FLU

[Gary/Gaynor]

This swine flu sounds a bit scary. They predict if it becomes a pandemic it could kill approx 120 million people

Gary

[Michael Crane]

This swine flu sounds a bit scary. They predict if it becomes a pandemic it could kill approx 120 million people

Gary

. . . and if it doesn't, then a handful of people will. Time and time again we are told that a pandemic is upon us, and each time it turns out to be nothing more than scare-mongering. No doubt one day such predictions will be correct. Until then, I will keep an open mind and a box of tissues handy.

[EMM]

Its is of course very worrying and i do not wish to diminsh in anyway the serousness of this ourtbreak but I have been listening to a wide range of news channels, BBC, ITV Sky and on NONE has this figure of 120million been mentioned.
As you would expect Sky is the most inaccurate over the top the others adopting a more reasoned approach.

In recent years we have had , ebola virus, Sars, Bird flu etc again all the headlines suggested worldwide pandemics.

It is far too early to start panicking, the suggestion from the UK health authorities is to stay at home call your doctor if you think you have been in a risk area.

The last thing anyone needs is a rush to hospitals with anyone suffering from a mild cold.

[Lesley Jean]

Again this shows the power of the news media, they love to hype things like this up to sell more papers etc.
It is in Mexico where the worse cases are, the ones in other countries are mild and have been treated so far, quiet easily. I don't think we can be dismissive about this, anyone at risk because they have been to Mexico etc should be careful but the panic that follows this type of hype is ridiculous

[Gary/Gaynor]

From the Times


So far it has killed 2 per cent of those infected. In the worst case scenario it could kill 2 per cent of the world's population. "There have been three big pandemics of flu, one in 1918, one in 1957 and one in 1968. Fifty million died in 1918 and from the other pandemics, maybe a million. This flu has the potential to be bigger than Spanish influenza.

"You don't want to panic too much – it may go away. We have to hope for the best and plan for the worst."

Dr John McCauley, virologist at the National Institute for Medical Research, said the figure of 120 million was "not unreasonable

[SJ & RE]

Bumph bumph and more bumph, to frighten the general public, we, from the response from this site looks like the media are winning again

[Gambrinus]

Well, better stock up on gas masks, water, tinned goods and ammunition.
Anyone seen how my pharamceutical stocks are doing this week? I hope this does not have a negative impact if they have to sell out all their flu medicine to the USA....

Get a grip, people, it's the flu. Chances are, if you are a consumer of the media that is propagating the panic you are also lucky enough to belong to that very small percentage of the world's population that is healthy enough and can afford the treatments to mitigate it's effects.

You can either get on with your life or you can stop for a minute to feel ashamed about contributing to the exploitation of millions that now don't have the health or the means to fight the flu - whatever rocks you boat.

[dodger]

My Girlfriend wants me to go for a swine flu test,she knows I've never been to Mexico but has heard I've been with some pigs in my time......

[Mike,Chislehurst]

[Sharen Crane]

That made me laugh Dodger....

I went in to work yesterday and sneezed, when someone suggested I had swine flu I told them the closest I had gotten to Mexico was a chilli con carne last week!

Seriously though, this media coverage is about what you should expect in the UK! I am not about to worry about what might happen, there are bigger worries in the world today!

[Bruce Wallis]

This is a potentially serious possible outbreak. The panic is already causing problems in hospitals.
My daughter, Lucie, is the sister in A&E, at the NorthEast Surrey hospital at Redhill, which is the nearest hospital with A&E to Gatwick Airport. Every person coming through Gatwick immigration with a snuffle or slight temperature, is being shipped over to her hospital, and they are totally overwhelmed. Their isolation facilities are full, as they are at neighbouring hospitals. Every case is obviously given a blood test, which takes a few hours to come back.
Every test, thankfully, is coming back clear, but the department is swamped, and they are struggling to deal with their main task......Accident and Emergency, and this at a hospital that takes the majority of the victims of accidents on the southern stretch of the M25.
2 days of this, and my daughter and her staff are exhausted.

If we have these emergency situations, provision to screen and deal with them should be set up at the entry airports. Not put on our already over stressed hospitals.

[Gary/Gaynor]

Bruce

Its impossible to screen people at the airports and even if they could have its too late now mathmatics now dictate this could spread around the world no matter what you try to do. It of course may burn it self out naturally and may cause only mild symptoms to those infected. I find Gambrinus comments on its only flu so in affect pull yourself together people absolutely crass for an intelligent man that is total arse. Mexico will now probably have to back to go back to the IMF for another loan and this will cost billions around the globe even if it peters out. Its the last thing needed in these financial circumstances and god forbid if in the winter it mutates and spreads in the normal flu season. But hey Gambrinus at least you can wander down to the beach and stick your head in the sand.

Gary

[Gambrinus]

Bruce

Its impossible to screen people at the airports and even if they could have its too late now mathmatics now dictate this could spread around the world no matter what you try to do. It of course may burn it self out naturally and may cause only mild symptoms to those infected. I find Gambrinus comments on its only flu so in affect pull yourself together people absolutely crass for an intelligent man that is total arse. Mexico will now probably have to back to go back to the IMF for another loan and this will cost billions around the globe even if it peters out. Its the last thing needed in these financial circumstances and god forbid if in the winter it mutates and spreads in the normal flu season. But hey Gambrinus at least you can wander down to the beach and stick your head in the sand.

Gary

What would would have me do? Break out in hysterics? Worry about the financial implications in Mexico? Are you serious? Should I close up shop? Send all my clients away because they may have the flu? How on earth is changing my day to day habits going to prevent anything?

There are people working round the clock in governments, pharmaceutical companies and the World Health Org to contain this problem and mitigate the effects. So far the risk groups are exactly the same as for normal flu - small children, elderly and immuno-compromised people are at risk.
Any fallout generated by a pandemic will also be dealt with by organizations that specialize on crisis management and financial aid.

The advice given by the WHO to people with flu-like symptoms are the same as every year - seek medical assitance, stay home, sleep a lot and stay hidrated.

If there is anything I have missed, PLEASE point me in the right direction but don't brand me an idiot for not breaking into hysterics before the W.H.O. raises it's alert to level 6.

[SJ & RE]

still bumph and bumph. Lets face it if it was named 'Mexican Flu, as it is named in some countries , panic would be less.
I used to be on the the WHPAP(World Health Protection' Panel)which discusses such things and has models to work on. Yes I do not feel overly worried on this epidemic, and if it does grade to a 6 and then become a pandemic the word itself just means it is all over the world. Bit like any flu that we all get in winter which is in different times around the world. Perspective please, Hype and media coverage is laughable and those that panic when they have not been to Mexico or in contact with those who have been there within the last 14 days then there is little to worry about. Masks,once damp from ones own sweat within 3-4 hours is pointless in wearing ,thats not rocket science in its self. That is why they are changed so oftrn in hospital situations.
As they are reminding you, the only good point on media coverage is good hygiene practise which most have forgotten.
I will not insult anyone by putiing it on the site because I trust the majority of this site are intelligent people on the whole and therefore will consider the implications wisely.

[Michael Crane]

The headline in last Saturday's Lincolnshire Echo screamed, 11,000 Dead! This was the worst-case scenario pointed out in a much smaller point-size for deaths in Lincoln.

Scare-mongering or what?