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Is this swine-flu threat overblown? I know they are taking precautions based on the threat of an unknown virus but is there any evidence yet that this virus is significantly more dangerous than regular flu especially in the U.S.? In Mexico the situation seems a lot worse 150 people died but do we yet have an accurate number of how many people really were affected. if its only a few thousands than 150 people out of that number is a very high mortality rate, but if the real infected number in Mexico was closer to hundreds of thousands than 150 is not that high of a number. It's always good to take precautions in case the threat really does get serious the problem is if this threat was overblown the next time something happens the public won't take it as serious. I hope they are reiterating that they are only taking precautions and that right now there isn't cause to panic so people won't get confused.
Yes, it is overblown. My friend actually works for the ADPH, and swine flu is his focus. He said it is actually a milder flu than what we last saw with the big sweep of influenza. It just spreads more rapidly. Regular handwashing and avoiding touching face/nose/mouth is good practice.
He said the schools are being very "conservative" on closing for the rest of the week. Only Heritage will be closed until May 6th. As of now, everyone else resumes Monday.
As a reference, he said 13000 people died last year in the US of the regular influenza. No one (except the Mexican child) has died in the US. The deaths in Mexico can also be attributed to their unsanitary conditions.
While chances of piggy flu killing me or my family are very very rare, I appreciate the government taking measures to avoid an epidemic. I rode a "mild" flu last month and felt like sh*t for a whole week -and I am a very healthy person-, so I am not looking forward to get infected with swine flu...even if it is a mild case.
Do the world a favor and take better care of yourself. Find out why you have the sniffles so often, what you are allergic to, if anything, and rectify it. Making light of a worldwide pandemic alert is irresponsible, at best.
Do yourself a favor and RESEARCH the actual flu rather than taking everything that is said on the news to the bank. This is not deadly. The regular human influenza is actually more serious.
Why don't you call the ADPH, CDC, or even the World Health Organization for yourself and educate yourself before coming on forums with your Chicken Little "The Sky is Falling!!!!" attitude.
COME ON! Quit bringing your facts, logic, and level-headedness into this conversation. This is a time for hysteria, panic, and mob rule. I say we take everybody with the sniffles and lock them in isolation together for a month.
Really though, this thing is way overblown. I could use a week off though.
I think the media needs a special reporter covering the seriousness of the swine flu, one who can put it into the gloom and doom and "we're ALL going to DIE!!!" perspective of the nightly news, while still maintaining a cheerful outlook.
Here is my nomination for the spokesperson and the proposed quick news story that sums up the fears:
Last edited by harry chickpea; 04-30-2009 at 12:50 PM..
Harry, did you happen to read the Chuck Lorre 'vanity card' at the end of the "Big Bang Theory" about "The Whisper Channel"?
Quote:
CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #249
More and more, it seems like people are yelling at me. This is especially noticeable on local and cable news, TV and radio ads, morning, afternoon and late night talk shows, religious channels, entertainment tabloid shows, and, NPR aside, radio. It's almost as if all the news anchors, reporters, product pitchmen, talk show hosts, politicians, sportscasters, DJ's and preachers have forgotten how good modern microphones are. Regardless, the purpose of vanity cards is not just to point out the problem, it's also to propose the solution. And here's one: The Whisper Channel. A cable news channel where everyone, including advertisers, speaks in gentle, dulcet tones. Our marketing tag line will be one word, "shhh." Instead of grinning, shouting, overly-coiffed failed actors, our news anchors will be regular folks with beautiful speaking voices who, just to be on the safe side, have been heavily sedated. Think of it. You've had a brutal day at work. Traffic on the way home was a righteous *****. You crawl into your home which is worth far less than you paid for it, and, because you want to stay informed, you turn on The Whisper Channel where a pleasant-looking woman with real hair, real nose, real wrinkles, real breasts and teeth the color of teeth, soothingly tells you about the latest terrorist attack, stock market fiasco, school shooting and, just to keep it interesting, emergency recall of the anti-anxiety meds you've been taking because they might cause impotence, blindness and insanity. But because of the way she says it, you are hunky dory.
ALTERNATE MARKETING TAG LINE:
The Whisper Channel...
...Where human civilization sliding into the abyss
is nothing to shout about.
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
for yourself and educate yourself before coming on forums with your Chicken Little "The Sky is Falling!!!!" attitude.
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