Color me cyinical on the whole swine flu thing

5:03 PM 4/28/2009

Wow, it's Swine Flu all the time, Russia and China think you can get it from eating pork products, Cuba won't fly to Mexico, yeesh. What a media circus. Mexico City is 22 million people. How are you going to quarantine that? It's in New York City

There are no deaths in the US from this yet, I'm still not freaked out by this.

World Health Organization Page

Update 9:23 AM 4/28/2009

So, I'm listening to public radio this morning and here comes the head of the Health Department in San Diego and she says ( I'm parapharasing) the swine flu is a new bug (virus, not bacteria, so antibiotics don't work) that was identified first in the US in San Diego and goes on to say 'Don't overwhelm the "ED" (Emergency Departments ?) by coming in unless you've already been sick for more than a week' and then she goes on and on and in a few minutes she says that 'Tamiflu is effective if taken within the first 48 hours of infection.'

What. The. Fuck?
When was the last time she tried to get an appointment, especially one that requires lab results withing 48 hours of feeling ill?

Why am I cynical?

U.S. health experts noted, meanwhile, that deaths from influenza are common. In an average year in the United States, about 35,000 people die from the flu, and in bad years nearly twice that number.
The Pan American Health Organization said Friday that there have so far been 854 cases of "influenza-like illness" in Mexico City, with 59 deaths. Another 24 cases with three deaths have occurred in San Luis Potosi, in central Mexico, and 24 cases with no deaths in Mexicali, near the U.S. border.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?

Not unless an infected pig you happen to be preparing to slaughter sneezes in your face, duh

Swine flu fears grip world markets
By PAN PYLAS AP Business Writer
...though pharmaceutical companies rallied on expectations that demand for anti-viral drugs may surge to deal with any pandemic.

Swine flu fears close schools in NY, Texas, Calif.
By KAREN MATTHEWS Associated Press Writer
a strain of swine flu suspected in the deaths of 103 people in Mexico. It has now spread throughout the United States, where authorities have confirmed 20 cases.

Venture capital firm set to reap rewards on swine flu
Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:11pm BST

Flu Kills The Torture Memos

Donald Rumsfeld owns stock in the company that makes Tamiflu = TRUE

Swine flu 'debacle' of 1976 is recalled
The episode triggered an enduring public backlash against flu vaccination, embarrassed the federal government and cost the director of the CDC his job.