Flu Outbreak in Mexico

[Darren Wheeler]

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
In reply to Darren

http://doihavetheswineflu.com/


LOL [y]

Oh, and don't bother calling the swine flu helpline. I tried this morning and all I got was crackling. [:I]

[honey lamb]

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler

It doesn't help continually comparing it to the 1918 'Spanish 'flu' either. That was 90 years ago, our knowledge of viruses was much poorer then and even a cold could kill you.

Also the general health of the population was much poorer then. My grandmother died in that epidemic and I remember my aunt saying that because all the men had gone to war, the levels of deprivation had risen and the gap between the haves and have-nots increased immeasurably so that poverty and ill-health was rife even without the flu epidemic. In other words, if the flu didn't get you then something like TB or malnutrition-related illnesses did

[Darren Wheeler]

Exactly. Much of Europe was on the verge of starvation due to U-boats. TB alone kills 1.5 million+ a year world-wide.

So far the only non-sensation headline I've seen is on the UK version of MSN. Basically, no new deaths and only 3 new case in UK.

Well, the no. 1 and I are not changing any plans to fly to LA tomorrow and spend two weeks in Southern California. Yes, we may take our health insurance policies, but we always do that. Yes I might wash my hands a little more frequently - but don't expect anything else.

Scrooge [y] for the Web site link.

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
The media are the cause of the anxiety going round. Every reported case is analysed to the nth degree with very little actual facts going with it.


Exactly. THis is the problem with rolling news channels, they have to find something to talk about so as usual they blow it all out of proportion. Looking at the stats and figures that Donaldson et al have been trying to get out, there is nothing to worry about. The problem is that the presenters and journalists want to sensationalize everything by trying to get Donaldson to admit that the problem could get worse.

And I for one don't understand all this 'I am not going to fly to America now' lark. Heck if we didn't do things because something bad could happen I would never flip a plug switch because I could get electrocuted or ever drive my car because I could crash and die.

3 cases out of a population of 60 odd million is hardly something to get worried about. Just think about how many heart attacks there have been in the UK in the last day. It will be way more than 3 and we arent worried about that!

[Darren Wheeler]

how's this for a overblown headline? Link

QR are now making all crew wear masks on all flights from Qatar to the US. Passengers will also be advised to wear masks apparently. There is a thread on a.net about it including the usual a.net discussion about how qualified people are to express their own personal opinion[}:)].

Bit of a major overreaction on the part of QR.

Darren

Thanks for that - very OTT - gave me a right good laugh. Interesting that the 5 guys behind the 'afflicted' couple don't appear to be on the list of 'victims' of this 'plague plane' but then again they are not as photogenic as a pair of newly weds who said ''We didn't ask to get moved because we'd have felt a bit rude asking for an upgrade - even if it was our honeymooon.'

HL

You are correct. in the past more people died of infectious diseases than anything else (and in some parts of the world they still do despite best efforts) then as treatments and vaccines were developed we started to die of things like cancer and heart attacks. Now its simply old age. Life expectancy at the start of the 20th Century was ~ 40, at the start of the 21st its ~ 70

Willd

Yep and I bet there were more than 3 deaths on the roads in the same period yet the people demanding the country to be shut down to stop the spread simply won't worry about that.

It's a shame we can't have this kind of concerted fear-mongering and world-wide attention from Governments and WHO for such things like Malaria which actually kill up to 3+ million a year and 350 - 500 million cases confirmed, compared to a paltry 10 or so in the past week - but it makes breaking news around the world. Puts it into context...

Infact, I find it mildly offensive, and I'm sure they do too... I suppose when it's not on your doorstep, it's easier for governments to ignore, despite it actually causing more harm, to more (poor) people... A nice happy thought for a sunny Friday! lol

[Darren Wheeler]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8026717.stm

Mmmm, Bovril...

[HighFlyer]

The customer I went to see yesterday had a staff member who was in quarantine after returning from Mexico a few days ago.

I find this whole saga rather amusing. I love how the UK are spending a small fortune on ineffective face masks and a nationwide leaflet drop, countries such as Egypt are allegedly going to slaughter all of their pigs and yet nobody seems to want to look what I believe is the real cause of the problem in the face, and that is the simple fact of factory farming. These outbreaks, like Avian flu, CJD, etc, are always linked to areas where thousands of animals are packed together in a small, crowded and unsanitary spaces. The town at the center of the outbreak in Mexico is situated close to a pig lot that raises 950'000 pigs each year in a small factory farm. Imagine all the waste produced by those animals in a small area, the flies, the heat, water pollution. Its a veritable breeding ground, and flu constantly mutates into differing forms.

While I feel strongly about this, this isnt meant as an animal rights tirade, to me it just seems straightforward that we are creating our own diseases through our own selfish greed and not even addressing the heart of the problem.

Thanks,
Sarah

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
The customer I went to see yesterday had a staff member who was in quarantine after returning from Mexico a few days ago.

Thanks,
Sarah


We have a few here too that have been 'asked' to stay at home [:w]

[Darren Wheeler]

That does seem a rather odd 'request' as lets face it, if you have 'flu proper, you know it and work is the last thing on your mind. My last bout was 2 years ago and for 4 days I barely woke up, never mind got out of bed.

It seems we now have to be told that we are too ill to be at work.

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
how's this for a overblown headline? Link


Just saw that in M&S. I see he's been attributed with using the term 'plague'; I wonder if he actually did because that alliteration 'plague plane' must be soooooo tempting for a sub? (I was once 'quoted' in a newspaper; only problem was I hadn't actually said those words). Otherwise I'd suggest Thomson should be calling m'learned friends.

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
That does seem a rather odd 'request' as lets face it, if you have 'flu proper, you know it and work is the last thing on your mind. My last bout was 2 years ago and for 4 days I barely woke up, never mind got out of bed.

It seems we now have to be told that we are too ill to be at work.


Isn't that one of the points here. All the cases thus far in the UK seem to have been of the 'feeling a bit sniffly' variety that wouldn't raise an eyebrow normally and not the type of true flu you describe which does knock healthy people for six and can prove fatal for those weakened by age or infirmity.

Paul

Face masks can be effective against flu virus BUT
They have to be the right type (valved P2,P3 or N95)
You have to know how to fit and use them & change when they get damp - at least every 2 hrs (less if talking)
You have to dispose of them correctly and not touch them with your hands.
The <50p masks being handed out are useless - the recommended ones are ~5+
The extra ones ordered by the nhs are P2s - they may have plenty of the simple masks but need the full spec. valved EN149:2001 FFP2.

Seem to remember someone on this board, with contacts to the manufacturers 3M, may have a stock he lost the opportunity to sell on the quayside in Mexico.
You could do a nice trade in mail-order....

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
These outbreaks, like Avian flu, CJD, etc, are always linked to areas where thousands of animals are packed together in a small, crowded and unsanitary spaces


[y] Absolutely agree - if we put in half the resources now in play to healthy, sanitary conditions in such places then I believe we wouldn't have so many problems or fears.

As for Qatar and face masks to the US, just laughable.

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
That does seem a rather odd 'request' as lets face it, if you have 'flu proper, you know it and work is the last thing on your mind. My last bout was 2 years ago and for 4 days I barely woke up, never mind got out of bed.


Glad to see someone uses the word flu correctly. I really hate it when people who have a soar throat or a little cold claim they have the flu. Er no you don't!

Anyway back OT. Magic makes an excellent point, its a shame that all this fuss isnt made about malaria and the like. Its also worth noting that the vast majority of fit healthy humans will survive this if they contracted this strain of the flu. As with all types of flu it only really effects seriously either the exceptionally young or elderly who of course have lower immune systems.

At least the recession is ending. When I put the news on, they hardly mention it now.

We had a 'if you sneeze please use a tissue and place in sickbag' extension to our safety briefing on the flight back from EDI this evening.

[buns]

quote:Originally posted by pjh
We had a 'if you sneeze please use a tissue and place in sickbag' extension to our safety briefing on the flight back from EDI this evening.



[V][V][V] added with 'victims' selling their story to newspapers, this is just building up the hype. It is no wonder there are people out there worried sick about this - at the moment, you are more likely to catch a normal cold or flu [:(!][:(!]

Shame on the media and those who believe

buns

quote:Originally posted by willd
its a shame that all this fuss isnt made about malaria and the like


Absolutely

quote:Originally posted by willd
its also worth noting that the vast majority of fit healthy humans will survive this if they contracted this strain of the flu. As with all types of flu it only really effects seriously either the exceptionally young or elderly who of course have lower immune systems.


Erm, sorry, no that's not true. At least the use of the word 'all'.

Did anyone read about the hysterical headline on the BBC News home page about the 'flu hotel'. Jeez.

Well, it went down to 101 suspected cases in Mexico this morning - now it's cut down from 101 to 75...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8030859.stm


There is still, of course, a risk as the fact that we don't have an immunity to a new flu like this. But hopefully people & the media calm down a bit now.

[Darren Wheeler]

maybe, but be replaced with the conspiracy theorists.

[RichardMannion]

Well bugger you all - I fully plan on getting on my flight in 12 days time with my face mask.

Wondering if an Upper Class sticker on the front may be a touch too much....[:w]

Dean models the masks in question from our trip to Tokyo in 2007:

MrsPVG, BabyPVG and Father-in-lawPVG flew out to Shanghai yesterday, and all were held on the plane for an hour after arrival whilst everyone's temperature was taken and the health forms were checked in triplicate. When they finally get off they had to go through it all again at the normal health check desk.
4 month old babyPVG, on her first flight, was getting a little miffed by this time, but everyone else took the delay in good spirits.

5 people were taken away for further checks.

MrsPVG was a little worried as she felt pretty rough the day before her flight and spent most of it in bed doing a good impression of a bloke with man 'flu. Though it was more than likely the regular cold that has being going round my office recently, and she felt fine on flight day.