Swine Flu?

[mbalmer]

My son's school is closed for a week because one kid was positive for Swine flu. I don't get why this is such a big deal. Someone please explain it. It sounds like a lot of over-blown hype and paranoia. People die from the flu every year. Why is this one so "special?" Of course I'm probably just jealous because the school I teach in doesn't have anyone with the swine flu and therefor no freebee vacation.

[NAKID]

Because we (as the general public) have not been immunized against it.

[the_Journeyman]

Not sure, but our school nurse here said if we had a single positive case, we'd be closed too.  Our neighboring county is monitoring two cases as well.

JM

[jdubbs32584]

- This is occurring in late April whereas most flu pandemics occur during the winter months
- Usually, the number of swine flu cases are very low and now there has been an explosion due to a mutation in the virus.
  - From the CDC:
    "How common is swine flu infection in humans?
       In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported."

[Sinister]

This strain of Swine Flu appears to be a hybrid, which has combined with both Avian and Human Flu.  The reason it is dangerous is because it is transmitted through casual contact, and because it kills people (60+ already dead in Mexico, 1 dead in U.S.).  One note of interest is that this strain does not seem to be as bad, or as deadly, as the Swine Flu pandemic of 1919 (100 Million dead worldwide, I think).  

There is also no current vaccination or cure.

[jdubbs32584]

Here's the CDC site on the swine flu: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

[Sinister]

The good news is that Egypt has ordered a slaughter of all pigs, as had Gabon; these appear to be the Global Zones of Safety. 

In related news, Nation of Islam leaders are admonishing members against contracting Swine Flu stating, "our faith does not allow us to eat pork products."  (No, I'm not joking.)

[mbalmer]

I don't see what shutting down schools will do. Do you think my son or the other students will sit home and wait this out? No way. He will be at the mall and at the arcade. They will be spreading it among the community if they have it. Most are contagious even before symptoms begin. I just don't understand shutting down schools for one case. (I still think I'm just jealous that I'm at work and he's not. But then, I am a bit self-centered.)

[the_Journeyman]

The thought process is that having an infected student in a confined area in very close proximity to other students stands a much greater risk than simply being out and about in the community.  Think about how close students sit on school buses & most students are seated at adjacent desks/tables in the classroom.  That arrangement puts many more people within the sneeze or cough zone ~

JM

[Sinister]

I don't see what shutting down schools will do. Do you think my son or the other students will sit home and wait this out? No way. He will be at the mall and at the arcade. They will be spreading it among the community if they have it. Most are contagious even before symptoms begin. I just don't understand shutting down schools for one case. (I still think I'm just jealous that I'm at work and he's not. But then, I am a bit self-centered.)

That's where the whole "parenting" thing kicks in...just saying.

Honestly, think about it: one case of a virulent strain of flu, for which there is no cure, which is passed through casual contact, in a school...Come on, I know you can do it. 

[jdubbs32584]

I don't see what shutting down schools will do. Do you think my son or the other students will sit home and wait this out? No way. He will be at the mall and at the arcade. They will be spreading it among the community if they have it. Most are contagious even before symptoms begin. I just don't understand shutting down schools for one case. (I still think I'm just jealous that I'm at work and he's not. But then, I am a bit self-centered.)

Authorities have been requesting that people stay home in order to lessen the risk. They've also requested that parents keep their children home. You may not understand it but there is a reason for it. This stuff is spreading quickly and they're trying desperately to shut it down before it turns into something like the Spanish flu pandemic from 1918.

There's obviously no need to panic, but shutting down a school where there might have been a case isn't a bad idea. Gives them a chance to disinfect as much as possible. They do the same thing sometimes if a kid gets MRSA at a school.

[Triple J]

 The reason it is dangerous is because it is transmitted through casual contact, and because it kills people (60+ already dead in Mexico, 1 dead in U.S.).  

That's the same as all flu. In the US something like 36,000 people a year die from flu related causes.

Like has been said before, the big issue is 1) people aren't immunized against it this year so it has the potential to be bad, and 2) it's the 1st case of a combination avian and swine strain so it has people freaked out.

[cyrus buelton]

Are you serious?


If there was an outbreak of a standard flu, they would most likely close the school

Flu is harmful to the young, elderly, and sickly.

[toaster]

so im taking it that this is just one more reason bacon is bad?

[Sinister]

so im taking it that this is just one more reason bacon is bad?

Absolutely not.  See, once the swine is smoked, it cannot fly.  Your bacon is safe.