I hate getting the flu, so I am a little worried about this one. But only a little. I still haven't seen or heard much about what this one actually -does-, other than being a "new strain". I shall research that shortly.
But, overall, I think part of the problem is how the flu gets treated. With the really bad ones we've had so far, the people in most risk are the elderly and the very young, as usual. I don't know why the child in the US died, so I can't say if it was because their flu symptoms weren't monitored, but I have a feeling that most people that this flu takes down, will go because they aren't hydrated enough, or because their immune system just can't handle it.
I hate the flu, but I'm not worried that I'll die from it. Yet. Maybe once I'm more informed the hype will get me too. Who knows.
From what I've read, the issue with Swine Flu is that it over-activates your immune system, which then can't adequately respond to secondary infection-- like pneumonia.
From the CDC: "Probably the most well known is an outbreak of swine flu among soldiers in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976. The virus caused disease with x-ray evidence of pneumonia in at least 4 soldiers and 1 death; all of these patients had previously been healthy."
I find it probable that the increase can be blamed, at least partially, on the news of the "swine" flu itself. With all the media hype, it's pretty likely that folks who wouldn't normally go to the doc for the flu are now doing so out of fear and/or curiosity. And. The hype is curious because everything I've read/researched about it points at it being no more/less dangerous than the "normal" flu bugs.
That's why I stressed in this post that these cases are confirmed. H1N1 is different from seasonal flu in a lot of ways.
1. This infection began in Mexico-- most seasonal flu begins in Asia. 2. Swine Flu (H1N1) has never been reported to sustain human-to-human transmission beyond 3 people. It is believed to have mutated after exposure to a strain of avian flu. 3. H1N1 has a precedent of killing humans who were not in the target threat-group for seasonal flu-- healthy young adult males, instead of just the sick, elderly or children.
I think there is some hype about it, but I also think that we can't ignore the fact that we don't exactly know what we're dealing with. This virus isn't similar enough to seasonal flu for me to be comforted, honestly.
Now, do I think I'm going to get the Swine Flu? I doubt it-- there haven't been any reported cases in my area. However, I'm keeping an eye on it and being cautious.
I definitely agree that it's something to keep a curious eye on. Truth is, simple organisms can mutate/evolve much faster than complex human structures...and they are. That alone spells it's own doom. But. I also wonder what we can really do about it. Doom will happen where it will. Our population growth as a species has been remarkable...and abnormal. We're due a unexpected crash. I think it's just a matter of when, where, and how.
Something I think people who are calling this hype are missing is that the concern is how fast it spreads - and of course, the faster it spreads, the more people infected, and the more people who will die. Even with a low mortality rate, a lot of infection means a lot of death.
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But, overall, I think part of the problem is how the flu gets treated. With the really bad ones we've had so far, the people in most risk are the elderly and the very young, as usual. I don't know why the child in the US died, so I can't say if it was because their flu symptoms weren't monitored, but I have a feeling that most people that this flu takes down, will go because they aren't hydrated enough, or because their immune system just can't handle it.
I hate the flu, but I'm not worried that I'll die from it. Yet.
Maybe once I'm more informed the hype will get me too.
Who knows.
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From the CDC: "Probably the most well known is an outbreak of swine flu among soldiers in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976. The virus caused disease with x-ray evidence of pneumonia in at least 4 soldiers and 1 death; all of these patients had previously been healthy."
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1. This infection began in Mexico-- most seasonal flu begins in Asia.
2. Swine Flu (H1N1) has never been reported to sustain human-to-human transmission beyond 3 people. It is believed to have mutated after exposure to a strain of avian flu.
3. H1N1 has a precedent of killing humans who were not in the target threat-group for seasonal flu-- healthy young adult males, instead of just the sick, elderly or children.
I think there is some hype about it, but I also think that we can't ignore the fact that we don't exactly know what we're dealing with. This virus isn't similar enough to seasonal flu for me to be comforted, honestly.
Now, do I think I'm going to get the Swine Flu? I doubt it-- there haven't been any reported cases in my area. However, I'm keeping an eye on it and being cautious.
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Good luck!
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But if this flu is as infectious as it appears to be, its spread will mean a lot of disruption in multiple services.
Hopefully, it won't come to that.
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I've also heard from a WHO worker in Mexico City that everyone is being urged to stay in their houses.
It's a very serious thing.
The number for the US so far is 91 infected and 1 death.
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