Swine flu

[vertigu9219]

So swine flu, an apocalyptic pandemic or a media hyped mild flu outbreak?

Place your bets.

[Haza103]

A bit too overhyped. What ever happened to bird flu? That virus that was supposed to wipe out so many of of us, and only managed to kill a few turkeys on a bernard matthews farm. (Ok, and a few people too).

Too mad.

[Kroogah81]

Agree. Give it 1-2 weeks and everybody will get over it. They make it so big, becuase it is so "fresh and new".

[kool_ari]

omg like you guys totally didn't hear about bee flu did you its like the newest medical terror trend. Like its totally killing thousands of people in south africa right now.

Swine Flu: A bachelor parties lie about everyone sleeping with the same prostituie in Mexico. Its really ghonarhea in disguise, and a lot of people don't want to fess up to their wives :P

[Hihihellobye]

Swine Flu: A bachelor parties lie about everyone sleeping with the same prostituie in Mexico. Its really ghonarhea in disguise, and a lot of people don't wnat to ffess up to their wives
LOL

SARS was real... killed real estate in HK for a year

[L_ha]

Filthy Swines!

[Hazel1558]

Errrrrm have you guys forgot that so far people have actually died from swine flu. 150 people so far and also its spreading around the world. I know some of it is light humor but abit below the belt though. This is actually serious cause you would be surpirsed at how quickly like this can spread. And if it wasn't for the so called media hype so to speak you wouldn't have warnings or advice on how to go about the illness.

[vertigu9219]

Filthy Swines!

Just a reminder that this is the serious discusion forum.

You make a good point Hazel.
Now 152 dead with over 1,500 suspected cases identified.
I got a mask given to me today by a fellow council employee at the community centre i work in.
It appears to be moving very quickly, and it is killing healthy adults not the young and old. The WHO have bumped up the threat level. It is only a couple of days away from becoming a pandemic imo.

[Hazel1558]

Just a reminder that this is the serious discusion forum.

You make a good point Hazel.
Now 152 dead with over 1,500 suspected cases identified.
I got a mask given to me today by a fellow council employee at the community centre i work in.
It appears to be moving very quickly, and it is killing healthy adults not the young and old. The WHO have bumped up the threat level. It is only a couple of days away from becoming a pandemic imo.

Thanks vertigu
I think its gonna keep rising tbh and not gonna go away. This is very different to bird flu, mad cow desease etc, its proper airborn and can be caught very easily. No amount of precautions can prevent it unless you contain it. The fact that once the bug gets out the body it can survive for a few hours so can be passed on very easily.

[L_ha]

You say 152 dead, but thats unreliable from the mexican medical guys. They cant differentiate between normal flu and swine flu.
I think they all make a huge media circus just to distract everyone from the finacial depression tbh.

[Chrisbes32]

Overhyped BS, Shouldn't we all be dead from Bird Flu anyway? 150 people have died? Wow! I'm sure more than that die of Aid's in Africa everyday yet we dont have to wrap ourselves up in cling film so no blood touches us yet! I tell you the day I die from a bloody pig is the day Russel Brand becomes the Pope!

[Kroogah81]

Swine flu is overhyped. Looking at the deathnumers right now, they aren't that big compared to some others. Bird flu was a much bigger issue in, for example Poland, where there was a National Alert from all kinds of birds and bird meat. That was really serious. And many more people have died from it.
Overhyped. As I said, give it a week or two and it will be fine. These news were really big a few days ago and now? Silence.

[Hazel1558]

You say 152 dead, but thats unreliable from the mexican medical guys. They cant differentiate between normal flu and swine flu.
I think they all make a huge media circus just to distract everyone from the finacial depression tbh.


This is abit more than a hype and agree the numbers may be unrealiable it could be more but these are only the ones that have been confirmed (tested) Their is a difference between normal flu and swine flu - normal flu doesn't kill healthy people its mainly dangerous to the elderly who have to have the flu jab. Swine flu is very dangerous if the signs aren't spotted early you will die as their is no cure for it.


Swine flu is overhyped. Looking at the deathnumers right now, they aren't that big compared to some others. Bird flu was a much bigger issue in, for example Poland, where there was a National Alert from all kinds of birds and bird meat. That was really serious. And many more people have died from it.
Overhyped. As I said, give it a week or two and it will be fine. These news were really big a few days ago and now? Silence.

Bird flu isn't as contagious as swine flu which has seen cases from most of the countries around the world in just a few days. This is an international alert not a national alert so that just shows the sheer scale.



Also just to point out if this is a media circus to distract us from the recession then thats a very naive look really. I have seen the difference from the other outbreaks:

The UK was never on high alert when the other outbreaks were about, we knew about them and precautions were put in place to deal with them but its not that straight forward in this case now everyone is being posted information packs etc so this is very real and I don't think they would waste money in panicking us just to distract us from the recession as everyone knows that its happening.

[vertigu9219]

I notice that the guys who think this is nothing more than a storm in a tea cup live no-where near Falkirk. I live a few miles from the couple who brought it to the UK.
Now 26 people in scotland are awaiting test results, if those results are positive then we have a problem.

[Laika]

A bit too overhyped. What ever happened to bird flu? That virus that was supposed to wipe out so many of of us, and only managed to kill a few turkeys on a bernard matthews farm. (Ok, and a few people too).

Too mad.

The main fear concerning the H5N1 Avian Flu is that it could mutate into a form which was transferable between humans, swine flu is. For the Western World, this influenza should be no problem at all, but we've got to consider countries that aren't as well prepared as we are (2nd Globally, eyyyyyy)

[fluffballjo]

only 20 of the 150 dead in mexico have actually been properly confirmed to be because of swine flu, the real problem is if swine flu meets avian flu as this could make it as dangerous as avian flu but airborne like swine flu

[Hazel1558]

This is not a problem for the countries that are not western though! Although western countries have vacines this is not a cure. It only combats the early stages of swine flu those that are beyond the point of help will die now that is scary. I know the news is coming across as scare mongering but to be honest I know vacines here will only help 50% of our population in the UK. The news can't cover everything their could be people out their that don't know they have or have not been added to the numbers of those being tested for it so numbers could b higher and they r walkin round and spreading it unknowingly.

We will have to see what happens though our packs should arrive soon if the gov is anything to go by we could be waiting 2 weeks.

[impjim]

This is not a problem for the countries that are not western though! Although western countries have vacines this is not a cure. It only combats the early stages of swine flu those that are beyond the point of help will die now that is scary. I know the news is coming across as scare mongering but to be honest I know vacines here will only help 50% of our population in the UK. The news can't cover everything their could be people out their that don't know they have or have not been added to the numbers of those being tested for it so numbers could b higher and they r walkin round and spreading it unknowingly.

We will have to see what happens though our packs should arrive soon if the gov is anything to go by we could be waiting 2 weeks.

Maybe i didnt read that right but are you saying that everyone who gets Swine flu will die?

If so this aint the case at all. it is a just a slightly nastier version of a normal flu. there is a cure for it but all it does is make your body cope with the affects better. its is only the young, very weak or old that should be really worried. to everyone else it is like a really bad cold. If this thing isn't contained then yes many people might die but the UK is VERY well prepared and so is much of the world.

I would only worry if the bug started to mutate into a stronger virus.

[Laika]

3 more confirmed cases in the UK, one in London, one in Redditch and a third in Devon.

[Scowie]

Its coz nothing good was happening this week so they might as well put that in the news.

[Adam_Legend]

The guys on this forum take nothing seriously do they? read up on all the cases. this is a serious outbreak, its now level 5. very shortly it will be a pandemic/epidemic if this reaches level 6!

[Hazel1558]

Maybe i didnt read that right but are you saying that everyone who gets Swine flu will die?

If so this aint the case at all. it is a just a slightly nastier version of a normal flu. there is a cure for it but all it does is make your body cope with the affects better. its is only the young, very weak or old that should be really worried. to everyone else it is like a really bad cold. If this thing isn't contained then yes many people might die but the UK is VERY well prepared and so is much of the world.

I would only worry if the bug started to mutate into a stronger virus.

I never said everyone that gets it will die :) As long as the symptoms are recognised early and treatment starts early it will prevent it from getting to the stage where it can kill you. People have actually died from this but what they are saying is that they don't have a cure for it but the treatment they have can prevent it from forming into the killer bug. Does that make any sense?

[Zalitz1]

Its now not a question of IF people will die, its a question of how many. I work for the NHS and there is a lot of emails circulating here at the moment. Its pretty damn serious.

However, the NHS has been prepared for something like this for a long time now.

[RedStar]

Errrrrm have you guys forgot that so far people have actually died from swine flu. 150 people so far and also its spreading around the world. I know some of it is light humor but abit below the belt though. This is actually serious cause you would be surpirsed at how quickly like this can spread. And if it wasn't for the so called media hype so to speak you wouldn't have warnings or advice on how to go about the illness.

only 1 person in either the States or Canada has died, and that was due to it being untreaten.

the other 149 are cases from countries where the medical programs arent as advanced.

There's a simple vaccine that can be administered and eliminates the virus in the human body.

btw, people die, it happens, its unpreventable, its a commonality, therefore i dont think its "below the belt" to joke.

[Donzie75]

I think if it was as bad as they are making out more people would be dead from it, still a bit concerning though

[Nirvlime]

Well, of course it's over hyped - anything in the news is - but it's nothing really to joke about. Here in the US many people have already been infected. From Texas to New York so no ones really safe from it. It's spreading quite quickly.

With that said though. Fortunately, it's just a flu so I'm not stressing about it. If I get Swine Flu it'll suck but at least I'm not dying or anything - well it's improbable I'll die anyways.

[PandaPanic!]

It is well over hyped to be honest i don't see why everyone is going around wearing masks because the symptoms of having Swine Flu are no different to normal every day flu (not to be confused with a cold) which are
chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.
the only thing that is serious about this is that in some cases it can cause pneumonia, nausea and vomiting although it is only really a risk to young children and elderly people and if you are worried about just 150 people dyeing from this then maybe this will shock you because in 2001 there were around 63,730 worldwide deaths from influenza (flu) and they have vaccines and many other drugs to combat this yet so many young and elderly people still die from it so to be honest if this Swine Flu does get spread from Human to Human your immune system will most likely just fight it off and you will be fine :)

[impjim]

Im not concerned unless it mutates with other forms of the flu. if that happens we are screwed :(

Oh and Hazel i understand where your coming from now :P. although that is like saying people are dieing from being tired everyday and im tired right now so should I be worried that it will kill me?

[Noscaasi]

They said it with bird flu, they said it with S.A.R.S if this turnes into the pandemic that the media are syaing then I will be very suprised.

Atleast its only a nasty type of flu, it could be so much worse.

[Laika]

SARS had a frighteningly high mortality rate, around 17% in Hong Kong. Swine Flu's got nothing on it.

[Nirvlime]

I saw on the news the other day that the masks won't do shit. The virus is small enough to get right through it. I dunno if that's true or not.

[Vapor17]

The flu hasn't reached Sweden yet :D

[Hazel1558]

only 1 person in either the States or Canada has died, and that was due to it being untreaten.

the other 149 are cases from countries where the medical programs arent as advanced.

There's a simple vaccine that can be administered and eliminates the virus in the human body.

btw, people die, it happens, its unpreventable, its a commonality, therefore i dont think its "below the belt" to joke.

Their is no cure for the virus in which it is treatable by a vaccine. It can only be treated at the early stages with medication think its within the first 48 hours of recognising the symptoms of it so your body can fight against it. If it goes untreated then it can be incurable they haven't found a cure for it hence why everyone is high alert with it and setting up precautions for people to recognise the signs. Thats why their is not alot of deaths from it.


Im not concerned unless it mutates with other forms of the flu. if that happens we are screwed :(

Oh and Hazel i understand where your coming from now :P. although that is like saying people are dieing from being tired everyday and im tired right now so should I be worried that it will kill me?

Sarcasim won't be come of you, this is a serious thread might I remind you so no need to be funny about it.


I saw on the news the other day that the masks won't do shit. The virus is small enough to get right through it. I dunno if that's true or not.

Yeah the masks are useles. If someone sneezes the droplets land on surfaces people put their hands on that surface and spread it from person to person regardless whether they wear a mask or not.

[impjim]

Actually i wasn't being sarcastic i was being serious. people get colds everyday and at the moment there are a few other bugs going around that aren't really worse than Swine Flu. This is why the country is gonna be in turmoil because everyone will be thinking they have it when actually that mite only have a normal cold and whilst it would be brave (or stupid) to just carry on living normally the fact of the matter is that most people will be okay.

So worst comes to worst (or worser :S) and 30 million get it in the UK killing 1-2 million.

Oh and what you said in reply to Redstar is a bit dodgy. If i got it i would just leave it. Whilst tamiflu stops you from being ill quicker it causes vomiting, diarrhea, adominal pains and headaches. so basically it makes things worse :undecided:. and if you have a REALLY bad reaction to it can cause hepatitis or Liver Enzymes. thats not to mention that it can have serious neurological affects as well. It can cause people to harm themselves and because of this the tamiflu tablets aren't given to people agen 10-19. so if your in that age bracket (like me) then you aint getting cured. if you dont work in the NHS, Police and other forces that keep the country going then you wont get it either. this is mainly due to the fact that the government only have enough ofor 25% of the population

So i would really stop thinking that you have a back-up in this tamiflu medicine. Fortunately work has begun on creating a vaccine :)

[Nirvlime]

There's been over 200 infects in the US.

Has anyone seen Mexico City during "rush hour"? Biggest city in the world has become a ghost town.

[Hazel1558]

Actually i wasn't being sarcastic i was being serious. people get colds everyday and at the moment there are a few other bugs going around that aren't really worse than Swine Flu. This is why the country is gonna be in turmoil because everyone will be thinking they have it when actually that mite only have a normal cold and whilst it would be brave (or stupid) to just carry on living normally the fact of the matter is that most people will be okay.

So worst comes to worst (or worser :S) and 30 million get it in the UK killing 1-2 million.

Oh and what you said in reply to Redstar is a bit dodgy. If i got it i would just leave it. Whilst tamiflu stops you from being ill quicker it causes vomiting, diarrhea, adominal pains and headaches. so basically it makes things worse :undecided:. and if you have a REALLY bad reaction to it can cause hepatitis or Liver Enzymes. thats not to mention that it can have serious neurological affects as well. It can cause people to harm themselves and because of this the tamiflu tablets aren't given to people agen 10-19. so if your in that age bracket (like me) then you aint getting cured. if you dont work in the NHS, Police and other forces that keep the country going then you wont get it either. this is mainly due to the fact that the government only have enough ofor 25% of the population

So i would really stop thinking that you have a back-up in this tamiflu medicine. Fortunately work has begun on creating a vaccine :)

I will re quote what you said :) :


Oh and Hazel i understand where your coming from now :P. although that is like saying people are dieing from being tired everyday and im tired right now so should I be worried that it will kill me?

This did not sound like you were going on about everyday bugs or colds this looked like you were being funny so I did not misinterpret it was they way you worded it.

Also in response to you regarding my post to RedStar, their was nothing dodgy about it at all its the truth and is what is being broadcast. Thats up to you whether you want to be treated or not. Reality is no matter what medication you take their are always side effects and all meds react differently to different people thats why they list all the side effects. Its not their to say your gonna get them all its their to say what you may get. Also tamiflu is not the only meds being used to treat swine flu btw. Yes i know people get bugs, flu, infections, colds etc everyday its part of life but with swine flu knocking about you need to be aware that if you have these symptoms you need to check it out, that why they are testing people for it. Just because you have flu doesn't mean you have the virus but you could have it. The only way to find this out is to be tested for it. I don't think people realise the potential that this can cause. I am not saying this to cause panic I am saying it because their are alot of very naive people out their so I am getting my point across.

Their is meds available and enough to treat over 50% of the population of the UK and yes their is a cure being made for it which will take months to find and be made available to people so in the mean time its better to be safe than sorry.

And yes people die everyday its the only thing we live to do at the end of the day but would you want to die sooner or later the choice is yours :P

[M-47]

its crazy swine flu but the f***ing bastard who brought it to england it was this scotish guy who went to mexico and just got it and fought ok lets go to a country that know ones got this desiease and give them all it

[kuja84]

Agree. Give it 1-2 weeks and everybody will get over it. They make it so big, becuase it is so "fresh and new".

the flu or the media hype?? :P

overhyped bollocks. if this was a virus which actually killed people rather getting some sniffles than i would be 'scared'. people who have had it describe it as no worce than a cold. the media are bored, aloualougth they have the mps expenises row to obesse over.

[Residentzombie]

L_ha hit the nail on the head. Media makes big deals of everything but the news that matters most. Although major networks are told by the owners that own them what to tell the people watching. Welcome to one form of mind control. It's like a magician performing a 'trick' and as his left hand performs the illusion, he makes you focus on his right hand.

[Transcendence]

The flu hasn't reached Sweden yet :D

But you're Swedish. God is kind to disabled folks. He doesn't like to constantly put a group of people at a disadvantage. ;)

[Murton]

I do think it's being overhyped at this moment in time, however, we're in summer now and it's still reached official Pandemic status. Once the actual 'flu season' hits when we get towards winter time, that's when we're likely to see the true effects, too early to say before then.

Definitely heard from somewhere, though I forget the exact source, that the initial death toll isn't the worry, it's what could follow later down the line.

At the same time though, there's much worse out there than Swine Flu. If someone goes travelling in Africa and ends up rediscovering the ebola virus and taking it to a major airport, then we'd have something to worry about...

[Yamaharu243]

actualy they're saying that its going to hit people hard during the summer, and since theyve discovered cases in the area around me, i'am so hoping it hits when i'am abroad XD

Although...they say that if it doesnt hit now that its going to hit during winter which is going to be severe

[CraigyBL2]

It's spreading like wild fire around me. The outbreak has occured in my old school (I've left now) and the school next door to is and the flu panthlets are coming by the day. My sister had the symptoms and we were gonna call out a doctor but within hours she felt fine again, it was weird. She more then likely was just tyring to get out of school the next day. xD

[amplifiedAnt]

It's spreading like wild fire around me. The outbreak has occured in my old school (I've left now) and the school next door to is and the flu panthlets are coming by the day. My sister had the symptoms and we were gonna call out a doctor but within hours she felt fine again, it was weird. She more then likely was just tyring to get out of school the next day. xD


Quite possible that the symptoms were entirely psychological. Make somebody believe enough that they could be ill and their body can make them physically suffer. Psychosomatic illness it's called.

Even now though, it shouldn't yet be classed as 'dangerous.' Tamiflu can treat the symptoms (until the strain mutates) and there has been no confirmed deaths to date that were actually CAUSED by swine flu. Either underlying conditions or a couple unconfirmed, so people need to chill the heck out. I'd still regard the reaction (media etc.) as scare-mongering at the moment, but it does pay to stay aware.

[pearce1966]

im going on holiday next week and apparantly there checking ur temp and blood pressure.
my friends scared of planes and heights so as always hes gonna be cacking it so he might be suspected lol

[Residentzombie]

Well looks like the vaccines are just about ready. Anyone placing bets that they will be mandatory? Little to most folks know the actual virus exists in the vaccine along with mercury poisoning - just what your body needs! More folks will die from the vaccine than the actual virus itself.

[vertigu9219]

Well looks like the vaccines are just about ready. Anyone placing bets that they will be mandatory? Little to most folks know the actual virus exists in the vaccine along with mercury poisoning - just what your body needs! More folks will die from the vaccine than the actual virus itself.

Is'nt that how most vaccines against viruses are formed?
Not everything is part of a global conspiracy.
I imagine it will not be widely distributed and will be used on the seriously ill only. The majority of deaths in the UK who had this flu had underlying health issues. Some would have died whether they had contracted swine flu or not.

[Residentzombie]

Vertigu, must you assume that I haven't researched everything I speak on? The swine flu had already been a minor problem in America back in 1976 and our government fear mongered the public to get the vaccine. More people got seriously ill and died from the actual vaccine than the actual swine flu itself.

For everyone's enjoyment here are the commercials fearmongering propaganda to the American public: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk

What Dr. Ron Paul has to say regarding that period of time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB5-Y08qbjo

Don't be a sheep and do your own research people. Decide for yourself if it is worth getting this shot instead of assuming that you have to take it.

[amplifiedAnt]

Little to most folks know the actual virus exists in the vaccine


What the hell are you on? You've just defined vaccines.

I'm all for awareness of the fake climate of fear (I'm even an active protestor against the erosion of civil liberties in the UK), but your posts veer past logic and into pure paranoia.

It's all very well saying "don't be a sheep," but if your research purely depends upon looking at sources closely related to only one side of the argument, then that's the one you're going to swallow. Be that left or right wing, capitalist or socialist. You can't simply state that people are being duped by one point of view and then cite the extreme opposite as the truth; the reality (generally) settles somewhere between the two.

[Paddy]

There is swine flu but not as big as govermant claimed! Same as it started in Mexico while it started in USA! I don't want to sound like I know everything but I think most of the people who way more than I do about it. In my opinion they did it to draw atation to swine flu not recesion!

I know it doesn't make much sense but I believe in it!

[no smart comments please]

[vertigu9219]

What the hell are you on? You've just defined vaccines.

I'm all for awareness of the fake climate of fear (I'm even an active protestor against the erosion of civil liberties in the UK), but your posts veer past logic and into pure paranoia.

It's all very well saying "don't be a sheep," but if your research purely depends upon looking at sources closely related to only one side of the argument, then that's the one you're going to swallow. Be that left or right wing, capitalist or socialist. You can't simply state that people are being duped by one point of view and then cite the extreme opposite as the truth; the reality (generally) settles somewhere between the two.
Thats just what ResidentZombie does.
I think he thinks everything is an episode of the x-files.
I am sick of trying to argue with him. So I am not gonna bother anymore. There is no point.:|

[Residentzombie]

Paddy is correct, swine flu is way more of a non-event than most other major problems going on in the world right now. More people die of the common flu each year than the swine flu, so why is the common flu not major headline news? It's comical when you realise how much they are fearmongering to us. The question is if the vaccine did become mandatory whould you guys be like wtf is going on here? Or would you just conform with what governments want to inject into our bodies? It is YOUR body, not the government's. I say it would be easier for European nations to make in mandatory more so than the US for the simple fact that Europe has government provided healthcare. If you refuse the shot you don't get the government healthcare. I'm not saying this will happen, but just a topic to discuss as a possibility.

[Paddy]

Paddy is correct, swine flu is way more of a non-event than most other major problems going on in the world right now. More people die of the common flu each year than the swine flu, so why is the common flu not major headline news? It's comical when you realise how much they are fearmongering to us. The question is if the vaccine did become mandatory whould you guys be like wtf is going on here? Or would you just conform with what governments want to inject into our bodies? It is YOUR body, not the government's. I say it would be easier for European nations to make in mandatory more so than the US for the simple fact that Europe has government provided healthcare. If you refuse the shot you don't get the government healthcare. I'm not saying this will happen, but just a topic to discuss as a possibility.

Nice, I'm correct lol

[Residentzombie]

Don't get me wrong swine flu does exist, I'm not saying it doesn't. I am saying that people have died from it. What I am trying to convey is that this is such a small problem, why is there all this attention and fearmongering going on in the government and mainstream media about it? Is it to simply push the agenda of people getting the vaccine? Are those pushing the fearmongering about this involved in profiting in some way from the vaccines being administered? If more people actually die from taking the vaccine than if they did nothing at all, was it still ethical to push the vaccinations on people?

[Paddy]

You're not talking to be, right?

[Transcendence]

I agree zombie. It's definitely over-exagerated. There's a breakout of djubonic plague in China. Now that's a fucking real scary disease.