Swine Flu

[grumbler]

In addition, in this report you can see that the incidence of death due to pneumonia and flu hasn't changed much at all from the 1960s to now, despite the widespread use of flu vaccines since the 1990s.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/lead1900_98.pdf

The flu is one of those things that we will never eradicate. The vaccine has its uses for those most compromised and at risk, but it makes little sense for everyone to get the vaccine. The risk is minimal, and there's no chance of getting rid of it completely, unlike polio or smallpox.

Restated for BB's benefit.

Actually, your data shows about a 1/3 drop in pneumonia and influenza death rates in that time frame (from roughly 36/100k to 25/100k).  That isn't as big as the drop from the 150/100k in the first half of the century, but it is significant.

[Drakken]

Well, apparently this Saturday was not soon enough - Jake appears to have the flu.

Damn.

Still, console yourself by knowin his immune system has been propped with the h1n1 anticorps by the vaccine, even after a few days though not long enough to prevent the infection. So his body is better prepared to fight it.

[Grey Fox]

Is the H1N1 tho? It's still just the flu.

[ulmont]

Is the H1N1 tho? It's still just the flu.

The odds are something like 98% that any flu you get now is H1N1, based on the weekly CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

[saskganesh]

Would you need to do a mass vaccination of pigs/poultry as well just to make sure something crazy doesn't get working in them and slip around the universal human vaccine?

the current industrial food model is mass animal containment and industrial-scale biohazard controls. mass vaccination would be a secondary step; another option is quarantine and destruction of infected protein-carriers (i.e. animals). some people are pushing for irradiation of everything.

under this kind of system, we may as well grow all our meat in a petri dish.

[The Brain]

some people are pushing for irradiation of everything.

[MadImmortalMan]

For those concerned about it, it was basically like having the regular flu plus a bad hangover.

[Drakken]

For those concerned about it, it was basically like having the regular flu plus a bad hangover.

Color me unsurprised. 

[crazy canuck]

Well, apparently this Saturday was not soon enough - Jake appears to have the flu.

Hope he feels better soon.

[crazy canuck]

Is the H1N1 tho? It's still just the flu.

The odds are something like 98% that any flu you get now is H1N1, based on the weekly CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

That data is a bit suspect.  For example doctors here are not even testing anymore to see what kind of flu people have unless they present with tell tale H1N1 symptoms.  Therefore the only data being reported is H1N1 but as doctors continue to caution, there are a lot of other viruses out there and so just because you get the flu you it may not be H1N1 and so you should get vaccinated unless H1N1 was confirmed.

Unless of course you live in Meri's part of the world were apparently other viruses simply dont exist.

[ulmont]

That data is a bit suspect.  For example doctors here are not even testing anymore to see what kind of flu people have unless they present with tell tale H1N1 symptoms.  Therefore the only data being reported is H1N1

Considering that only 37.5% of the specimens tested turned out to actually be influenza, I'm not sure that's accurate.

[crazy canuck]

That data is a bit suspect.  For example doctors here are not even testing anymore to see what kind of flu people have unless they present with tell tale H1N1 symptoms.  Therefore the only data being reported is H1N1

Considering that only 37.5% of the specimens tested turned out to actually be influenza, I'm not sure that's accurate.

You dont think it is possible to have symptoms that are similar to H1N1 (shortness of breath being the big one that concern doctors and cause them to test) and not have H1N1 but some other underlying cause.  Really?

[saskganesh]

radio reports are that people are very frustrated about execution. long lineups emerging, not enough clinics, not enough support staff, not enough people to answer the phones. it goes on.

[crazy canuck]

radio reports are that people are very frustrated about execution. long lineups emerging, not enough clinics, not enough support staff, not enough people to answer the phones. it goes on.

Not surprising. Its not like the system is designed to take a sudden influx of work.

[Barrister]

radio reports are that people are very frustrated about execution. long lineups emerging, not enough clinics, not enough support staff, not enough people to answer the phones. it goes on.

There were some very long line-ups here when I got the shot.  I don't know how you avoid it though.