Pig flu at epidemic levels in London and Brum

[Not So Wise]

The government was (and is) not taking this virus seriously enough.

There is a deliberate attempt to downplay the seriousness of this virus to the general public, somewhat understandably to avoid a panic.

The major difference between the swine flu virus and a normal flu virus is that the swine flu strain kills normal healthy individuals, whereas a normal flu virus does not, typically affecting immuno-suppressed, elderly, etc.

People are dying of swine flu (itself).

Nobody dies of normal flu, they die of complications of normal flu, i.e., pneumounia, etc.,

This looks like the real thing.

Incorrect, the normal seasonal flu kills hundreds of thousands in the world every year (not everyone has access to medical resources we have)

While I can agree that the government is not taking things seriously enough (stupid leaflets instead of pushing big time for vaccinations from the get go), the public and especially the media have been overreacting big time (partially due to what is now known to have been initially massive overreporting of deaths in Mexico).

The vast majority of people who get this will get nothing worse than the normal flu they get pretty much year in year out (I will be one of those people, get bloody flu every single year), a few will require hospitalisation and some will sadly die, just like every other flu season. Only difference this time will be that the numbers affected (and thus those dying) will be larger as swine flu spreads pretty fast

[Andy2]

Stay in. The fewer people you interact with, the safer you are. Order your groceries online & work from home.

wear a burqa if you go out

[Cyberman]

The vast majority of people who get this will get nothing worse than the normal flu they get pretty much year in year out (I will be one of those people, get bloody flu every single year), a few will require hospitalisation and some will sadly die, just like every other flu season. Only difference this time will be that the numbers affected (and thus those dying) will be larger as swine flu spreads pretty fast

Indeed. 98% survive, but that is no consolation to the 2% that die(statistically almost 2% are dieing in Argentina), which equates to over 1 million in the UK.

40% of people dieing are young(under 30) and only 3% are over 65. In a normal flu epidemic the majority of deaths would be in the old, so this is indeed a very worrying trait of this epidemic, as the old will surely inevitably suffer a big hit in the winter to boost the mortality rate.

[snaw]

Indeed. 98% survive, but that is no consolation to the 2% that die(statistically almost 2% are dieing in Argentina), which equates to over 1 million in the UK.

1 million assuming everyone in the country catches it ...

Is there anything you're competent at?

[minestrone]

While I can agree that the government is not taking things seriously enough (stupid leaflets instead of pushing big time for vaccinations from the get go)

You just can't click your fingers and produce 60 million vaccinations, the government has done everything correct from the start. Tried to contain and treat while getting the vaccination ready.

There are just too many people, esp on here, who will criticise when government for anything when they know bugger all about what they are talking about.

[Cyberman]

1 million assuming everyone in the country catches it ...

Is there anything you're competent at?

.. and I am assuming that because we have so many imbeciles that do not listen to simple instructions to remove themselves from circulation instead of spreading the disease.

[snaw]

.. and I am assuming that because we have so many imbeciles that do not listen to simple instructions to remove themselves from circulation instead of spreading the disease.

Thought I was on your ignore list?

[Cyberman]

Thought I was on your ignore list?

Only Sasguru. You were let off.

[Shimano105]

Then you are nothing but a fool. Instructions are to stay at home and get a friend to pick up the anti-virals. Leaving home simply spreads the disease. DOHHHH!!!!

That means so much coming from you.

I ain't listening to anyone that says stay at home whilst my kids are potentially dying.

The disease is out there already you know, containment was last month.

I can just imagine someone like you in that situation - 'do you know who I am' etc.!

[snaw]

Only Sasguru. You were let off.

Typical, make a statement of fact, backed up by no evidence and later proven to be incorrect.

Yep, sounds just like our obnoxious resident moron all over.