Swine flu

[Ramirez]

in case you need it.

http://rehydrate.org/solutions/homemade.htm

[David Craik]

Does Mexico have government funded flu shots?

We have public clinics in Canada every year, done at workplaces and municipal buildings. Even though last year's vaccine will not give immunity to this strain, flu shots do mitigate the severity of other strains of the flu.

What is the situation in the US?

Dunno, but as you say the flu shots currently done don't do anything for this strain, so it kind of doesn't follow.

I can't be bothered so far, I'm not wandering around with a surgical mask like Jacko and washing my hands 100 times a day because some new bug was found. If people start keeling over in the streets, then I'll worry about it.

I think the very reason there are such virulent strains of assorted sicknesses today is because people are constantly trying to disinfect everything and take antibiotics without a second thought, because heaven forbid anyone get sick and just feel lousy for a few days. This makes viruses more resistant and more deadly, and also makes our immune systems weak because they never have to fight anything. By the time it has to, it's hopelessly outmatched because the virus has grown so strong.

If a being from another planet watched our commercials he would swear we are under constant bombardment from lethal germs, bacteria, and viruses..."99.9%" of which must be killed every day via wipes, soaps, alcohol, and sprays or else the human race is going to die out. Surely our ancestors would laugh at how ridiculous we've become.

There's a product advertised to kill 99% of the germs under the rim of your friggin' toilet bowl..who the hell cares? Do people drink out of them? I've crapped in some of the filthiest holes on earth and never once got up wracked with some sort of disease or another.

[Rasputin]

No masks or disinfectant here. I rely on ugly to keep the virii away. It's worked remarkably well so far.

[Nick L.]

I've got parents refusing to let their kids play soccer or do any traveling because of fear for being around other kids and or adults. Maybe we should all not go to our dojo, dojang, work , school, gym, store or freakin welfare office. Just sit in our nice little germ free houses and watch how many people who are not us get infected.

[David Craik]

Monk must be going ape-shite....

[Don Roley]

PETA has taken the chance of these deaths to launch a billboard urging people to go vegetarian because, "meat kills."

I'm putting pork on the menu tonight in my house.

[Ramirez]

PETA has taken the chance of these deaths to launch a billboard urging people to go vegetarian because, "meat kills."

I'm putting pork on the menu tonight in my house.

Souvlaki for everybody!

[David Craik]

You'd probably have to hear him in person, but there is a rather large black gentleman on my team that, when we were discussing swine flu and the fact that several of us were sick, said: "I gots da swine flu too, the kind that makes you sleepy. I be havin' it whenever I eats me a good-@$$ poke-chop!

I about split my sides laughing.

Apparently the masks aren't much defense anyway. Though the virus can travel a few feet during a cough or sneeze, as with any flu the main risk is settling on surfaces. So make sure you wash your hands after touching anything whatsoever. Might get the sniffles otherwise. Also, 'flu season' is ending in Western hemisphere, and this strain is bound by 'flu seasons' like any other.

It will taper off, worry about it next year. Or not.

[Maro]

I am bit of a germophobe anyway so I wash my hands and use alcohol based sanitizer, and I avoid people as it is (mostly because I am a miserable anti-social sob).

Whilst applicable in cases like these, using sanitisers like that is thought to promote Resistant MRSA and other Super bugs.

We're supposed to get dirty!

[Dennis Monk]

Monk must be going ape-shite....

Thank you for adding in the link. We wouldn't want to confuse people now.

[Ramirez]

Whilst applicable in cases like these, using sanitisers like that is thought to promote Resistant MRSA and other Super bugs.

We're supposed to get dirty!

Yeah well, the next time you sign a credit card receipt at Wal-Mart and use the pen the cashier gives to you, think about how many hands have touched that pen and just what orifice on the human body those hands have been on....I'll sanitize my hands, thanks very much.

In fact I carry my own pen and refuse to touch any other pen.

[FunSPE]

In my microbiology lab we plated out samples from out hands (our fingers and under our nails). Its one of my fav experiments becasue it is very sobering to see the amount of microbes we are in CONSTANT contact with every waking minutes. We also did a plate without washing our hands, and a plate 10 minutes post hand wash. To see the amount of bacteria that accumulates even after washing our hands is quite a site.

Influenza has and always will be a potentially dangerous bug. Its a nasty thing. It mutates very frequently (hence the reason we have to get a flu shot every year) and it does kill people. With that said, I think it is a bit over sensationalized. Just think that in the US about 36,000 people die from flu related infections. Wash your hands, get plenty of rest, keep yourself healthy and you'll make out alright.

[dao]

...

I think the very reason there are such virulent strains of assorted sicknesses today is because people are constantly trying to disinfect everything and take antibiotics without a second thought, because heaven forbid anyone get sick and just feel lousy for a few days. This makes viruses more resistant and more deadly, and also makes our immune systems weak because they never have to fight anything. By the time it has to, it's hopelessly outmatched because the virus has grown so strong.

Putting on my biology hat for a moment. Virus and bacteria are very different. Trying to kill viruses with anti-biotics is like trying to get rid of rats with an ant trap. It just isn't going to work - except that your belief in the anti-biotics might improve your immune system. However, you are right that overuse of anti-biotics and not finishing full courses of anti-biotics is a huge problem in that it is breeding strains of bacteria which are resistant - like the resistant staff bacteria.

But, getting back to flu viruses...

From an evolutionary stand point it is in the viruses' best interest to make their host slightly ill so that will cough and spread the viruses but, if a virus kills its' host not only is bad for the host it is also bad for the viruses because it loses its' support system and dies. So in the normal course of things virus specialize in infecting one type of organism (humans, gorillas, pigs, birds, etc) and over time and generations the virus will become less deadly to its' type of organism. However when a virus mutates enough to infects another type of organism that is when it can be really bad for the host organism because the virus hasn't adapted to it yet. Pigs and humans have a lot of similarities so (as I understand it) a swine flu infecting humans shouldn't really be that bad and it happens a lot. So not really problem except that for some unknown reason pigs seem to catch flues from different animals relatively easily. So if a really different type of animal (like a bird) infects pigs with flu and then a few generations later that flu infects humans chances are that it is going to be a really bad outbreak of "swine" flu among us because the virus hasn't adapted not to us but to the really different type of animal. And basically it is really hard to predict how bad any outbreak will be until a lot of people have been infected. So from a large community standpoint it makes sense to pay close attention and take relatively aggressive actions quickly.

From a personal standpoint I think it makes sense to wash your hand frequently, keep cuts (breaks in the skin where viruses can enter) covered, not share towels or drinking or eating vessels and avoid people who are sneezing. And if you are feeling slightly under the weather the responsible thing to do is stay home and avoid people so if you are sick you aren't infecting others. Then if you start to develop flu symptoms go to the doctor and if appropriate get a prescription of anti-viral drugs and then finish the entire prescription even if you feel better after a few days so you aren’t helping to create a virus which is immune to the anti-viral drugs.

[Don Roley]

And if you are feeling slightly under the weather the responsible thing to do is stay home and avoid people so if you are sick you aren't infecting others. Then if you start to develop flu symptoms go to the doctor and if appropriate get a prescription of anti-viral drugs and then finish the entire prescription even if you feel better after a few days so you aren’t helping to create a virus which is immune to the anti-viral drugs.

These are some of my own personal rants. In Japan there is an attitude I call, "Gaman 'till you die." "Gaman" means "put up with." People that should be home in bed come to work with masks on to try to keep from infecting other people. It isn't enough!

Right now, there are a lot of super resistant bugs out there due to folks taking just enough drugs to feel better and then "going natural" (as one person I know put it.)

If you start some medication, stay on it until the prescription runs out and no sooner!

FunSPE also had some good points in his last sentence. I can only add to avoid situations that have higher than normal risks of infection. You may have seen all those scenes of folks here in Japan that have to be shoved into morning commuter trains. Can you imagine just how easy it is to catch something in that sort of situation? I wear a mask wherever I get on one now. I won't the fear keep me home, but I do take precautions for a possible danger.

I guess that is also why I do martial arts.

[Brian R. VanCise]

These are some of my own personal rants. In Japan there is an attitude I call, "Gaman 'till you die." "Gaman" means "put up with." People that should be home in bed come to work with masks on to try to keep from infecting other people. It isn't enough!

Right now, there are a lot of super resistant bugs out there due to folks taking just enough drugs to feel better and then "going natural" (as one person I know put it.)

If you start some medication, stay on it until the prescription runs out and no sooner!

FunSPE also had some good points in his last sentence. I can only add to avoid situations that have higher than normal risks of infection. You may have seen all those scenes of folks here in Japan that have to be shoved into morning commuter trains. Can you imagine just how easy it is to catch something in that sort of situation? I wear a mask wherever I get on one now. I won't the fear keep me home, but I do take precautions for a possible danger.

I guess that is also why I do martial arts.

Those kind of precautions are simply good choices Don!

[Mekugi]

My two bits here:

The flu doesn't kill per se...it's the other nastiness, like pneumonia that can develop from having the flu, that kills.

[Mekugi]

You may have seen all those scenes of folks here in Japan that have to be shoved into morning commuter trains. Can you imagine just how easy it is to catch something in that sort of situation? I wear a mask wherever I get on one now. I won't the fear keep me home, but I do take precautions for a possible danger.

I guess that is also why I do martial arts.

The thing about masks is that they do not protect the eyes. You might as well not even wear one on the train because at that proximity, any cough-atomized or breath-vaporized flu can get in through your eyes and tear ducts just as easily. At least according to a Doctor friend of mine down here....who is rather radical and up to date.

The subways and trains need to consider the benefits of fresh air on the trains too. Freaking open a window!

[David Craik]

I think a unique business opportunity is at hand. Anyone manufacturing these could make a killing.

[Nick L.]

If my temp gets above 100 while cooking bacon over a hot stove, does that count?

[Mekugi]

I think a unique business opportunity is at hand. Anyone manufacturing these could make a killing.

I am getting one of those and wearing it on the train. SWEET!