H1N1 Just Isn't That Scary: Why There's No Reason to Go Overboard with Swine Flu Hysteria

[midnight]

So consider this: According to the European Center for Disease Control, there have been 4,092 confirmed deaths from swine flu around the world through Sept. 1. ("Confirmed" deaths is a dubious figure, but I’ll use it for the sake of argument.)

If the same rate were to hold out for the rest of the year, that number would grow to 6,138 for 2009. That would mean you'd have approximately four times the chance of getting killed by a lightning strike (in an average year), and would be 200 times more likely to die in a car crash than to succumb to the swine flu. (Actually, this underestimates the likelihood of dying in a car crash, because anyone can catch a virus but not everyone gets around in a motor vehicle.)
http://www.alternet.org/media/142877/h1n1_just_isn\'t_t...


Those not intending to get the swine flu shot might want to keep this above info. in mind. Also,Rachel Maddow contracted the swine flu, was treated with antiviral drugs, and is fine. So even if you catch the swine, and did not get inoculated do the Rachel.

[waiting for hope]

1. I am just getting over acute bronchitis,

got the test for the H1N1 while at the Dr's and he was treating it like no big deal, that the bronchitis was worse (because I've had pneumonia once before). Came back negative, and my kids didn't get sick when I did .. actually, I don't think I'm taking the flu/H1N1 shots .. call it tinfoil time, but I think it's a bit contrived to get the vaccination proceeds to the Pharma companies.

[uberblonde]

2. I find it fascinating....

That so many people feel compelled to downplay the potential threat of this virus. The fact is, we just don't know what will happen. It didn't die down during the summer like most flu viruses, which means an accelerated mutation cycle. If it mutates into a serious, untreatable virus, we're in trouble.

So I don't know what to expect. And neither do you.

[tavalon]

25. I think it's a way for people to feel control over something they really don't have control over

I think we've been incredibly lucky so far. I hope we will continue to be lucky. But I'm also getting prepared, in case lucky fails us.

[quiller4]

3. I'll get vaccinated not because of the hype but because I have

heart disease and asthma--the same two reasons I've gotten season vaccines for more than a decade. It is an inexpensive precaution because I'm in a high-risk group. Doing"the Rachel" is fine if you are healthy and young. It isn't wise if you are pregnant, older or have chronic health issues.

[timeforpeace]

4. Tell this group not to get hysterical about swine flu? You do know where you're posting, right?

[BrklynLiberal]

6. ROTFLMAO!!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

5. but...but....then how would Big Pharma add to their bottom line...and

of course Darth Cheney has to increase his fortune by having more Tamiflu sold!!!!

:silly:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

7. Okay, I'm one of the skeptics

Three weeks ago I was saying that the H1N1 was a lie and that there was no such thing, and that the big deal being made was for the purpose of selling vaccines.

Now I believe something quite different. I still think the big deal made of it is to sell vaccines, but I do think the H1N1 is a nasty, horrific flu.

Some members of my family are now going into the THIRD week of this thing. Their cough won't leave, their bronchial tubes are congested, they've been to the doctor, to the 24-hour clinic, and two felt so bad it was believed they should've had 911 called on them. For over 1 week they felt completely lethargic, it involves not just regular flu symptoms, but some pretty ugly digestive symptoms as well. I can't imagine someone who has other problems being able to handle this without being in the hospital.

Someone I know said this nasty mutation of the H1N1 was done in a lab?

[waiting for hope]

9. Yes - it was...

http://www.augustforecast.com/2009/07/28/swine-flu-pigs-to-fly-soon/

And by the very company set up to make a ton of money on the vaccines.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

17. I think that's the wave of the future, pharma corporations creating viruses to sell medicines

Corporations are monsters.

[Mojorabbit]

10. I have it myself now

It sucks. Still other than the subset of people who get it and then go into major respiratory failure it is flu and while unpleasant bearable. I am just keeping my fingers crossed it does not mutate into a more virulent form. If it does, we will be in for a nasty fall and winter.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

18. It's a really horrible flu - I hope you feel better

Like I said, my family members are on their third week now, with all kinds of respiratory stuff, but it started fairly quickly, so if you seem to be handling it, it probably will just last a while but not get worse.

You're right that some people go into respiratory failure with it. I would love to get my hands on the assholes that created this (or ordered this created) and kick them till they look like viruses.

[MinneapolisMatt]

8. I'm just coming out of a very nasty flu...

...let me just say the first 4 days were unbelievable. It was so awful. It was like having the stomach flue, the regular flue, and some coughing mixed with a head cold. The worst part? Being too tired to sleep! AHHHHH!

I'm not sure if I had H1N1 or not because I didn't want to go to the doctor and I'm quite healthy and 33. However, I would have gone if it got to that point were I couldn't walk or something.

Today started off poorly, but after some Advil, I'm feeling the best I have since Tuesday morning. So hopefully I'll wake up tomorrow feeling even better.

:)

[whyverne]

12. I swore I wasn't getting into this again.

I'm a single father of an ASD kid with little outside support and if I get this damn flu and get knocked down for 4 to 5 days or my son gets it and I have to fret about him dying because some ignorant assholes won't take their medicine due to their worries that someone is going to make too much money, I swear I'm going to come to each one of your houses and punch you right in the fucking nose.

Whew, longest sentence of the day.

[MinneapolisMatt]

16. Woah...

...what? I haven't left my apartment since Monday night. And I probably got it from my boyfriend of 10 years who is a school teacher and picked it up there. Thankfully his case was more mild.

Jesus. Think a little before you go off on someone. I don't know what your point is? Because I sure as hell could give you a big fucking sob story about my life too. You're not the only out there with HUGE problems.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

19. That's the swine flu. It's pretty darn horrific. Feel better soon. nt

[tavalon]

26. If you are in the US and had the flu this week or last (or any time since June)

you had H1N1. The regular seasonal flu hasn't made the trip over and H1N1 decided not to leave over the summer.

[xchrom]

11. max baucus thanks all of those who die -- or who get really really sick and have no one to turn to

for insurance relief.

[Warpy]

13. There's no telling who it will hit hardest

Three schoolkids died of it in this town in the last week. There was no way to protect them because the vaccine isn't out yet.

Lots of other kids have had anything from mild symptoms to an ordinary, nasty flu.

There's just no way to tell.

[niyad]

14. I was going to say--if I get that flu, will go visit max and eric and. . .oh wait, they HAVE health

care coverage, don't they? paid for by US

[Tutankhamun]

15. I hope Rupert Murdoch gets swine flu.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

20. I hope ALL Republicans get the swine flu nt

[eppur_se_muova]

22. Well, at least the name would finally be accurate then. nt

[kestrel91316]

21. The only hysteria I see is from the anti-vaccine crowd. I do see a lot of

pro-active informational outreach on the part of CDC and WHO. And the medical professionals I have spoken to about it are pretty cool-headed, and are all planning on doing their part to decrease community risk by getting the H1N1 vaccine. As I plan to.

[tavalon]

27. I'm really unhappy that they decided to put thimerosal in it

I'm going to get it anyway. Rob Peter to pay Paul and all that. I would rather live through this year and figure out what to do with my brain when it goes all Alzheimer's like on me later. My hospital wants me to get both the H1N1 and the regular seasonal flu shot on the same day. I won't do that.

[kestrel91316]

28. I am not afraid in the least of the tiny amount of thimerosol in a dose of

vaccine. But then, I am not a 25 lb toddler.

Furthermore, statistical studies have ruled out vaccines with thimerosol as a cause of autism in children.

[Yehonala]

23. Press Hysterics

The press always need something to get hysterical about. They get hysterical over something innocuous that MJ said about Hitler and considering, if it does mutate and go on a rampage, how will getting hysterical about it help? How does the press help in these situations if they get hysterical and then proceed to print lies, frauds, and exaggerations? It would be nice if the press printed the facts and didn't blow everything up. This is why the public is increasingly not listening to the press; they (the press) cry Wolf! way too often.

[eppur_se_muova]

24. Healthy Pregnant Women at Risk of H1N1 Swine Flu Death, Hospitalization (CDC report)

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News

Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

July 29, 2009 -- Pregnant women, even if they are healthy, are at high risk of hospitalization and death from H1N1 swine flu, the CDC reports.

A CDC analysis shows that pregnant women are more likely than the general population to develop severe disease after infection with the pandemic H1N1 swine flu virus. They are four times more likely to be hospitalized, with an unusually high death rate.

Although media reports have focused on deaths among pregnant women with underlying disease, most pregnant women who have died of swine flu were healthy when they caught the pandemic virus.
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more: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=104180