Swine Flu
Filed Under (Freakin Idiot!) by Amy on 04-30-2009
I am having a hard time understanding the hype around this swine flu thing. As far as I can tell, it’s not killing everyone in its path and those who contract it are getting about as sick as they would from the regular flu. The regular flu is more deadly as far as percentages go – so why are we all panicked? What am I missing here?
Seeing the news reports of schools and businesses closing is just craziness to me. Is swine flu more contagious than regular flu? Maybe it’s an issue of us not having enough natural immunity to this virus compared to others?
Rob & I are scheduled to go on a trip to New Mexico leaving tomorrow. He was just told he might have to cancel his trip because his company might be closing down their call center in SE Texas on the Mexican border. WTF?
I’m a little concerned about getting on a plane with this virus floating around, but I plan to practice general rules of hygiene safety by washing my hands frequently and using hand sanitizer through out the day. I’m wondering how many people are going to show up for the flight with face masks.
Hopefully we will look back on this period in a few years time and laugh at ourselves and the ridiculousness of our reactions. I mean, seriously.
I think it’s just all the unknowns with it and the fact that is has killed so many already.
I did see many people in masks at the airports today. And Tracie, there have been about 36,000 people killed from the “regular” flu since January in the US alone. So the scary thing isn’t the amount of deaths.
From my reading here and there about swine flu, the scariest thing that it has is the propensity to kill the young and healthy. The regular flu kills the very young, the very old and the unhealthy. The swine flu gets the rest.
That said, I still flew to Florida on a very full flight, didn’t wear a mask, and probably survived the experience. I did wash my hands, a usual thing, and I carried some hand sanitizer with me and even used it, both unusual things for me.
Have a wonderful trip!
We live in that most unstable of worlds. The world of the 24/7 news cycle. If there is nothing to panic about, how would they sell us erectile dysfunction medications?
That said, it’s very interesting here about where this flu is showing up. In years gone by, people would start dropping like flies before anyone knew what was going on. Information, even over-the-top information probably will slow the spread making it easier for public health organizations to manage.
I don’t mind getting the flu. Sure beats pneumonia!
Have fun in New Mexico. If you see anyone I know, say hello for me!
I hope you’re right. It does seem like it’s all turning out to be a big scare. But I guess better safe than sorry. I can’t believe they’re shutting down businesses near the border though. That’s extreme.