The end is nigh?

[Epical]

Wins the thread for the Chelsea Smile quote from BMTH

+56 Epical Points for getting the reference. <3

[sekaran]

Woohooo.. I have to go to Los Angeles over Mother's Day weekend too.

[Tymon]

http://i39.tinypic.com/2w5ooqb.png

Well.. I guess I'll watch it, if it gets close to my area I'll just avoid eating out for a while, and be more careful about interacting in public (I'm already a basement dweller, so this is no problem)

[Korietsu]

Flu outbreaks are no joke though. The Spanish Flu (was bird flu, not swine flu, but close enough for me) killed at least 20,000,000 people in 1918, and may have killed as many as 100,000,000 worldwide. In the US alone, something like 600,000 people died, and a quarter of the population got the virus.


This may turn out to be just a mild strain. But if it were a bad one, or heaven forbid an even worse disease- well, kiss your asses goodbye.

I'm quoting this for truth. ESPECIALLY after some dumbass came to school with TB this past week. I won't be taking in chances with tards around my campus.

Also, I don't want to deal with the stand scenario.

[Slapper]

Please, watch there be a lack of vaccines available (even though they can make vaccines in a relatively short time).

Nah, I remember hearing that a vaccine the govt stockpiled awhile back worked against the swine flu.

[Shinryuu]

My GF studies medicines and they get classes on pandemics. A few months back she was like "there's probably going to be something comparable to the Spanish flu soon and like 30% of the population will die".

So ya.

[Null]

I love news stories like this.

Is swine flu 'the big one' or a flu that fizzles?

"So there's this flu going around that could possibly kill MILLIONS! But for right now...don't worry about it."

As somebody without an immune system, that works around people all day long, all I can say is...fuck...

[miokomioko]

My GF studies medicines and they get classes on pandemics. A few months back she was like "there's probably going to be something comparable to the Spanish flu soon and like 30% of the population will die".

So ya.

Won't like 99% of that 30% just be China/Africa/India?

Also, just got over a cold, but for like 1.5 weeks now, this cough will not go away. Paranoia readysetgo.

[Seraph]

Won't like 99% of that 30% just be China/Africa/India?

Also, just got over a cold, but for like 1.5 weeks now, this cough will not go away. Paranoia readysetgo.

You are becoming one with the disease. Soon you will crave truffles.

[Penthesilea]

I love news stories like this.

Is swine flu 'the big one' or a flu that fizzles?

"So there's this flu going around that could possibly kill MILLIONS! But for right now...don't worry about it."

As somebody without an immune system, that works around people all day long, all I can say is...fuck...

From what I'm reading, most deaths are attributed to cytokine storm. Easy terms, it means that people with healthy immune systems get stuck in a feedback loop, in which their immune system keeps aggregating macrophages and fluids. So your weakened immune system will probably let you die too, you won't be dying in the same manner as us healthy guys

[Deftscythe]

I hate the word "pandemic." News channels just made it up because it's exactly like epidemic in meaning, but it sounds scarier.

[The Stig]

I hate the word "pandemic." News channels just made it up because it's exactly like epidemic in meaning, but it sounds scarier.

Prepare to be startled!

Spoiler: show

South Park reference

[Deftscythe]

Prepare to be startled!

Spoiler: show

South Park reference

Guinea swine flu.

[Dimmauk]

In San Antonio, Texas.

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD closes all schools


As the number of suspected or confirmed local cases of swine flu climbed to 12, the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District said Sunday it will close all its schools for at least one week.

The district also canceled today’s planned public meeting at Steele High School in Cibolo, where the two Texas cases of swine flu were confirmed last week.

Another 10 suspected cases are being tested — all from the school district or household contacts of the infected students, and ranging from a 6-year-old to people in their 40s, Dr. Sandra Guerra, regional medical director for the Texas Department of State Health Services, said Sunday.

And there may be more out there.

Linda Moses of Cibolo said she's been sick with vomiting, diahrrea and a cough, and both of her sons have shown flu symptoms as well. One attends Clemens High School.

“I allowed him to go over and spend time with his grandparents, which I'm a little worried about now, because that's the last thing they need,” Moses said.

She hasn't been to a doctor yet, but said with the news of the district-wide closure, she's planning to see one as soon as possible.

“It was scary anyway, but it's really kind of hitting kind of close to home now,” Moses said.

Schertz has also closed its public library, Guerra said. Cibolo has closed its parks and is asking churches and places where people gather to postpone activities. It is asking private developments to close their parks as well.

Employees of Bexar County who live in Guadalupe County are being asked to be extra vigilant, and if they or any family members have flu symptoms, to stay home, said Bexar County spokeswoman Laura Jesse.

“Since the school district has made the decision to shut down for the next week, we advise our employees to use their better judgment, definitely, if they are feeling ill, not to come to work,” Jesse said.

That goes for the general population, too, said Emily Palmer, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

“Our recommendations are that people who are sick stay home,” Palmer said. “I don't want to minimize this. We are concerned and we are actively doing surveillance.”

The state also wants doctors to change their normal approach to possible influenza patients, Guerra said.

Instead of running their own tests or using private labs, doctors should contact the state or Metropolitan Health District officials and use those labs to test throat cultures, she said.

She fully expects Bexar County swine flu cases.

“I think we're prepared for that,” she said. “We understand people are people, and we tend to be mobile.”

Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, noted in a press briefing Sunday that only one of the 20 confirmed U.S. cases had been hospitalized.

In Mexico, hundreds have been sickened with the same strain of swine flu that is affecting people in the U.S., and numerous people have died, with 12 of the deaths confirmed as the same strain. Canada has confirmed several cases, while New Zealand and Spain are investigating possible infections.

Why that strain at this point appears to be more lethal in Mexico is still a mystery, Schuchat said.

It's also too soon to say why it appears to be affecting young, healthy people as opposed to the very old and very young, who are generally the most vulnerable, she said.

But those numbers may change as more cases are diagnosed, which health officials expect.

Rebecca Villarreal, spokeswoman for the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City district, said the situation is changing every day.

The school district has set up an information hotline at 210-619-4700 for parents and school employees to call for updates, Villarreal said.

“We recorded the message for the week, and if there's a change we'll update it,” she said, adding that the district is working on adding a Spanish version of the message. “We know we're going to have questions, especially come Friday, (when) the big question will be, ‘Is there going to be school on Monday?'”

The tone of that question may depend on whether it's being asked by parents or students.

“The kids are doing a happy dance,” said Ken Singel, who has a middle-school and high-school student in the district. “My wife's telling me that she's not going to let 'em out, but ... the little one is already agitating for Schlitterbahn.”

Singel's wife is a nursing professor, he said, so they're taking precautions, but are not overly concerned.

[zoobernut]

I hate the word "pandemic." News channels just made it up because it's exactly like epidemic in meaning, but it sounds scarier.

Epidemic is a rapid above normal outbreak of a disease in a localized area (North America), pandemic is a rapid above normal outbreak of a disease over a much larger area (the entire world). Since cases of swine flu popped up in Europe and other places in the world it is a pandemic now.

(News channels did not make it up. I hate media buzz words too but this one is not one of them.)

[Azalee]

I read somewhere that 12 million doses of Tamiflu are going to be administered to states from a Federal Stockpile...

[Deftscythe]

Epidemic is a rapid above normal outbreak of a disease in a localized area (North America), pandemic is a rapid above normal outbreak of a disease over a much larger area (the entire world). Since cases of swine flu popped up in Europe and other places in the world it is a pandemic now.

(News channels did not make it up. I hate media buzz words too but this one is not one of them.)

I found places citing the word being as old as the 19th century, so I suppose you're right on the origin, but epidemic per this definition:

An outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely

can cover all the meaning of pandemic and I still contend that the only reason the media uses pandemic is for fear-mongering to drum up ratings. it may not have originated as a buzz word, but it certainly is one now.

[zoobernut]

I found places citing the word being as old as the 19th century, so I suppose you're right on the origin, but epidemic per this definition:



can cover all the meaning of pandemic and I still contend that the only reason the media uses pandemic is for fear-mongering to drum up ratings. it may not have originated as a buzz word, but it certainly is one now.

Yeah I agree with you on that count. The media does take valid words and turn them into buzz words which pisses me off because the majority of the people using them have no idea what they actually mean they just heard it on the news.

Epidemic can certainly include pandemic in its deffinition as its scope is wider. Pandemic is a more specific term which is basically "an epidemic that has spread across a very wide area."

I guess in this respect either term would work though pandemic is more accurate. Though I don't think very many people watching the news know the difference or why pandemic is a more accurate term for this flu outbreak.

[Vajra]

Swine Flu Double's from 20 to 40 cases

Seems like on CNN they are saying the new 20 cases are comming from the St. Francis High School, 20 more of the kids have the flu now (I'm pretty sure there will be more from that school too, since they reported from the weekend that 70+ felt ill).

[Kang]

I lived through SARS (from Toronto area) and worked on a chicken farm during the bird flu scare. I don't think this really stacks up to those two but we'll see. Seems like we always have a pandemic every couple of years now.