Little-Acorn
04-30-2009, 05:31 PM
I'm not a doctor, and don't know much about these various diseases etc. But as I've pointed out before, I've heard no specific reasons why this swine-flu outbreak is any worse than the "ordinary" flu bugs that pop up ever year. People die from flu every year, and a few people have died from this swine flu this year. And this season isn't over, more people can and probably will die from swine flu.
But are the deaths from this swine flu strain, more numerous than deaths from the flu strain(s) we had last year? Or the year before?
Or, what percentage of people who get "ordinary" flu, die from it? And what percentage of people who get this swine flu, die from that?
I've seen no reports that even ask this question, much less try to answer it. But maybe I haven't looked in the right place. If you've seen such a report or article, can you please post a link to it?
All I've seen, are people running around like chickens with their heads off, screaming in fear over a "swine flu" that, so far, is no more harmful than every other flu we've gotten over the years. But not giving us any reasons WHY.
Why all the hooraw over this year's flu, where there wasn't nearly so much panic last year? Or the year before?
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http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3606923.story
Scientists see this flu strain as relatively mild
Genetic data indicate this outbreak won't be as deadly as that of 1918, or even the average winter.
by Karen Kaplan and Alan Zarembo
April 30, 2009
As the World Health Organization raised its infectious disease alert level Wednesday and health officials confirmed the first death linked to swine flu inside U.S. borders, scientists studying the virus are coming to the consensus that this hybrid strain of influenza -- at least in its current form -- isn't shaping up to be as fatal as the strains that caused some previous pandemics.
In fact, the current outbreak of the H1N1 virus, which emerged in San Diego and southern Mexico late last month, may not even do as much damage as the run-of-the-mill flu outbreaks that occur each winter without much fanfare.
"Let's not lose track of the fact that the normal seasonal influenza is a huge public health problem that kills tens of thousands of people in the U.S. alone and hundreds of thousands around the world," said Dr. Christopher Olsen, a molecular virologist who studies swine flu at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison.
His remarks Wednesday came the same day Texas authorities announced that a nearly 2-year-old boy with the virus had died in a Houston hospital Monday.
"Any time someone dies, it's heartbreaking for their families and friends," Olsen said. "But we do need to keep this in perspective."
But are the deaths from this swine flu strain, more numerous than deaths from the flu strain(s) we had last year? Or the year before?
Or, what percentage of people who get "ordinary" flu, die from it? And what percentage of people who get this swine flu, die from that?
I've seen no reports that even ask this question, much less try to answer it. But maybe I haven't looked in the right place. If you've seen such a report or article, can you please post a link to it?
All I've seen, are people running around like chickens with their heads off, screaming in fear over a "swine flu" that, so far, is no more harmful than every other flu we've gotten over the years. But not giving us any reasons WHY.
Why all the hooraw over this year's flu, where there wasn't nearly so much panic last year? Or the year before?
------------------------------------
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3606923.story
Scientists see this flu strain as relatively mild
Genetic data indicate this outbreak won't be as deadly as that of 1918, or even the average winter.
by Karen Kaplan and Alan Zarembo
April 30, 2009
As the World Health Organization raised its infectious disease alert level Wednesday and health officials confirmed the first death linked to swine flu inside U.S. borders, scientists studying the virus are coming to the consensus that this hybrid strain of influenza -- at least in its current form -- isn't shaping up to be as fatal as the strains that caused some previous pandemics.
In fact, the current outbreak of the H1N1 virus, which emerged in San Diego and southern Mexico late last month, may not even do as much damage as the run-of-the-mill flu outbreaks that occur each winter without much fanfare.
"Let's not lose track of the fact that the normal seasonal influenza is a huge public health problem that kills tens of thousands of people in the U.S. alone and hundreds of thousands around the world," said Dr. Christopher Olsen, a molecular virologist who studies swine flu at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison.
His remarks Wednesday came the same day Texas authorities announced that a nearly 2-year-old boy with the virus had died in a Houston hospital Monday.
"Any time someone dies, it's heartbreaking for their families and friends," Olsen said. "But we do need to keep this in perspective."