Someone explain H1N1 'frenzy' to me plz.

[Angleochoas]

Someone explain H1N1 \'frenzy\' to me plz.

I'm not quite getting why everyone is so concerned with H1N1.
In terms of susceptible population 'being at risk' of getting 'the flu', I understand a large percent of the world population 'could' contract it.
However, we all know the flu - or any infection for that matter can be a real hazard to people with health complications.

Why is it being touted as 'such a scare' to the regular healthy population that normally fight off anything from variations of the flu, meningitis, strep throat, etc, you name it...

Two example media stories;

CNN Report - Military planning for possible H1N1 outbreak

Now, take this into perspective;
Reuters - Costa Rican president has swine flu

In regards to the above and the story about Costa Rica's president, I'd like to copy/paste some excerpts;

- Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, 68 (years old)
- Arias suffers from asthma

"Apart from the fever and a sore throat, I feel well and in good shape to carry out my work by telecommuting. I expect to return to all my duties on Monday," he said in a statement.


Should he not be rushed to the hospital and kept on constant vigil? If you get my point...

A 68 year old world leader with asthma 'has no worries' in a mild case, how would a very 'bad case' affect someone in the prime of their health? (I don't recall any of the media addressing that point - to alleviate people's stress) I don't get it.

Is this something like the killer bees that were supposed to be up here a few decades ago?

H1N1 strains caused roughly half of all human flu infections in 2006

Reference;
Influenza A virus subtype H1N1

 

[paladius]

Re: Someone explain H1N1 \'frenzy\' to me plz.

The H1N1 strain has genetic coding of swine flu, avian flu, and human flu. Some even say Spanish human flu. It's looking like it was created in lab. Spanish flu was an odd strain which affected mainly healthy young and middle aged adults. It was deadly to a much higher percentage of those populations than the normal flu. The bird flu, as you may know is also much deadlier than normal flu, however current bird flu strain is not easily transmitted from human to human. Current bird flu needs to physical transmission such as ingestion of body fluids.

What the concern is, is that if the human/bird/swine DNA component of this flu virus can mutate in a host (someone who has it) to a more contagious strain, it could kill many many people. And what better way to mutate genetic DNA other than to infect a population with a less deadly strain and let nature takes its course?

So, basically, there is good chance that this not-so-deadly flu will quickly mutate and become a serious issue.

Imagine everyone who had flu last year that you saw. Now Imagine 1 out of 3 dead. That is what is possible. Once that news breaks, the general public will go into panic mode and there will not be enough anti-viral medication to go around. In fact, anti-virals, which were legal for a citizen to buy a few years ago, have since been banned by the US government for over-the-counter sales. What this means is that who has a better chance of surviving and who doesn't will be controlled ALMOST 100% by the government, speciffically FEMA, but FEMA, if you've noticed all the FEMA top officials are really military generals and such. SO, martial law will be enforced to "administer" and or "control" the populous. When the antivirals run out, or when they stop administering them, there will be riots. It could be riots of sick, oozing, and hallucinating under high fever people, or zombies. Why do you think so many people have bought guns and ammo in past year.

The human psyche and the universal consciousness are strange forces and I you know that you have a "feeling" of something coming. Well so does the military, and hence preparations for martial law.

A mid-October due date is looking like a possible time frame, although it also may not happen until spring 2010. Depends on the hosts ability to mutate a gene.

 

[Darby]

Re: Someone explain H1N1 \'frenzy\' to me plz.

Should he not be rushed to the hospital and kept on constant vigil?

No. If we rushed everyone to the hospital with the flu and kept a constant vigil over them where would be put them all? Parking lot, basment, attic, halls? Who would keep the vigil? The hospital staff would be totally overwhelmed - and the patients who really need attention would have no one watching over them.

The treatment for flu, once you have it, is the same for all forms...98% need bed rest at home for a few days to a week. A few with severe cases might be seen at the ER and need prescription medication. Less than 1% need hospitalization.

Very few people who are flu symptomatic are even going to be diagnosed (lab testing for the specific genetic factors) for a specific strain of flu because the treatment is the same...and the labs would be overwhelmed with flu tests and the other patients who really need lab work would not be diagnosed.

Is this something like the killer bees that were supposed to be up here a few decades ago?

Yes. See the post directly above me for an example of the hysteria.

The bottom line is that tens of thousands of people die worldwide each and every year from what is termed seasonal flu.