WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SWINE FLU?

[dfreely]

Well, the reason why swine flu got so much media attention is because it was a new virus which was spreading quickly. Unlike the regular seasonal flu, there was no vaccine for some time (even the one out now is rather questionable) and most people did not have an immunity built up against it. So even if the two are equally powerful, swine flu is more deadly simply because you don't have as good a defense against it.

At least the precautions and response being taken seem to be working though.. the spread I believe has slowed down since it first broke out.

[khackdrums]

Pandemic? The pig flu is no 1918 influenza pandemic... It will end just being another global influenza. It's happened dozens of times. The last media frenzy revolved around the avian (bird) flu virus, which didn't end up being much of anything. This can be compared to the common flu, thousands die from that every year...

Khackdrums

[musicfan]

IDK Why Ppl Are Making It a Big Deal...

STAY SAFE And Keep Washing Your Hands..

Dnt Drink From Anyone's Drink...

The Usual...lol

Its Not a Big Deal...

[dfreely]

Well, the avian flu frenzy was never much of anything. There was fear of it's potential, but that was it. It only effected several hundred people, and broke out only in a few countries. Even to date, I believe it hasn't even taken 10% of the lives the swine flu has.

And you shouldn't compare it to the Spanish flu, if that were to be the standard, we'd have no other pandemics. The WHO has their own set of guidelines, whatever they may be, to call something a worldwide pandemic.

[magicdude20]

Regular seasonal flu kills around half a million people every year, in the US its 30,000 and year and it never makes news, the reason why Swine Flu is a big deal, it's most deadly for people who are infants - 24 yrs old. While seasonal flu mainly kills those who already have other serious conditions and the elderly. Yes its sad when anyone dies, but some people are over reacting

[dfreely]

Think about how long the various seasonal flu strains have been around though, they've had decades on end to spread across the world.

[Beau]

I'm kind of nervous about it. I have astma so I can get the shots, but it is still scary, cause we don't know about any side effects. But knowing that I would probably end up in the hospital, with a chance of dying if I do get it, doesn't make the choice hard. I am going to get the shots. Especially after hearing that a 35 year old man from the netherlands died this week, he was a healthy yong man. That made the choice even easier.

Beau

Well, the avian flu frenzy was never much of anything. There was fear of it's potential, but that was it. It only effected several hundred people, and broke out only in a few countries. Even to date, I believe it hasn't even taken 10% of the lives the swine flu has.<BR /><BR />And you shouldn't compare it to the Spanish flu, if that were to be the standard, we'd have no other pandemics. The WHO has their own set of guidelines, whatever they may be, to call something a worldwide pandemic.

Well, the avian flu frenzy was never much of anything. There was fear of it's potential, but that was it. It only effected several hundred people, and broke out only in a few countries. Even to date, I believe it hasn't even taken 10% of the lives the swine flu has.<BR /><BR />And you shouldn't compare it to the Spanish flu, if that were to be the standard, we'd have no other pandemics. The WHO has their own set of guidelines, whatever they may be, to call something a worldwide pandemic.

[khackdrums]

The 1918 Spanish Influenza as the standard for pandemics? What about Smallpox? That should be the standard... In the 20th century alone, Smallpox killed an estimated 500,000,000 people. It killed an estimated 400,000 Europeans each year in the 18th century... At least the 1918 Flu died off after a year, Smallpox has been around for 12,000 years!

Khackdrums

[musicfan]

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

[dfreely]

If the Spanish flu shouldn't be a standard, why on Earth should Smallpox be? By your logic, we might as well do away with the word pandemic.