Swine Fever - any thoughts?

chubbygristle · Post by **chubbygristle** » 27 Apr 2009, 19:41

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/ap ... u-scotland

Swine flu confirmed in UK

• Two people in Airdrie test positive for swine flu
• Seven close family and friends are also being treated

"I can confirm that tests have demonstrated conclusively that the two Scottish cases of suspected swine flu are positive," Sturgeon said. "However, I am pleased to say both patients are recovering well.

"In addition, there are currently a further seven people among the 22 who have been in contact with the two infected people, who have now developed mild symptoms and are being appropriately cared for."

Sturgeon said a Cobra meeting chaired by the UK health secretary, Alan Johnson, included her junior health minister, Shona Robison. Ministers were confident that the chances of a possible outbreak were very low: health officials had been able to quickly identify possibly infected individuals over the weekend.

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 27 Apr 2009, 19:44

There was mention on the Channel 4 news just now of people in Mexico having pneumonia. So far as I've read, the cases of swine flu in the rich world have been "mild". What is killing those people in Mexico? Flu or secondary infection pneumonia? And who are they? What sort of health cover did they have?

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 27 Apr 2009, 20:57

foodinistar wrote:There was mention on the Channel 4 news just now of people in Mexico having pneumonia. So far as I've read, the cases of swine flu in the rich world have been "mild". What is killing those people in Mexico? Flu or secondary infection pneumonia? And who are they? What sort of health cover did they have?

Mexicans are sort of like the people from Toxteth or other housing estates.
Smoke and drink a lot, don't do too much exercise and eat a lot of fast food.

If this thing breaks into the general population (rather than that part of the population who can afford 1500 quid holidays to Mexico), I'd expect people in less well off areas to start dropping like flies.

I suspect the general population nowadays is in fact LESS healthy than in 1918.

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 27 Apr 2009, 22:13

DominicJ wrote:Still reading, but Re: masks
N95's are a waste of space, your better off pissing on your shirt sleeve and wearing that.
N100's are much better.

Tid Bit courtesy of AlphaRubicon, think LATOC but not ****ing loopy.

Dominic, I think you are mixing up the N-series masks with the Pee-series.

(I haven't read the rest of the thread yet, so sorry if I'm repeating someone's joke line - Edit - have just got to the end of the thread and feel slightly disappointed that Andy H hadn't risen to the challenge yet!)

Ludwig · Post by **Ludwig** » 27 Apr 2009, 22:52

foodinistar wrote:There was mention on the Channel 4 news just now of people in Mexico having pneumonia. So far as I've read, the cases of swine flu in the rich world have been "mild". What is killing those people in Mexico? Flu or secondary infection pneumonia? And who are they? What sort of health cover did they have?

Maybe it's a genetically targeted virus

Actually probably not this time, but at some point...

(In last week's "Prospect" there was an article by a doctor who'd participated in something called the Biobank study, which "will store fluids, measurements and information in perpetuity for largely unspecified research purposes". The official information leaflet says:

"By analysing answers, measurements and samples collected from participants, researchers may be able to work out why some people develop particular diseases while others do not."

The doctor adds that this "is about as specific as the information leaflet gets".)

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 27 Apr 2009, 23:09

fifthcolumn wrote:I suspect the general population nowadays is in fact LESS healthy than in 1918.

I think you're overestimating the 1918 crowd. Life exp in those days was about 40. This meant 35 (working class) and 65 (a few lucky b***ards). People were riddled with TB, they had ricketts, scurvey, knackered teeth, their lungs were shot with mining/living in the East-end (of anywhere with an industrial centre, so they were downwind from the muck), they had 1/2-dozen kids and each birth nicked 1/2 their calcium/iron ("lose one tooth per child"), they didn't travel far enough to get married, they drank more booze than we do, lived in damp houses sans heating, didn't know about germs, I could go on... Yes perhaps when in their prime they could pick up a heavier weight than I can, but how long could they keep going??

skeptik · Post by **skeptik** » 28 Apr 2009, 00:13

Whatever happened to SARS?

Swine flu will attenuate in the normal way and die out.

No big deal. Just another media hype. Yawn.

ps
Overdosing on Selenium will kill you. It's extremely toxic. Only required in tiny trace quantities 50 micrograms a day will do. (micrograms that is NOT milligrams )

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 28 Apr 2009, 00:15

RenewableCandy wrote:knackered teeth

I've always found the teeth thing a bit weird. My parents had mouthfuls of fillings and crowns etc by the time they were my age, yet I only have one filling, which I don't think I even needed to be honest, but I was 16 and didn't know better. And when my grandparents were my parents' age, their teeth were worse still - and mostly false!

I know we have fluoride toothpaste (and in the water) now but does that really make all the difference? Or is it diet - higher milk intake etc?

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 28 Apr 2009, 00:26

skeptik wrote:ps
Overdosing on Selenium will kill you. It's extremely toxic. Only required in tiny trace quantities 50 micrograms a day will do. (micrograms that is NOT milligrams )

Taking a couple of tablets a day for a couple of weeks when the news is full of "1000's dead from flu" superflu apocalypse event where I face the possibility of dying in five days due to the flu
OR
lessening my chances of dieing and then some of my hair falling out,

I think I know what my choice will be.

FYI From Wikipedia: The chronic toxic dose of selenite for human beings is about 2400 to 3000 micrograms of selenium per day for a long time.

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 28 Apr 2009, 00:28

RenewableCandy wrote:Llungs were shot with mining/living in the East-end (of anywhere with an industrial centre, so they were downwind from the muck)

While I still think it's likely that our 1918 ancestors were better FED and in better physical condition than us overall (my granpa was as strong as an ox for example) I suspect the above part might be the missing link.

POLLUTION.

Mexico City is a pollution hellhole with some of the worst pollution in the industrialised world. I bet that's what's doing them in. Their lungs are full of shite and probably chronically inflamed even in the best of times. A new virus that ramps up inflammation at the same time they're still breathing the crap air down there is probably what's doing it.

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 28 Apr 2009, 06:53

You may have hit upon the cause of the Mexican deaths, if they are indeed from primary flu infection. Flu affects those with healthy immune systems most - generally, people between 25 and 50.

ziggy12345 · Post by **ziggy12345** » 28 Apr 2009, 08:17

Tess wrote:
RenewableCandy wrote:knackered teeth
I've always found the teeth thing a bit weird. My parents had mouthfuls of fillings and crowns etc by the time they were my age, yet I only have one filling, which I don't think I even needed to be honest, but I was 16 and didn't know better. And when my grandparents were my parents' age, their teeth were worse still - and mostly false!

I know we have fluoride toothpaste (and in the water) now but does that really make all the difference? Or is it diet - higher milk intake etc?

When they pulled the Mary Rose out of the Solent the skulls they found had all their teeth with no cavities

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 28 Apr 2009, 08:38

ziggy12345 wrote: When they pulled the Mary Rose out of the Solent the skulls they found had all their teeth with no cavities

Then the problem was just with the most recent generations? Processed sugar maybe?

chris25 · Post by **chris25** » 28 Apr 2009, 08:55

After initially panicking like a mad man, I now am not too concerned with the spread of this virus and the virulence of this virus.

As has been discussed, the fact that deaths have not spread out of Mexico, is a reassuring sign.

Nevertheless, I shall still be watching this.

From what I have read, preventation methods against the virus such as washing hands regulary with alcoholic spray, not touching your face with uncleaned hands and wearing an FFP3 mask can pretty much entirely minmize your risk of getting the virus anyway.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 28 Apr 2009, 09:58

Adam1 wrote:
DominicJ wrote:Still reading, but Re: masks
N95's are a waste of space, your better off pissing on your shirt sleeve and wearing that.
N100's are much better.

Tid Bit courtesy of AlphaRubicon, think LATOC but not ****ing loopy.
Dominic, I think you are mixing up the N-series masks with the Pee-series.

(I haven't read the rest of the thread yet, so sorry if I'm repeating someone's joke line - Edit - have just got to the end of the thread and feel slightly disappointed that Andy H hadn't risen to the challenge yet!)

I must be losing my touch.

My OH was telling me last night that she was chatting to a couple at work the other day who had just got back from Mexico. Gulp!!