My university just announced we have 4 suspected swine flu cases, page 3

reply to post by Night Watchman

O.K. so this is being classified as a pandemic with a kill rate less than that of regular flu and you think it's an incredibly serious situation. Obviously, you need to educate yourself.

People are freaking out because the media is pushing this story like a weed dealer slings orange kush. This is insane.

It is a bunch of crap. This flu virus is just another flu virus, and is not a horrible pandemic like the 1918 flu. It has a higher rate of infection, but just about the same (or even less) the mortality rate for regular flu. This would mean more deaths, but it isn't a global pandemic of epic proportions; not even close.

Here are the stats for swine flu, as reported in the United States by the CDC;

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
(As of April 29, 2009, 11:00 AM ET)
States

# of laboratory confirmed cases

Arizona 1
California 14
Indiana 1
Kansas 2
Massachusetts 2
Michigan 2
Nevada 1
New York 51
Ohio 1
Texas 16

TOTAL COUNTS 91 cases 1 death
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection

The 1 person who died in the US wasn't even a US National, he was a child with previous health conditions from Mexico in the United States.

The percentage of people that have died is far below the amount that die from regular flu annually. Granted a larger amount have perished in Mexico, because of the sanitation standards and poor health of the people living in the city. They are already exposed to high level air pollution and fine grade particulates and pollutants, which weakens their immune systems. This is why you are seeing a higher death rate in Mexico.

From the CDC (www.cdc.gov...):

Every year in the United States, on average: * 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; * more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications; and * about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes.

Right.. so because this virus has killed a grand total of around 160 people (most in Mexico), we should be afraid and concerned?

Bull #. This is a classic case of fear mongering... and it is unjustified. If it were a pandemic it would have exploded by now, it would be all over the world, millions infected, maybe hundreds of thousands dead. With the time that has passed, and the speed of modern travel, it should be exploding like wildfire. It's not, it's slowly spreading, certainly not like wildfire.

Here's a quote from an AP article on the swine flu;

New cases and deaths finally seemed to be leveling off in Mexico, where 160 people have been killed, after an aggressive public health campaign.

The World Health Organization just upped the warning level (sounds like the terror warning meter / propaganda meter to me) to level 5. This means that they can declare martial law and forcibly quarantine people. So, you're telling me, that for 175 deaths we need to be concerned enough to forcibly vaccinate people?

Don't be worried, don't take a vaccine, and don't buy into this crap.

If we begin to see a higher fatality rate, or some massive spread of the virus, then I will be concerned. For now, keep it in the back of your mind, and live life as you would normally.

[edit on 29-4-2009 by JipStix]

[edit on 29-4-2009 by JipStix]

[edit on 29-4-2009 by JipStix]