackos to start claiming the Taliban sent it here!
Bina, it's all about the ratings - the more fear we have, the longer we'll stay glued to any media source that we think might be able to "save" us.
Real Live Lesbian, I really think the most idiotic thing in all of this is that we need to remind people to cover their maouth when they sneeze and cough, and to wash their hands. Hello?
k. allegory, APORKALYPSE ... BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Jay, no kidding, huh? We can't hear news like this and be calm, logical thinkers. Noooo! We must PANIC!!!
doomed, we don't have a good vaccination for ANY flu! This is no different than the struggles we face every year in trying to come up with a vaccine for the "projected" flu virus each flu season.
TamiFlu is very effective in easing the symptoms and shortening the span of most flu strains, but this thing (N1H1) while annoying and sadly lethal, is as you point out, less lethal at this time than the typical Influenza A virus.
But as we all know, with the advent and perpetuation of 24/7 Cable News outlets, ratings must be increased!! Cheers!!
A lot has to do with the fear of the many people who died in Mexico recently...BUT...compare the healthcare between Mexico and the U.S. This is another strain to me - nothing more. And the people who do have the swine flu (which they are now going to call it something more scientific because they don't want people to stop eating pork, the carcinogens alone will kill ya off) are mild cases!!! I mean, milder than which the seasonal influenza has. I think the media went overboard and the schools shut down over a new strain that seems to be a "pandemic", ---much like the common cold. Do people get common colds around the world?
;)
Loved this post! THANK YOU for putting it out there.
I think you missed my point. And again, I'm not defending the media-fueled over-reaction to a few cases.
Part of health care being care better is on the preventive end of disease transmission, not just treatment.
That's all I was trying to say.
Ha...Your comment to Hubman is funny and an example of foreshadowing.
MiHell Malkin, Glenn Beck and a couple of GOP reps have already said..."Isn't it time to secure our borders? We have Swine Flu from Mexico now!!"
While we should have secure borders, I don't think American travellers to Mexico bringing the flu back with them is an illegal immigration problem. Cheers!!
Matt-Man, in reality, I am not surprised at the media attention - what scares me is that I see so many people blindly following the panic!
Deb, My chances of getting trichinosis from the pork chop I ate last night are likely greater than me being touched by the N1H1 strain (swine flu is so much easier to remember!) You are right - it's just another viral strain of the flu that crept in!
Hubman, actually, I think we missed each others points because I think we are saying the same thing ... just from different perspectives!
Matt-Man, now! Don't be dissin' my buddy Glenn! Maybe we should just stop everyone from entering AND leaving the U.S. And no more Spring Break flings in Cancun!! I'm so glad step-son went to South Padre Island for Spring Break!
Travel American is my new slogan!!
I would congratulate you on a grand post, but that might involve a high-five or even a hug...and well, no high-fives or hugs since I do not want in-school suspension
Common sense is a rarity these days unfortunately. I've been loving how they have been pounding into our heads about MAKING SURE to wash our hands and cover our mouths. Eww...people should be doing that anyways not *JUST* bc of this scare?!!?
LOL @ your last sentence.
I feel exactly the same as you do! Bravo for stating it so well. :-)
I always think cover-up. Whilst the news is filled with panic-inducing scares about pandemics, I instantly wonder about what news ISN'T being covered.
A nation in a state of fear is one amenable for coercion.
I watched the CDC press conference. They touted sending out 25% of the anti-flu drug from the national stockpile...and THEN said that we have no drug that fights this strain of swine flu...or H1N1 as it is now called.
My take away from the CDC was that I should eat bacon.
thank god.
I have to be honest Dana.. When our "esteemed" governor of Washington State made a public announcement letting us know that they way to combat this "epidemic" is to wash your hands and cover your mouth when coughing, I nearly threw my shoe through the TV screen.
Really, as long as folks practice contact precautions, you'll have this stuff beat down.
Now, if you could only explain to the mentally challenged what contact precautions are, then we'd really be in business!
Interesting comments on this today. My govenor has declared a state of emergecny and our local colleges have post poned graduation this weekend as well as other public gathering events. I don't know if that is warranted; I personally think it is a bit premature, but at the same time appreciate the caution. I am on the border and the locals are going nuts over this on both sides. And it amazes me that so many people think it's not safe to eat pork. I'll have a BLT please..
Bond, sing along with me ... can't touch this ...
Vixen, I'm wondering if people really need the reminder to wash their hands, or if it's just the medias way of saying there's really not much you can do ... or NEED to do!
Evil Twin's Wife, how sad that we've become a nation that can be thrown into a panic over a 15 second sound bite!
Leonhart, now that's a rather terrifying thought!
katherine, yes, eat bacon - lots and lots of bacon!
Jormengrund, the fact that we *have* to define contact precautions is disturbing enough! Hmmmm ... I wonder if we can direct this flu strain to just those people??
snugs, if people would just consider these actions as precautionary instead of life threatening, I'd be just fine with it all, but the complete sense of impending doom is starting to get to me!
ha ha! i bitched about the swines also this week.
well said hun
This whole swine flu has been blown way out of proportion and they have closed schools in our area too.
How hard is it for people to just wash their hands?
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