The Swine Flu (aka Swine Influenza A/H1N1)

[Thorin]

There have been reports of a new strain of an animal flu virus, called the Swine Flu (technically known as Swine Influenze A/H1N1).  Most of the infections have been found in Mexico, with a couple handfuls in the US and Canada.

What makes this particular strain troubling is that:

- we don't have a vaccine, meaning if it wants to spread we can't stop it with needles, only with quarantines

- it spreads pretty easily, and

- it targets 20 to 40 year olds rather than the usual young and old

That last bit is probably the biggest concern, because 20 to 40 year olds are used to not dying from the flu, so they're much less likely to self-quarantine than young or old people.

Now, there are lots of other diseases that kill more people day than this flu infects (for instance, malaria) so it's important to keep the infection and body counts in perspective.  Nevertheless, experts are suggesting this could finally be that flu pandemic they've been saying we're overdue for.

Interesting links:

Swine Flu at CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Swine Flu at WHO (World Health Organization)

[Darren Dirt]

I was reading up on it yesterday; scary thing is it sounds familiar, esp. the "think you are over it, then it comes back and floors you for a few days, and omg the HEADACHES" part of it...

fighting a headache right now, been like 4 days, and yet haven't visited Mexico or Texas lately...

[Tom]

Also, it seems to be a mild strain so far, so it will just seem like a normal flu, and not even a really bad one. But they say it has the potential to morph into something more deadly.

[Tonnica]

Gotta keep an eye out for this one.

Now on one hand we've got the advantage of better health practices than 1968 but as the Q&A article the beeb has published states, it may be hard to contain with all the air travel we use nowadays. It could be transferred from the coasts to more landlocked areas that way so it's not quite as safe to be a landlocked loser.

Prevention, awareness, and plain soap & water will help the world get through.

(the ports in Madagascar are still open though so I'm not too worried yet )

[Darren Dirt]

(the ports in Madagascar are still open though so I'm not too worried yet )

[ x ] obvious joke
[ x ] still funny though

[Tom]

[Tonnica]

There are now two reported cases in Calgary according to this story on Edmonton Journal.

Flights are being canceled and refunds are being provided but it looks like it will keep spreading.

[Darren Dirt]

STUPID thing is, most of the new articles mention coughing etc. as the symptoms to look for.

Yet check out this sign:

Based on the former, I'm fighting a normal bug, or maybe even allergies.

But based on the latter, heck I mighta got this swine flu -- the nausea, light-headedness, diarrhea, and headaches are like 5 or 6 days so far. And I'm getting enough sleep (amazingly) yet not seeming to get over this bitch.

[Darren Dirt]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Symptoms_of_swine_flu.svg

I don't have it.

and neither do you, hypochondriac!