Swine Flu

[cyrus buelton]

If I happen to get it,I am going straight on Tama-Flu.

[Gator]

I'm not familiar with the 1918 flu or the PBS film. Can someone explain how the mask was counterproductive?

Its better known as the Spanish flu.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic

The masks will do a lot more if the sick people wear them.
With poor storage and sterilization methods meant often the masks would be contaminated before they were put on or would become exposed to the virus which was then reused instead of being discarded.
An N95 mask is approximately 1/8 inch thick and will have the NIOSH N95 designation stamped on the mask. If it doesn't have a N95, N99 or N100 NIOSH designation, it does not meet the standards and most likely will not offer reasonable protection.
The cost for a box of twenty N95 masks is about $20 and well worth the money. 

[il d00d]

I'm not familiar with the 1918 flu or the PBS film. Can someone explain how the mask was counterproductive?

The transcript from the PBS site
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/influenza/filmmore/transcript/index.html

I think this is what he means:

NARRATION: In many places, officials rushed through laws requiring people to wear masks in public.
NARRATION: All of America, it seemed, put on masks. At last, many thought, they were safe.
NARRATION: But masks didn't help. They were thin and porous -- no serious restraint to tiny microbes. It was like trying to keep out dust with chicken wire.
NARRATION: Violence broke out. In San Francisco, a Health Department inspector shot a man who refused to wear a mask. In Chicago, a worker shouted, "I'll cure them my own way!" and then cut the throats of his wife and four children.

[DucMouse the Mighty]

the best protection you can take is to practice good and frequent hand washing, and avoid crowded places.

that is key and easiest thing to do, but somehow people dont practice it very well...

i was talking to one of the Docs here and she was telling me that they had a swine flu outbreak(i guess minor, nothing big) in the 70's and when they gave out the vaccination for it, a good portion of the poeple ended up with Guillain-Barré syndrome.....

personally i think its just nature working its course and just like Pedo-bot said, good hand washing

[r_ciao]

my 12 y.o. neighbor was confirmed with the H1N1 yesterday.
yikes!

[Pip]

My baby sister (8 yrs. old) had it about 3 weeks ago. She's all good now.

[cyrus buelton]

i was talking to one of the Docs here and she was telling me that they had a swine flu outbreak(i guess minor, nothing big) in the 70's and when they gave out the vaccination for it, a good portion of the poeple ended up with Guillain-Barré syndrome.....

Did the doctor also explain that it was a botched batch of vaccines?


If he didn't, I wouldn't seek him for treatment on anything.

Medicine has advanced a bit in 40 years.

[angler]

Also check out the book "Influenza." A bit obtuse sometimes, but a very interesting examination of how pandemics work.

[ROBsS4R]

Now Stats on the Common flu...

Every year in the United States, on average:

5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications; and
about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes.

Now how does the H1N1 fair against this flu? Is the Media blowing it out of perportion or is there a real concern.

Shots are being given at my work on the 28th? I never ever got a flu shot before in my Life. Should I get one. I assume it just makes the flu a lot less severe if you get the shot correct? Sorry for the dumb questions =)

Oh and I am 34. Out of the major Risk Group I guess. Isin't true that younger people are affected more since there immune system is stronger and goes out of control when it fights the virus?

[lethe]

I figure my body just has itself full of other issues and put up a No Vacancy sign keeping away the swine flu quite well. 

[ducpainter]

I dare you to walk in tomorrow wearing a Tyvex suit, and a respirator.  You can get them at Home Depot. 

dude...

I wear that every day.

Did the doctor also explain that it was a botched batch of vaccines?


If he didn't, I wouldn't seek him for treatment on anything.

Medicine has advanced a bit in 40 years.

Let's hear the stats dr. cyrus...

those make the beast with two backsers practice their entire careers.

[Rev. Millertime]

[DoubleEagle]

If you live like a PIG does that make a difference whether or not you may get the PIG flu ?

Dolph     

[redxblack]

I don't want to get the pork virus. I'm a vegetarian.

[TiNi]