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Further proof that America is done......

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This interests me. I, being a relatively healthy young human, find the current perception that there's an influenza 'epidemic' streaking across the country somewhat humorous. This is probably a result of the fact that I cannot honestly remember the last time I had to deal with the flu. For quite a long time now, I've been of the mind that whatever doesn't kill me will almost certainly make me stronger. There is at least one case in particular that - on a daily basis - makes me question that maxim, but of course, every passing day breeds life and hope for redemption. I think the most relevant and undeniable thing that can be taken from this so-called epidemic is that the media does inflict paranoia on those of us who are most vulnerable in these sorts of situations (read: the elderly). For fuck's sake - even I have been tricked into calling up CNN.com just to see what the current state of hysteria is. Now, while it's a good probability that most of us young folk will find that sort of weakness (susceptibility to either virus: influenza or the media) reprehensibly pathetic, isn't that natural? Wouldn't it be normal for people of my (and similar) generation(s) to think that - with the current clip of medical advancement - that getting all uppity over the goddamn flu is simply a product of an overactive imagination, vastly taken advantage of by a cunning collection of news agencies? As much as it pains me to say so, I really think I agree with DiHard on the core of this issue. At the end of the day, if you are in serious danger of being knocked out permanently by the fucking flu, then there's something wrong. Very, very wrong. I believe wholeheartedly that there are certain circumstances under which the flu could be a serious concern, but the average American - in my eyes - has very little to worry about.
 
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Flu: A warning from history


<!-- S BO --><!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
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Millions died during the 1918 pandemic

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->Experts believe that an infectious illness spreading around the world is not influenza.

Despite this, however, its virulent and contagious nature has already led to comparisons with the 1918 "Spanish Flu" pandemic.

The devastating 1918 pandemic is a reminder of the lethal nature of a handful of flu strains.

Every year, new versions of this common virus sweep from the Far East towards Europe, arriving for our traditional "flu season" between December and March.

Each year, based on reports of what is emerging elsewhere, experts in the UK formulate flu jabs to protect vulnerable groups here.

They have to do this every year because the virus is constantly mutating, presenting a new face to our immune systems.

Completely new

However, most flu viruses, even those which make us ill, normally have at least a few familiar features which allow us to fight back.

Occasionally, however, the flu virus is so different in makeup that our immune system cannot muster any response.

These flu viruses are the most likely to kill even fit and healthy people.

These "novel viruses" crop up frequently, but it is those which are a combination of lethality and contagion which cause most concern.

A flu virus called "H5", which emerged in Hong Kong last year, killed 50% of all those it infected - fortunately it lacked a contagious nature, only affecting two people.

Professor Alan Hay, a WHO flu expert from the National Institute for Medical Research in London, told BBC News Online: "Although very few people were affected, H5 certainly set the alarm bells ringing."

The "perfect" combination virus is a rare event, but that is what happened in 1918, and again in 1957 and 1968.

Casualty count

The 1918 pandemic killed as many as 40 million, while the later outbreaks, while less serious, still claimed millions of victims.

Coming so hot on the heels of the Great War, the 1918 pandemic was the worst epidemic, at least in terms of numbers killed, in recorded history.

The bubonic plague of the 1300s killed fewer people - but came at a time of far lower populations.

The mortality rate was more than two in every hundred who caught the disease.

Killed within hours

It is possible that the mass movement of soldiers at the end of the conflict helped it spread around the globe.

Just like the latest virus, it is possible that the 1918 flu arose in China.

The illness came on swiftly, turning to a form of pneumonia that could kill within hours of the first symptoms becoming apparent.

Outbreaks swept through all the continents - in India, mortality was 50 deaths per 1,000 cases.

Experts warned that the increase in air travel from East to West meant that a new virus would take only a matter of days to circle the globe.

With cases of the new strain arising in Canada and Germany, it appears that they were right.

"Spanish Flu" is far from a footnote in history for scientists trying to protect us from future flu epidemics.

They even exhumed the bodies of flu victims buried in the permanently frozen ground of the Norwegian island of Spitzbergen, in the hope that traces of virus genetic material might have been preserved.

There is one thing that they agree on, however.

There has been no widespread "killer flu" outbreak since 1968, and they say that one is long overdue.

And there is no certainty that the medical world will be able to prevent its spread any better than in 1968.

 
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DiHard, you crack me up... we're gonna have to get you on blood pressure medicine before you're 30...
Click to expand...

That cracks me up. The assumption that just because he rants and ocassionally goes over the top that he has to be a Gen-X member.....too funny.

Hell, I bet he is insulted to be placed in that category knowing him.
 
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My Dad is 92. Not some abstract old geezer - MY DAD. He quit school during the depression to help support his family. He fought in WWII and raised 5 kids working his butt off. He played semi-pro football at 138 pounds before they wore helmets ro speak of. He was as tough as anyone on this board.

Now he is old. He has had two bypass surgeries. He is thin and frail and a fraction of his former self. He has reduced heart function and reduced kidney function. A good case of the flu would kill him. No question in my mind - it would kill him.
 
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tibor75 said:
I don't know what's funnier...Dihard's stupidity or the fact that nobody has called him on it yet...

"Statistics

Each year about 20,000 Americans die because of influenza or influenza related pneumonia. Over 90% of the deaths occur in persons aged 65 years and older.

Pneumonia and influenza together are the 6th most common cause of death in the United States"

http://www.nfid.org/library/influenza/what/index.html
Click to expand...

Tibs,

Any statistics on how many of those deaths could have been prevented with a flu shot?
 
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Hey, DiHard, you want someone to blame for all this media BS about the flu virus? How about your favorite Presidential candidate?

"How the vaccine works:

Influenza vaccine is produced by growing the virus in eggs. The virus is
killed and processed to create the vaccine, which is given by injection
under the skin. The body then produces antibodies to the virus over the
next two to four weeks. If the immunized person then comes into contact with
the influenza virus, the antibodies attack and kill the virus before it has
a chance to cause infection. The vaccine contains the 3 most likely strains to be active during the "flu season" Why the shortage: Almost half of the nation's flu vaccine will not be delivered this year. Chiron, a major manufacturer of flu vaccine, will not be distributing any influenza vaccine this flu season. Chiron was to make 46-48 million doses vaccine for the United States. Chiron is a British company. Recently
British health officials stopped Chiron from distributing and making the vaccine when inspectors found unsanitary conditions in the labs. Some lots of the vaccine were recalled and destroyed.

Why is our vaccine made in the UK and not the US?

The major pharmaceutical companies in the US provided almost 90% of the nations flu vaccine at one time. They did this despite a very low profit margin for the product. Basically, they were doing us a favor. In the late 80's a man from North Carolina who had received the vaccine got the flu. The strain he caught was one of the strains in that years vaccine made by a US company. What did he do? He sued and he won. He was awarded almost $5 million! After that case was appealed and lost, most US pharmaceutical companies stopped making the vaccine. The liability out weighed the
profit margin. Since UK and Canadian laws prohibit such frivolous law suits UK and Canadian companies began selling the vaccine in the US.

By the way...the lawyer that represented the man in the flu shot law suit was a young ambulance chaser by the name of John Edwards."

[sits back and watches] :slappy:
 
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oh8ch.....i am not arguing that there are candidates, like your father, who could use a flu shot....

i am saying the media stumping that EVERYONE needs the damn thing is reeediculous....

i was in kroger's the other day and they were lined up out the door waiting for their guarantee to live to see another spring day.....98% of the fucking braindead standing in that line were not at "high risk" for the flu.....
 
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what I found VERY interesting is the number of folks going into Mexico to get the shot even with the knowledge that up to half the world supply could be tainted...

I'm not so sure this is media induced as much as the media following... this is a big deal to the folks who get these shots religiously... every year... There was a similar panic a couple years ago when supplies were merely lagging about 1-2 mths behind...

For those in the most susceptible categories... this is the equivalent of a world shortage of condoms for the BP family... without it, you take the risk of dying..
 
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Maybe when there are shortages (such as now), they should take certain candidates first (Elderly, Infants, Chronicly Ill, Expectant Mothers)? By causing this mass hysteria over the issue, they are hurting the chances for people to get it who really need it.
 
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tibor...here is some staggering information on how dangerous the flu is....

among the most at risk it amounts to what....4% of all deaths....buy them scooters and save on the flu shots

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/f/flu/deaths.htm

even in those 85 and older....the flu only amounts to 4.8% of the deaths....they are more likely to die of a coronary because they were charged 6 cents too much for their 3pm super senior saver dinner....
 
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