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Swine Flu
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Send message Joined: 4 Oct 08 Posts: 1734 Credit: 64,228,409 RAC: 0 |
I think part of the relaxed act towards swine flu (H1N1), and the levity, comes from the pandemonium and panic that came from the medical authorities and media over bird flu (H5N1). The latter was said to be capable of a pandemic and kill 50% of those contracting it and nothing happened. People are, perhaps, too cynical and too relaxed. Things may change as we head down to Autumn and the cooler weather. I saw a report on two things - 1. Evidence of a resistance to Tami-flu; 2. Parents holding swine flu parties to ensure their children get it. The last point is just too relaxed as the assumption is their children will react in a mild way. Go away, I was asleep |
Send message Joined: 6 Apr 08 Posts: 2018 Credit: 100,142,856 RAC: 0 |
2. Parents holding swine flu parties to ensure their children get it. I think the idea is that the children catch swine flu now while it is in a mild form, and gain immunity before the bad stuff is predicted to happen in the autumn onwards. While there is some logic to this parental care, it doesn't do much for those trying to control and contain swine flu if part of the population is actively trying to spread it. |
Send message Joined: 10 Nov 07 Posts: 441 Credit: 761,827 RAC: 0 |
I suppose it was only a matter of time. Apparently there have been a very small number of suspected but unconfirmed cases of swine flu among staff and students at the College. Eh? Which news reports have you been listening to? Sorry, the ones I heard were not screaming "We're all going to die!!!" |
Send message Joined: 10 Nov 07 Posts: 441 Credit: 761,827 RAC: 0 |
Today I walked through my own town to get to work and I passed by a nail parlour in the arcade. Two girls who were doing the work were wearing face masks. Whether that is an overkill reaction I don't know, but it did bring the situation home a bit. I've walked past nail shops as well, over the years, and that is standard procedure, long before swine flu. It has nothing to do woth swine flu. Apparently, the stuff they use to put on, or remove, nail polish etc. ... just plain stinks! The fumes are noxious. |
Send message Joined: 1 Feb 09 Posts: 452 Credit: 27,367 RAC: 0 |
I suppose it was only a matter of time. Apparently there have been a very small number of suspected but unconfirmed cases of swine flu among staff and students at the College. Early on the reports here were pretty much that. Or they gave that impression. It was totally irresponsible reporting in the media. People were convinced that getting swine flu was a death sentence. |
Send message Joined: 1 Feb 09 Posts: 452 Credit: 27,367 RAC: 0 |
OK, putting levity to one side, Swine Flu does need to be taken seriously, and indeed the UK authorities are doing just that. Unfortunately there are certain sections of the press that are not helping, and a lack of response from local councils means that a significant proportion of the general public remain unaware. Unaware of what? Today I walked through my own town to get to work and I passed by a nail parlour in the arcade. Two girls who were doing the work were wearing face masks. Whether that is an overkill reaction I don't know, but it did bring the situation home a bit. More hysteria. The face masks don't even work to stop you catching it. It is very unlikely that anyone in normal good health will get seriously ill from contracting Swine Flue, but there are others with weak immune systems that could be at risk, particularly the elderly. The forecast is that up to a 1/3 of the UK population could be off work by Xmas, that is a very chilling thought..... You really think 2/3 of the UK will have jobs by Xmas? That's optimistic of you. :p |
Send message Joined: 24 Dec 07 Posts: 1947 Credit: 240,884,648 RAC: 0 |
While at w#$^ today (dammit I'm still here after 10hrs) I called home to see how my son was as he has contracted "the flu" - basically I think we can stop saying whether it is H1N1 or not as the current strain is no more deadly than the 'normal' flu - he had a temperature of 40.5°C EEK! Just a little on the high side - but some panadol and taking his shirt off for a while brought his fever down. |
Send message Joined: 10 Nov 07 Posts: 441 Credit: 761,827 RAC: 0 |
[quote]Today I walked through my own town to get to work and I passed by a nail parlour in the arcade. Two girls who were doing the work were wearing face masks. Whether that is an overkill reaction I don't know, but it did bring the situation home a bit. More hysteria. The face masks don't even work to stop you catching it./quote] Again, not hysteria. It has nothing to do with the flu. Standard procedure for years. I forgot to add last night that some of those nail shops can be found in US malls and you can smell the chemicals when you walk by. |
Send message Joined: 12 Nov 07 Posts: 2425 Credit: 524,164 RAC: 0 |
I forgot to add last night that some of those nail shops can be found in US malls and you can smell the chemicals when you walk by. I agree on those, sometimes hair places and perfume areas are much worse smelling. Makes me gag. They all should have air handlers to clean the air so it doesn't stink up everything. Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected? If it makes sense, DON'T do it. |
Send message Joined: 1 Feb 09 Posts: 452 Credit: 27,367 RAC: 0 |
ooooh yes it is!!! |
Send message Joined: 6 Apr 08 Posts: 2018 Credit: 100,142,856 RAC: 0 |
I walked past a beauty salon today and saw a man with a mask busy with a manicure. I've seen people with masks in beauty salons many times for many years and just cannot understand why an intelligent teacher would find this hysterical. sarge wrote: Again, not hysteria. It has nothing to do with the flu. Standard procedure for years. I forgot to add last night that some of those nail shops can be found in US malls and you can smell the chemicals when you walk by. |
Send message Joined: 10 Nov 07 Posts: 441 Credit: 761,827 RAC: 0 |
I forgot to add last night that some of those nail shops can be found in US malls and you can smell the chemicals when you walk by. So, I take it Banditwolf, you can also confirm seeing people working at nail shops wearing masks long long before the swine flu emergence? |
Send message Joined: 1 Feb 09 Posts: 452 Credit: 27,367 RAC: 0 |
I forgot to add last night that some of those nail shops can be found in US malls and you can smell the chemicals when you walk by. To be honest Sarge, I've never seen anyone here wearing those masks in nailbars. Doesn't mean they shouldn't have, but I've not seen it myself. It could be that I've never noticed it, or that the nailbars here use different chemicals. Nailbars are not something I pay a great deal of attention to. The implication of Chris' post was that he has seen people wearing masks because of the swine flu. If they were then it is an over reaction. If they were wearing them because of the chemicals then it is not. All I know is that early media reporting of the flu here was disgraceful and it left gave us the impression that we were facing a Resident Evil type of scenario. When you see terrified children in floods of tears because they've just been told that there is a case of swineflu at their school then you know something is not quite right. |
Send message Joined: 1 Feb 09 Posts: 452 Credit: 27,367 RAC: 0 |
In fact this article suggests that nailbars using those chemicals should be avoided. I have a feeling that chemical may have been banned in UK nailbars. I vaguely remember some fuss about it a few years ago. That might be why I've never seen nail bar technicians wearing facemasks. |
Send message Joined: 6 Apr 08 Posts: 2018 Credit: 100,142,856 RAC: 0 |
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Send message Joined: 24 Dec 07 Posts: 1947 Credit: 240,884,648 RAC: 0 |
I wonder how many people die each year from 'the flu'. To date I believe the 'death rate' is a lot lower with H1N1 than with the previous strains of flu and I believe its virulence has been pretty similar. |
Send message Joined: 1 Feb 09 Posts: 452 Credit: 27,367 RAC: 0 |
I wonder how many people die each year from 'the flu'. To date I believe the 'death rate' is a lot lower with H1N1 than with the previous strains of flu and I believe its virulence has been pretty similar. From what I can find there have only been 3 deaths in the UK so far. According to this article from the BBC the strain is less dangerous than regular flu. Asked if he feared more West Midlands deaths, Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "(We) thought there would be a few more than this with the numbers of cases that we've got. Swine flu: Country by country |
Send message Joined: 12 Nov 07 Posts: 2425 Credit: 524,164 RAC: 0 |
I forgot to add last night that some of those nail shops can be found in US malls and you can smell the chemicals when you walk by. No I haven't. I try to avoid going near those places to start with. The typical paper mask does not filter chemicals, only dust particals. People wear them to help to keep from spreading germs. A mask with 1 or 2 filters is needed for finer particals and chemicals. Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected? If it makes sense, DON'T do it. |
Send message Joined: 6 Apr 08 Posts: 2018 Credit: 100,142,856 RAC: 0 |
WHO update Monday 29 June: 70,893 cases worldwide 311 deaths |
Send message Joined: 6 Apr 08 Posts: 2018 Credit: 100,142,856 RAC: 0 |
Swine flu 'cannot be contained' Is that hysterical enough for you? |
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