http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/26/swine.flu/index.html?eref=rss_world
Where did this come from? I have never heard of this before today. Now it's everywhere.
Swine Flu
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Obama visited Mexico, fucked a pig in the ass, the rest is history.
Beldaran wrote:Obama visited Mexico, fucked a pig in the ass, the rest is history.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8u7px_GzWQ
In all seriousness, I have absolutely no idea where this came from. After all, we all know that it is utterly impossible for genetic material to mutate in such a way as to alter the traits of an organism. Thus, it is utterly inconceivable that a new, virulent flu strain would appear that cannot be stopped by current vaccines. Must be magic.
The planet is continuing its ongoing attempt to wipe out humanity and restore balance.
But we'll find a way to counter it soon enough. SARS was a big problem for a while, but we stopped THAT.
It's the Happening!
Sweet. I'll just stay indoors. That seems to make the most sense.
Aegix Drakan wrote:The planet is continuing its ongoing attempt to wipe out humanity and restore balance.
You know, sometimes, it actually seems like that. So from what I've gathered, it's the pigs fault, correct?
First the birds, now the pigs....
Somehow I think there must be a connection between the two. Flying pigs anyone?
Listen to this guys podcast. At the very least you might laugh (to some, he sounds crazy), but some of it is actually interesting.
Then, there's this:
Probably conspiracy, but hell...meh.
A lot of people are taking that guys words the wrong way. I don't think he's saying "OMG KILL ALL THESE PEOPLE" I think he's right, that the world would be in better shape IF in an ALTERNATE REALITY for example, we had less people, the world WOULD be in better shape. But a lot of people are just saying "he's wanting to kill a bunch of people off, he created the new Swine Flu strand!! :O"
I saw this on xkcd today:
I have a feeling this has been around for a little while. After all, the symptoms are essentially the same as the regular flu, so people wouldn't've been going to the hospital saying, "I think I might have a different type of flu, test me." Nobody would've noticed anything until people started dying from it, and that's what happened last week.
Cloral wrote:I have a feeling this has been around for a little while. After all, the symptoms are essentially the same as the regular flu, so people wouldn't've been going to the hospital saying, "I think I might have a different type of flu, test me." Nobody would've noticed anything until people started dying from it, and that's what happened last week.
Well, there actually is something of a big difference - as of yet, there is no vaccine for it. I think that's primarily what separates this from a typical flu outbreak. Having a flu outbreak where people die isn't actually all that uncommon.
That is true, people die from the flu every year. The difference is the rate. With the normal flu, the mortality rate is under 1% and is mostly confined to the very young, very old, and already sick. The current outbreak in Mexico City may have a mortality rate as high as 7% and has no problem killing otherwise healthy people. By comparison, the flu pandemic of 1918 had a 2.5% mortality rate.
The viri (swine, bird and human cold)... started jumping species. The current swine (a mixture of all three)... seems to be resistant to 2 of our 4 biggest (strongest (hope I remember what I read right)) antibiotics... which would mean that it has mutated - yet again.
Seems viri's favorite thing to do is mutate...
Doctors are too antibiotic happy. They prescribe 'em for everything. Which then makes our immune system screwy. Now I'm not saying don't take antibiotics... but don't take 'em for everything. Pick and choose what you take them for.
Overuse makes them useless...
Edit: 4/27/09 @ 12:59p
Article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517958,00.html
Quote: Swine flu is new flu virus combining strains of human, bird and swine flu. Despite the name, experts believe the virus is being transmitted human-to-human, not pig-to-human
I would like to point out that while it's true, antibiotics are used too much, it doesn't have much bearing on the current situation - antibiotics aren't used in the treatment of viruses.
I think the big problem with antibiotics comes from people who don't follow their doctor's directions. They feel better, figure they don't need the medicine anymore, and stop taking it early. That leads to the antibiotic-resistant diseases.
Meh. I certainly don't want to make light of those who've died of this disease in Mexico, but in my opinion the current swine flu paranoia is an example of panic blown way out of proportion. Compare it to the mortality rate of some other infectious diseases (in developed countries):
Ebola (some strains): 90%
HIV: 40%
Meningitis: 25%
Malaria: 15%
Measles: 2%
Pneumonia: 1.7%
Whooping cough: 0.2%
...
Swine flu: 0%
So sure, I'm not going to go out tomorrow and lick people with known swine flu infections, but nor am I going to alter my daily life in any way, or spend time watching "special reports" about the disease on TV.
Well, it's not too big now, but it has potential to become an endemic. Remember the Spanish flu in the 1920's? That wiped out tons of people in the US. This swine flu could do the same. Let's just hope they're able to produce an antibiotic or isolate everybody so it will die off.
Obama visited Mexico, fucked a pig in the ass, the rest is history.
I think you're on to something. :laughing:
I really don't know what to think.
On one hand, I have medical experts telling me that this is similar to other flus. I'm being told to wash my hands, not eat after other people, and try not to come into contact with sick people. If I display flu symptoms I am asked to visit a doctor as soon as possible, mainly for the sake of others that I might otherwise come in contact with.
On the other hand, there's the citizens of America. OH MY GOD IT'S A FLU THERE HASN'T BEEN A FLU SINCE JESUS HAD TO HEAL THAT GUY BY FIGHTING A GRIFFIN! THERE WAS A FLU LAST YEAR BUT NO ONE DIED FROM IT BECAUSE THE FLU IS NOT DANGEROUS AND GEORGE BUSH DUSTED THE COUNTRY FOR IT. THE SWINE FLU IS AN ADVANCED FORM OF AIDS AND IF YOU GET IT THEN EVERYONE YOU TOUCH IS PREGNANT EVEN IF THEY ARE A MAN AND THE BABY WILL HAVE AUTISM! IF YOUR CHILD GOT AN MMR SHOT THEN THEY ALREADY HAVE THE SWINE FLU AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A JOB FOR THE COUNTY PICKING UP TREE BARK TO HELP PREVENT FOREST FIRES. I SAW AN EPISODE OF FAMILY GUY WHERE PETER HAD A EXTRA NIPPLE BECAUSE HE GOT THE SWINE FLU THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE OVER 40 BILLION DEATHS DUE TO SWINE FLU ALREADY! THIS IS A MUSLIM PLOT TO GET US BACK FOR EATING BACON. I AM GOING TO HOMESCHOOL MY TWELVE CHILDREN NOW BECAUSE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE JUST TOO DANGEROUS WITH ALL THESE DISEASES LIKE SWINE FLU THEY CAN GET FROM USING ANOTHER KID'S PENCIL.
Dude, that was bucking frilliant.
Anyone else amused by the fact that people have stopped eating pork? Okay, it sucks for the pork industry, but the sheer irrationality of it is hysterical. Apparently since it has "swine" in the name, people leap to the conclusion that you get it from eating infected pigs... or something... Frankly, I'm really not sure what the thought process is at all.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090429/ap_on_he_me/med_swine_flu
The first US death from the flu.
Oh, and AtmaWeapon, that was funny.
Death toll summary:
(United States Deaths since January 1st, 2009)
Swine Flu: 1
Regular Flu: 13,000
They freaked out in LA yesterday and thought there were two deaths from swine flu. Turns out it was just good-old pneumonia.
rock_nog wrote:Anyone else amused by the fact that people have stopped eating pork? Okay, it sucks for the pork industry, but the sheer irrationality of it is hysterical. Apparently since it has "swine" in the name, people leap to the conclusion that you get it from eating infected pigs... or something... Frankly, I'm really not sure what the thought process is at all.
I could understand that. First off, the word swine itself does not make me want to grill up some pork chops. Second, the idea that people are getting sick from something that is associated with pigs does not make eating pork appetizing at all. It's all perception of stuff, not actual facts.
Talk about "over kill" - "Egypt Orders Slaughter of ALL Pigs over Swine Flu"
http://www.ktvu.com/news/19320844/detail.html
Good job Egypt...
The ironic thing about that? If any of the farmers ever want to raise pigs again, they're going to have to import them. That increases the chance of swine flu coming to their country.
I think the real irony is that Egypt has destroyed these farmers' livelihoods, and in the process has caused far more harm than the swine flu has.
I think the irony is that now Egypt is without pigs and chickens because of their reaction to Bird Flu a few years ago. Way to go Egypt. You're ruining the farmer's live over a non-existent threat.