36,000 People die of 'flu in the USA each year

I appreciate this is old news, but I think it's useful to get a sense of proportion here.

So far just over 100 people have died of Swine 'flu in Mexico and exactly 0 have died in the USA.

Data from 2003 suggests that on average 36,000 people die from 'normal' 'flu in the USA each year

Source

Using new and improved statistical models, CDC scientists estimate that an average of 36,000 people (up from 20,000 in previous estimates) die from influenza-related complications each year in the United States. In addition, about 11,000 people die per year from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a virus that causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections primarily in young children and older adults. The study demonstrates that most deaths caused by RSV occur in the elderly.

Whilst Mexican Swine 'flu may have to potential to become a serious pandemic, let's, for the time being at least, keep a sense of proportion, eh?

Or maybe unnecessary panic is what people want?

I ahve been reading ALL of the threads on this important issue and what I see is discussion and information sharing not blind panic and ignorance.

This flu has at least a 7% mortality rate in Mexico. That's not good.

And frankly, I think we are getting old information and only information
that the gov't wants you to know about.

This flu takes 5 days to show signs that you have it.
And more days until you are so sick that it is reported.
And more days until those reports make it to the news.
(IF they make it to the news).

They should have closed the borders days ago.

Now schools are closing across this country.

It's going to be bad - IMHO

Oh please, this place lives for blind panic.

But that said, I think this is more serious than your average flu. For one, it targets the exact opposite crowd of your normal flu. Kind of scary that the healthier you are, the harder you are hit.

I think it's more news because of what it could become, rather than what it is now. I don't think groups like WHO, nor the President, nor FEMA, nor anyone else, would get nearly as serious about this issue as they are, if serious consequences were not possible. They certainly don't consider raising the pandemic scale for regular flu.

I do think many are overreacting (just because someone has the flu doesn't mean that they have THIS flu). But it does not hurt to be prepared.

reply to post by Essan

Totally agree mate.
Its strange how the media have run with this one esp as the cases outside mexico are of a milder form of it (those that are confirmed that is).
I wouldnt be suprised if this is being used to some advantage by the govts in some way.

reply to post by antar


Well I was going to disagree but FF saved me the effort.

Most don't die of ONE flu. This an average over the accumulation of all flus in a given time period.

Generally, it doesn't kill in the working age force so the impact economically is limited.



[edit on 2009/4/27 by Aeons]

reply to post by Essan


I have seen very little panic here at ATS and a wealth of legitimate discussion.

A and B flu strains kill those with compromised immune systems. This particular flu is a combination of Avian, Swine, A and B and seems to be killing young healthy Mexicans, but not healthy Americans and Europeans.

I think the subject deserves our attention.

reply to post by Essan


Did you count them all personally to CONFIRM it is a true thing? This is just data provided by government anyway, with a good advance to be used later to make fake comparisions.

I personally find quite strange that so many people die for regular flu

However you probably forgot to think about the fact THAT people are probably mostly OLD people, that are dying in a way or another cause they are ...indeed OLD.

If there is so much going on in Mexico is cause that flu attacks HEALTHY, MID AGE people.

which sounds like a totally different concept to me.






[edit on 27-4-2009 by digitalwarrior]

[edit on 27-4-2009 by digitalwarrior]

It allways makes me suspicious that something else is happening behind the scenes without no-one noticing while the media turns public interest into something like this,

I for sure will pay more attention on things happening around the world while this flu hype is being bomberded thru every media possible...

reply to post by scordar


Good call, I certainly will be. I saw news on the little flyover of a military escorted Air Force One over new york this morning that paniced half the city.

reply to post by scordar


that's a part of the game, but you never know how big is the piece of cake this flu is about.

The histeria is too much, i agree. But still - if it indeed develops into world wide epidemics (and it probably would) death toll world wide would be noticable. So of course no need to run to the hills, it is not doomsday thing.
Also , deaths from "ordinary" flu types usually target people with weak immune system which cannot fight the virus (which is recognised by immune system) and mainly its complications efficiently.
This version is pretty new combination, so it does not matter if person is healthy as an ox or weak, immune system is not that familiar with this strain so all population are at risk.
The good thing is that the possible damage this virus can do due to its structure is much less then flu outbreak in 1918. The bad thing is that the world is one big global village so a lot more people would be influenced. So my conclusion - no reason for panic. Plenty of reasons to be cautious though.

reply to post by Essan


Regular flu attacks the very young and they very sick and the mortality rates are high.

The swain flu is attacking healthy sections of the population not the very young and the older.

That alone should be cause for concern.

This could turn out to be another 1918 - but as yet we cannot know.

But I do think many people are unaware that 'flu is a killer virus every year.

Yes, this one affects healthier adults. But there is so far no indication that anyone who has the virus outside of Mexico is any iller than they would be with 'normal' 'flu

Bearing in mind the usual means of determing whether you have 'flu or a cold is that if you have 'flu you wouldn't get out of bed to pick up a $100 bill lying on the grass outside. 'Normal' 'flu puts healthy adults in bed for several days.


But we'll see how this one pans out. I'm certainly not worrying yet any more than I worry every winter .....

reply to post by Essan


I applaud your attempt to examine the situation in the cold light of day. It's all too easy to get caught up in a bandwagon without listening to both sides of the story. The evidence you've presented is not to be scoffed at.

Let's keep our minds open and our ears pinned to the ground.

The reason for the lack of death among people infected in the US is due to many factors, I personally don't know all of them.

But I know that some of the many factors are that As more people gets infected mortality rates will become an issue and now is not too many to even been considered.

Also the strength of the swain flu in the US may be a weaker one as the main strain started in Mexico, just like the flu, the first people to get it are the ones with most of the symptoms as they pass the virus to others the virus loses some of its symptoms and strength.

But is to early to tell.

reply to post by Essan


I certainly see worry splattered about in most public forums which in my mind is the prelude to panic.... that in the end keeps one from seeing past their own fears.

I'm not afraid...I'm suspicious.

Why would this warrant an entire new thread? Wouldn't this info. be more helpful on the flu threads that already exist?

Like we needed another flu thread.

reply to post by Essan

So it's ok that 36,000 people die a year? Well 36,000 people died from influenza viruses that we knew about! This strain is new, meaning that there is no vaccine yet developed and could kill as many or more as it did in 1918-1919. There is not enough Tamiflu or any other drug to offset this virus for the world. We have very good health care here in the U.S., but what about the 3rd world countries that have healthcare worse than Mexico? The mortality rate there, if it spreads, will be off the charts. My 2 cents.

Guz