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.

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Go away, I was asleep

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.

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.

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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.

From what I understand (and said all along), its not killing people unless they already have severe health problems anyway. The same as regular flu. I'm glad the media frenzy has died down and we're not all being told we're going to die. That was totally ridiculous.

Eh? Which news reports have you been listening to? Sorry, the ones I heard were not screaming "We're all going to die!!!"

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.

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.

From what I understand (and said all along), its not killing people unless they already have severe health problems anyway. The same as regular flu. I'm glad the media frenzy has died down and we're not all being told we're going to die. That was totally ridiculous.

Eh? Which news reports have you been listening to? Sorry, the ones I heard were not screaming "We're all going to die!!!"

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.

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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

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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.

[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.

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.

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Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected?
If it makes sense, DON'T do it.

Again, not hysteria. .....

ooooh yes it is!!!

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Again, not hysteria. .....

ooooh yes it is!!!

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.

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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.

So, I take it Banditwolf, you can also confirm seeing people working at nail shops wearing masks long long before the swine flu emergence?

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.

So, I take it Banditwolf, you can also confirm seeing people working at nail shops wearing masks long long before the swine flu emergence?

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.

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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.

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BBC News, Wednesday 1 July 2009 (yesterday);

There are 6,538 cases confirmed in the UK and 3 dead

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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.

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.

"Actually, it's a surprise that more people haven't died in a way because you'd expect more from seasonal flu.

"More people will die from the heat in the next few days if we're not careful than they will from flu."

Swine flu: Country by country

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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.

So, I take it Banditwolf, you can also confirm seeing people working at nail shops wearing masks long long before the swine flu emergence?

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.

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Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected?
If it makes sense, DON'T do it.

BBC News, Wednesday 1 July 2009 (yesterday);

There are 6,538 cases confirmed in the UK and 3 dead

WHO update

Monday 29 June:

70,893 cases worldwide
311 deaths

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Swine flu 'cannot be contained'

The rising number of swine flu cases mean trying to contain the virus is no longer an option, the (UK) government says.

Ministers said the emergency response would now move to a new "treatment" phase across the UK as there may soon be 100,000 new cases a day.

"Cases are doubling every week and on this trend we could see over 100,000 cases per day by the end of August."

"I should stress that this is not a sign that the virus is getting more virulent. It is an admission that the spread of the virus can no longer be contained."

Is that hysterical enough for you?

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