FLU

[Sharen Crane]

I work in the NHS for a large hospital and the word is, "don't panic"! The symptoms are exactly like those you would expect with ordinary influenza. It seems quite clear listening to the doctors and the World Health Organisation speaking that, whilst it will soon be classed a pandemic, it, in many cases, will manifest itself as "mild".

Why are people turning up at hospitals without being referred by their doctors? Do they do that when they have ordinary 'flu? What utter nonsense. The advice is to stay at home, preferably in bed, drink plenty of fluids and contact your GP. If the GP is worried that you may have contracted swine 'flu then he/she will make the necessary arrangements.

I watched the news last night and what concerned me most of all was the fact that the children in contact with the young girl in Paignton had it in their heads that they were going to die, and were almost inconsolable. Scaremongering and speculation is what has caused this and it is shameful. The media should be hanging their heads at the panic they are causing.

I can't remember the figure used last night, Michael no doubt will, but there were more people who died of winter influenza last year alone than are predicted to die from this strain!

Please get grip everyone and stop panicking. Until such time as I have contracted it I certainly won't be worried! Then I may have to review what I feel, but until then I'm cool!

[e-richard]

From the Guardian (hardly a red-top):

Up to 75,000 Britons will in die in an "inevitable" flu pandemic that could kill as many as 50 million people worldwide, a parliamentary committee warns today.

Mind you that quote was taken from an issue dated 21st July 2008 and was referring to Bird Flu.

QED

[Michael Crane]

I find the panic caused by this new strain of flu well out of perspective. I wonder what proportion of those panicking are smokers? They should be worrying about:

November 4, 2008
Tobacco death clock hits 40 million for decade
The tobacco death clock* unveiled in Geneva by the World Health Organisation has reached a staggering 40 million tobacco-related deaths since 1999.

REFERENCE

W.H.O - Death Clock

[pato]

Isn't this a Chit Chat Topic, there's one running their now?

[Gary/Gaynor]

Gambrinus

I never called you an idiot quite the opposite actually.. My disagreement with you on this subject is you think this is a common run of the day flu where as I dont plain and simple. It looks like its about to go to level 6 soon according to the press. The symptoms may be mild and cause discomfort but it still is not your ordinary flu.

Gary

[Michael Crane]

... The symptoms may be mild and cause discomfort but it still is not your ordinary flu.Gary

I agree. It isn't half as bad as your ordinary flu!