Swine flu "possible pandemic" in TX? (Houston, San Antonio: skateboarding, credit)

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by youngthinker

swine flu is just a stronger version of the regular flu. take some zinc to up you immune system and your good. nothing to really worry about

Actually swine flu is a different strain than human seasonal flu.

Having a good immune system is a liability with a pandemic flu..it hits the young and healthy the hardest..just the opposite of seasonal flu.

[()_T]

Newest Case of Swine Flu in Texas, From Ft.Bend County

HOUSTON - Officials have confirmed that a Fort Bend County resident has contracted the swine flu.

Officials at the Health and Human Service building in Fort Bend County are scheduled to discuss the details of the case during a news conference around 7:30 p.m. Check back with MyFoxHouston.com for the latest details.

So far, a total of 16 cases have been confirmed throughout Texas, including eight in Guadalupe County, three in Dallas County, two in Starr County, one in Cameron County and one in Fort Bend County.

Earlier this week, a 23-month-old boy from Mexico died at Houston's Texas Children Hospital from the strain.

In this U.S., the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed at least 139 cases in New York, California, Maine, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan and
Nevada.

Fort Bend Resident Contracts Swine Flu | Houston weather, traffic, and news | MyFoxHouston.com | FOX 26

Im wearing a Mask and Gloves tomorrow, seriously.

[Jammie]

WHO notches up swine flu pandemic alert - Swine flu- msnbc.com

They've actually kicked it up a notch.

The problem with this is that it really isn't just the Swine Flu. It's a mixture of Aviary, Swine, Human, and something else that I can't remember right now. I think they're still trying to figure out why there are so many deaths in Mexico and why the victims in the U.S. are surviving. The last I heard on CNN was that they're not even so sure that it originally came from the Smithfield Farms Hog Operation in Mexico. The first little boy who got it doesn't seem to have had a connection to the hogs there other then the fact that they were near his village.

[case44]

I've got a friend who is taking a business trip for a couple of days in Mexico, so I hope nothing happens to him by the time he gets back here. I left him a message the other morning warning him of what was then a "possible" outbreak. Now, said outbreak has become a huge reality.

[ILikeSmartHippies]

"This whole thing is so blown out of proportion it isn't even funny anymore." -- WRONG... SARS was a very very serious issue too, and so is this swine flu. There is a very big problem in the world right now regarding viruses.. and lack of antibiotics or antivirals to treat them if they mutate (viruses easily become immune to them by mutating and then there is no treatment at all! You catch it, you have big problems!). It is very sketchy business, in many ways more dangerous than the paranoia we grew up with in the "nuclear bomb threat" age (cuba scares, russia scares, etc) -- because a virus could cause big problems for the entire globe, and there is no way to disarm it! So educate yourself please, before you go off telling everyone "oh don't worry about it, it's just sensationalism".

That is why there is such a rush to try to "contain" any cases, as rapidly as possible. If it gets too widespread, then it possibily mutates again, to something even more threatening - and there is zero defense for that.

[TexasNick]

financial crisis + high unemployment + swine flu scare = best time to invest in stocks and real estate

[Kibby]

Originally Posted by Jammie

WHO notches up swine flu pandemic alert - Swine flu- msnbc.com

They've actually kicked it up a notch.

The problem with this is that it really isn't just the Swine Flu. It's a mixture of Aviary, Swine, Human, and something else that I can't remember right now. I think they're still trying to figure out why there are so many deaths in Mexico and why the victims in the U.S. are surviving. The last I heard on CNN was that they're not even so sure that it originally came from the Smithfield Farms Hog Operation in Mexico. The first little boy who got it doesn't seem to have had a connection to the hogs there other then the fact that they were near his village.

There are three types of flu - type A, type B & C. Type A is the serious one (they are all "swine") because the pig is a giant mixing machine that different types can mix together and then "occasionally" pass to humans. Normal flu is passed from human to human - it is only the pig that can mix the avian to human. It's called "swine" because the pig is the pot it's mixed in. The normal flu virus (type B) is just passed from human to human and still manages to kill (as mentioned before) over 30,000 people annually.

The thing is ... that 30,000 death rate is normal during flu season (this is not flu season), AND it's mostly the very young and the elderly. That's not what this is doing. The average age so far is 16 years old but most of those killed are 20-45. That's an anomaly and typical of a Type A event. A vaccine can not be produced for a flu virus (any type) without an actual sample of the flu. They are working on it now. The anti virus medications we have seem to work on this particular flu once you have it AND can get treated in time. It's now taking between 24-48 hours to get back the test results from the CDC ... that's too long and it's why this is "jumping" everyday. Lot's more or sick with it but the "tests" are not back.

The normal flu shot that is given to children and the elderly is a "best guess" vaccine. They don't really know for sure how well it will protect but the odds are good that it will do a decent job. It's actually lucky that this has hit at this time of the year - they will probably have a good vaccine by normal flu season.

It's normal for these outbreaks to be the most serious in the beginning and for it to subside some as it progresses. Think is terms of a hurricane - it's worse when it hits land and then it still dumps a lot of mess but not as bad as it disperses. The virus can evolve (not good) and it's a sure thing that those in Mexico (as well as here) would have thought they had a normal flu or cold and not have bothered with a doctor until it had progressed.

There are carriers for these flu viruses that never actually come down with the flu - they just spread it to others. Anyone who thinks this is "normal" is simply refusing to recognize what is happening. The World Health Organization raised the threat level to a 5 today. That is one mark short of a world wide pandemic ... they rarely do that. The first cases were all tied to Mexico in some way - cases were reported in Europe that had contact with the USA but not with Mexico. It's important to remember that (if they are correct) this all started in a Mexican village of 3000 people in the countryside a month ago. Look where we are now and how widely it's spread.

On the up-side ... Rick Perry (not one of my favorites) is very good at one thing in my opinion. He does a good job with a disaster. Texas is starting with 800,000 doses of medication for this class of flu (Texas stockpiled in 2007). Many states are waiting for their drugs ... we already have a lot, and more on the way - if the worst happens, it won't be enough but it's better than nothing. There is a plan in place - Bush developed the plan in 2006, and started the research for new/faster ways to produce/test a vaccine. The Obama Team doesn't have to figure out what to do ... there is a serious plan. That's why Homeland Security took the lead on this - the plan is that H. Security has an infrastructure in place to handle quarantine/border/transport/supply/coordination as needed, a lot faster that Health Human Resources would. It's set up so that everything is coordinated with CDC & WHO.

I know a lot of folks are blowing this off but it's not wise. Not worth a "panic" but it's serious, and should be treated that way. WHO does not issue a level 5 threat for nothing.

[TexasNick]

Originally Posted by Kibby

On the up-side ... Rick Perry (not one of my favorites) is very good at one thing in my opinion. He does a good job with a disaster. T

Excellent point. He kicked butt with Katrina support and did well with Hurricane Dolly.

[Jammie]

Kibby, thank you. That was very informative. I didn't realize several things that you stated.

My understanding is that Tamiflu isn't extremely effective except for easing the misery of this. It may take a couple of weeks until they actually have a vaccine to fight this properly.

Also, CNN said tonight that Ft. Worth would be closing their schools for several days.

[loves2read]

I thought Obama was very gracious and truthful when he said that part of the response the govt was in position to give was because of what Bush did ---
and this is an a-typical type of infection--why they are so scared--they are afraid this will turn into a 1918 flu--something epidemiologists have been worrying about for the past 15 or so years and definitely since the SARS scare...
this is not to be taken lightly--especially when the population is as mobile as it is now...
I am just not very hopeful about containing any more exposure when I read how lax the border crossing in El Paso and other walk-across from MX spots apparently are (were) taking this and then seeing how seriously places like NYC are taking it...
you can't have any protection if people aren't vigilent in screening...
I was really surprised to read that the virus can enter your body through your tear ducts--
you touch your hands to contaminated area and then rub your eyes---and anyone can see that wearing a mask still leaves your eyes vulnerable...

FTW ISD closed until (at least) May 8---
you know it is serious when athletics are cancelled--UIL events (baseball/track) stopped...
but on FTW local news last night woman was at her son's baseball game--guess a city league--and talking about how it was good to close the schools so the exposure was limited---
just seems contra indicated...
this is going to hurt retail even more----Amazon/on-line shopping should do better though
grocery stores are big contamination area--think it might be wise to use the sanitary wipes on the carts and wash your hands when you get home