Saturday, May 2, 2009

2 cases of swine flu confirmed in Florida


We got this news just as I was getting ready to leave work, one of the cases is in my county. Ugh....What an initiation for me in my new job.

10 comments:

Doug said...

Well if nothing else you've got job security.
You know on the one hand we have the media way over hyping this thing and then on the other there are those of the opinion that this is really no big deal.
Reality is probably somewhere between.
I was watching one of those talking head shows last night and they had some epidemiologist on there and he said there's one thing that seems to be escaping notice by some.
This bug appears to be readily transmissible across and between birds, pigs and humans. Fortunately the strain, at present, seems to be pretty mild. Basically he said the real story will be told come Fall.
One has to wonder why such a meek strain of flu is causing such drastic measures to be taken as we see in Mexico where the entire country is basically in lock down, or parts of Texas and other states where tens of thousands of students are being held out of school. Fort Worth school district shut down for two weeks and they have like what, two kids with the flu? Something 'aint adding up. Either we are way over reacting or we aren't getting the whole story.
Now you can take this for what it's worth which is probably a hill of beans but I've also heard of quarantine centers being ramped up nationwide as well as thousands of plastic coffins being stockpiled by our favorite uncle. Speaking only for myself but I'm going to be pissed if I end up in a plastic coffin. I'd like to think I'd at least rate knotty pine.
Ah well, probably nothing to see here folks, move along.
Keep up the good work Cindy, we're counting on you :)

Ric Larson said...

But so far, the flu's oink has been worse than its bite.

mat said...

For all you lefties don't get mad but there has to be a story to sell papers or advertising. We should be ever vigilant when there is a threat to public safety but we need to use good judgement and not try to scare everybody. Cindy keep up the good work and everybody wash your hands. Any kind of flu is never fun but risking your life is no joke. Stock up on hand sanitizer and keep one by every sink. Remember when we were little? Alcohol kills all germs.

Ric Larson said...

A flu expert in New York says there's no reason to believe the new virus is a more serious strain than seasonal flu.

News paper hype?

Doug said...

And he's right probably. Even weaker maybe. For now. Even your run of the mill seasonal flu kills some thirty thousand people a year. This one yet shows no sign of such virility.
Which again begs the question. Why the draconian type preventative measures for some "run of the mill" type flu?

Ric Larson said...

I can see Doug, that you and I have read the same news articles.

Cindy said...

Yes, there is always flu around and it's not fun to get and thousands do die from it every flu season. I always get a flu shot. The reason that we are taking this one so seriously is that no one has any immunity towards it and there is no vaccine so there is the potential, if it is not kept in control, for millions to be ill, and many thousands to die from it. So it's not that it's any more severe than any other flu, our worry is the number of people that could become ill and how are we going to handle that in terms of available medicines, hospital bed space for the sickest people , etc. And just because cases appear to be mostly mild now, there is always the potential, if the virus mutates, for that to change too.

Dave said...

Germ (warfare) pandemic panics and terrifies the world. The only solution is a global lock down, martial law is imposed worldwide. Mandatory experimental swine virus vaccinations to be administered to the mass populations. All dissenters will be quarantined and prosecuted. By order of the world court.

Joanna said...

Cindy,I hope that you are spared this "flu". Whether it be hype or not,you are in the front line.I hope all is hype for dedicated people like you!!!

Ric Larson said...

MEXICO CITY (May 4) - Mexican officials lowered their swine flu alert level in the capital on Monday and said they will allow cafes, museums and libraries to reopen this week, even as world health officials weighed raising their pandemic alert to the highest level.
Mexican officials declared the epidemic to be waning at its epicenter, announcing that Wednesday will conclude a five-day closure of nonessential businesses they credit for reducing the spread of the new virus. They haven't decided when to reopen schools nationwide, saying inspections are necessary before students can return to class.