I thought it was just the media having a field-day at first but it seems the WHO have put the alert level up to 5 and there are 20 confirmed cases in the UK now. I've been reading quite a lot about it lately in The Times (I don't usually read such intellectual things . I had two 3-hour train journeys to Essex and back this weekend) and apparently we're the second best prepared country behind France and it's not killed anybody outside of Mexico yet other than a 24-month old kid in the US.

 

My auntie works for the NHS as a dietician and as she's at the top of her field she's been chosen to go to an underground bunker should a pandemic actually start, she was saying at Christmas that this stuff was GOING to happen.

 

Are you guys worried?

 

Oh and yeah I'm back if anybody missed me .

I wondered where you'd been

 

Nahh, i doubt a true pandemic won't start for a good few months, plenty of times to prepare. Doesn't flu usually die out in summer months?

 

I did notice though, that wikipedia already has a humungous article on this, worth a read [linky]

 

If it was a real threat, like of critical urgency, surely the governments would just halt all international travel?

If it was a real threat, like of critical urgency, surely the governments would just halt all international travel?

France are asking the EU today to halt flights from Mexico. The problem is that stopping flights really won't do much if the virus has already made solid ground in a particular country. We have no idea how many people in the UK are incubating the virus and not showing symptoms yet. If it's a large number then the spread of the virus from that would make the spread of virus from flights negligible.

 

Saying that, I'm watching events with great interest. It's fascinating to see how the virus is spreading (anyone seen the Google map with the cases on?) and how the media coverage of the whole event is shaping public reactions. There is an interesting tool Google made that measures trends around flu outbreaks, they actually have data on this swine flu casedating back to December 2008!

Paul Danienls posted this on twitter.

 

@ThePaulDaniels-"Good gag....walk around Waitrose talking into your mobile phone about your fabulous Mexican holiday. Then sneeze."

 

No i'm not worried. We're the best prepared, if we can help protect 50% of the population the chances of it spwaning into a nationwide emergency is slim.

 

I agree with Rob, Halting Flights isn't going to solve anything, Although I do reckon to prevent further spread the Mexican Government should close the borders.

The media does have a habit of sensationalising eveything.. let's face it, they haven't had much to write about lately other that the credit crisis!

yeah good point Helen, but the WHO have rased it to level 5... That might just be to make them look like they do some work though. It will be interested to see how thing develop over the next few weeks. All these holiday makers returning from mexico.

 

I am a little worried, sure the UK is super well prepaired but 90% of my friends work in customer services face to face and seeing at the school 2 miles away form me closed I am a bit worried for them. Yeah even though I know we are well prepaired.

Didnt they say all this about the bird flu too?

 

I am not overly worried... or i'd never leave the bloomin house but ears are pricked up ready so keep the reseach up Ben lol!

 

I know a few nurses and drs so might check if the local hospital has anything going on

It's one of those things...we'll just have to suck it and see. I am a little concerned myself for personal reasons, but I know it's all out of my hands.

 

I think only people who are susceptible need worry ie babies, the elderly, and the weak. But don't forget we do have a pretty good health service (and I would go as far as saying a lot better than Mexico, who so far seems to have the higher fatality rate caused by pig flu)

 

Nice sig btw andy

I think only people who are susceptible need worry ie babies, the elderly, and the weak. But don't forget we do have a pretty good health service

 

according to bbc news last night, this strain targets under 45's mostly, and that asthmatics and smokers are more at risk of fatality, me and scott are screwed so long, nice knowing ya, it's been a good run

 

But don't forget we do have a pretty good health service

 

Yeah we do, they're top notch in my experience Maybe there's hope yet (:

It's one of those things...we'll just have to suck it and see. I am a little concerned myself for personal reasons, but I know it's all out of my hands.

 

I think only people who are susceptible need worry ie babies, the elderly, and the weak. But don't forget we do have a pretty good health service (and I would go as far as saying a lot better than Mexico, who so far seems to have the higher fatality rate caused by pig flu)

 

Nice sig btw andy

 

The thing is that this flu apparently effects young healthy adults more than the elderly and weak.

 

I just did some research and crunched the numbers. The last outbreak like this was a Spanish one in 1917 so I'm using the infection rate of 33% from that as a base. I also had a quick read on Wikipedia and apparently the mortality rate of swine flu is 10%.

 

Population of Earth

6,710,926,117

 

Estimated infection rate at 33%

2,214,605,619

 

Deaths

221,460,561

 

Two hundred and twenty one million, four hundred and sixty thousand five hundred and sixty one! Though on the plus side (if there is such a thing) that only equates to 3% of the population of earth. Sorry if this offended anyone I tallied up bird flu once on another forum and got a warning .

People can crunch the numbers all they want, it's not as bad as they say, and the whole pandemic is getting out of hand. Keep in mind that all cases so far outside Mexico have been mild, and only one individual has died, and that wasn't confirmed. They've only raised it to level five because the flu has killed some people, and there are laboratory confirmed cases in more than two countries that have spread person to person.

 

I'm sick of the talk.

HAHA, Cab you made me laugh and remember team america

 

Spottswoode: From what I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.N.C.E has gathered, it would be 9/11 times 100.

Gary Johnston: 9/11 times a hundred? Jesus, that's...

Spottswoode: Yes, 91,100.

Chris: Basically, all the worst parts of the bible.

 

HAHA, awesome. But its also quite scary, I love stats, even if the infection rate was 1% its stil nearly 7m deaths.

Your calculations are ridiculous, we were hardly prepared in 1917 were we :-/

Your calculations are ridiculous, we were hardly prepared in 1917 were we :-/

 

Exactly, and medical science is a wee bit more advance than in 1917!

Exactly, and medical science is a wee bit more advance than in 1917!

Yeah just a bit...

And the worst bit is, we are coming into hayfever season...... and everytime someone sneezes, it will be panic!

lol, sure we might not have been as prepaired however international travel wasnt as wide spread and we lived in smaller communities

Your calculations are ridiculous, we were hardly prepared in 1917 were we :-/

 

I think if it becomes a pandemic then it will be worse than it was in 1917. Although we might be able to reduce the mortality rate I think that a higher percentage will become infected than in 1917 due to the increased density of our living arrangements. Not to mention that travel has became a lot cheaper easier and faster.

A bit drastic, but it worked in the past ...

 

In 1349 the Black Death (the plague) reached Scotland and killed a third ot the population of Edinburgh. The King, parliament and court took refuge in Linlithgow and gallows were installed at all the burgh ports, as part of the drastic measures to prevent plague carriers from entering the town.

 

From http://www.linlithgow.com/history.htm

 

Worried? Polmont (where the 1st case was found) is only a few miles away

Your calculations are ridiculous, we were hardly prepared in 1917 were we :-/

As a dyed in the wool cynic, I have to say I am a little bit sceptical that we are being told the whole truth here. I don't think any amount of preparation can really mitigate a highly virulent airborne disease. We live and work in massively dense population centres, and this kind of virus will undergo constant mutation. If you're for it, you're for it IMO. By all means buy a mask if it makes you feel better.

If it is this swine flu they say it is, then I will take my chances with it. But if it is simply swine fever, why the big hoo-ha? Is there a chance that the powers that be know something about this 'flu' that we don't? It's worth a second thought, isn't it? My paranoid side tells me either it's much worse than a simple flu, or (more likely) it's going to be used as a smokescreen for something despicable...

Hold on to your hats, folks. One way or another, this is going to suck!

As a dyed in the wool cynic, I have to say I am a little bit sceptical that we are being told the whole truth here. I don't think any amount of preparation can really mitigate a highly virulent airborne disease. We live and work in massively dense population centres, and this kind of virus will undergo constant mutation. If you're for it, you're for it IMO. By all means buy a mask if it makes you feel better.

If it is this swine flu they say it is, then I will take my chances with it. But if it is simply swine fever, why the big hoo-ha? Is there a chance that the powers that be know something about this 'flu' that we don't? It's worth a second thought, isn't it? My paranoid side tells me either it's much worse than a simple flu, or (more likely) it's going to be used as a smokescreen for something despicable...

Hold on to your hats, folks. One way or another, this is going to suck!

 

What are you hinting at? Covering bird flu or something?

No I was thinking more of a man made sort of affair.... Either that or they're planning a fascist dictatorship!

 

....

 

..wait a minute!! **runs away**

lol banks. lol. I love your crazy conspiracy ridden mind.

Personally I think the government are trying to make it out to be worse that what it actually is to move the spotlight away from the recession!

Personally I think the government are trying to make it out to be worse that what it actually is to move the spotlight away from the recession!

 

You know, you are about the 4th person I have heard say that in 2 days!

Here's my thoughts:

 

1. We're about 'due' a flu pandemic of some description.

2. We're over-crowded and pretty borderless these days.

3. The NHS/ government don't fill me with confidence in a crisis.

4. The government would love anything diverting attention from them running the country into the ground.

5. The media have to find uses for the creators of those pseudo-scientific graphics they run!

5. We're to rely on people's hygiene - fat chance!

 

But, and here's where you might start to wonder about a conspiracy theory...

 

Wouldn't it be 'convenient' if there was a flue pandemic in terms of cutting unemployment, culling the weak and the sick - (on pensions and benefits). Now of course that's not what this is - but... if it were to happen who would instigate it? Perhaps some large military-minded country with a track record of developing and deploying nasty weapons. And where would they deploy it? On home soil? Or to the closest 'poor' country they could find. They'd probably, totally out of protectionist/ knee-jerk character, keep that border open too.

 

 

 

PS: I LOVE THE POOH BEAR CARTOON!

Are you guys worried?

 

Just had a little baby girl, so I'm a bit concerned. We'll see soon enough.

LOL, i was thinking it was the Americans punishing the Mexicans for not paying their mortgage and sticking us in a recession.

I am not bothered yet, although a case was confirmed today of a person who lives with people from Newcastle university, and stuff spreads quick through unis.

the Mexicans for not paying their mortgage and sticking us in a recession.

Please don't tell me that's what you actually think?

nope its not what i think. I dont think anything yet. I am just waiting and watching.

I am not bothered yet, although a case was confirmed today of a person who lives with people from Newcastle university, and stuff spreads quick through unis.

Yea, i think some of the girls i went to college with worked their way around every room in a day.......

 

 

 

I dont really know what to think. 600 people have had it in america, 1 person died, but if the source i read was right, that was a young mexican kid that went to america to be treated.

 

 

Reaper

Best thing we can do in order for us to overcome that situation we have to struggle a good conditions of our health by nurturing our mind spiritually and emotionally physically its in us who handle it on how we survive that sickness.

 

Note: I like the pooh. A FOOTPRINT ON THE SNOW WITH PIGLETS IT A SPIRIT OF UNITY BEING FRIENDS FOR EVER.

 

webinno_sale

Best thing we can do in order for us to overcome that situation we have to struggle a good conditions of our health by nurturing our mind spiritually and emotionally physically its in us who handle it on how we survive that sickness.

 

Note: I like the pooh. A FOOTPRINT ON THE SNOW WITH PIGLETS IT A SPIRIT OF UNITY BEING FRIENDS FOR EVER.

 

webinno_sale

 

 

SORRY!? Can you repeat that?.........or has that swine gone to your head?

I live in Redditch, where one of the confirmed cases are. I feel fine and dandy.

They're not worried about this outbreak though, it's when it returns, app. according to the flickering box that never lies. They generally come in two waves, the first wave being mild (i.e this one) and then the next wave which destroys the universe (the next one, in about 6 months).

 

That's what the box told me anyway. Maybe we should phone the helpline

News has it, every household is going to recieve a leaflet about it. If you wanna see it earlier... here it is.Public_leafte2.pdf

I was really expecting their to be more on the leaflet than that.

 

I currently work in a customer assistant role as my other job (although now RWD is starting to take off, i will be cutting the hours back). One of the ladies i work with, she had a customer yesterday that came in with a sanitary towell across her face as a mask, to stop her getting the flu.

 

If you believe everything in the media, we would have already been killed by either Saddams WMD's or Bird Flu.

 

 

Reaper