So now that the US has declared a public emergency will those whistling

[nadinbrzezinski]

past the graveyard realize that this is actually serious?

Yes, we all know some folks don't realize this can be serious

That is all

[liberalmuse]

1. You cannot herd the DU cats, man.

Have you not learned this one thing?

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. It is like trying to herd dems

can't be done

[seemslikeadream]

2. The "attacks" have gone bye bye

for now, was it just me?


oops spoke too soon

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Well some folks never learn

and like to whistle past the graveyard

That said, this is just step one of the emergency plan

They all have common elements to them

Mexico actually skipped this part. Next well Mexico on Friday

We probably will avoid that if this is contained

Oh and I do have masks

If the spread starts to be more prevalent, I will probably start wearing them in public

No I don't want to increase my chances of getting sick...

[BlooInBloo]

3. Maybe one day one of these things will kill a brazillion people! Then you chicken littles will be...

RIGHT! Won't that make you happy?

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. One of those chicken little is the world health organization

and their worst case scenario in a bad pandemic is 500 million around the world

A little information goes a long way

But those who deny the science of epideomology are no better than global warming deniers

So not quite a brazillion, let alone brazilions

[AllentownJake]

9. I'm sorry I don't know what kind of action you want from people

A) its a virus, therefore our use of anti-biotics aren't responsible for its evolution. As long as there has been life these things seem to have been around evolving and killing organisms. No matter what us mere humans do these things are going to continue to evolve and kill us. They existed long before man, will exist long after man.

B) Other than using hand sanitizer and staying home if you or your children have the flu so not to spread it, what do you want people to do?

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Read the CDC website

they are pretty clear on it

Wash hands,

Stay home if sick

See a doctor if sick

did I mention wash hands?

But at least it is refreshing that unlike the deniers round these parts, MY GOVERNMENT is taking this seriously enough to go to the trouble of actually activating the plan.

Which means this is more serious than our deniers here realize it is... or want to realize it is

[AllentownJake]

17. I really don't see a denier movement about Swine Flu

It's like anything else in life, take your precautions and pray you or your family aren't one of the statistics that are hit despite doing the right thing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. You have not been around here for the last 48 hours then

[Oak2004]

18. A mask

in studies masks, especially n95 respirators, are the single most effective form of defense we have.

If the flu spreads I'd recommend wearing them in public places.

(P.S.-- an n95 respirator, despite what it sounds like, is generally a "dust mask". A lot of people, especially woodworkers, have them in their garage or workshop and don't know it.)

[BlooInBloo]

23. FEAR! FEAR! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!! I TOLD YOU SO!!!!

That's all they really want.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. You confuse fear with information

I happen to know what is the worst case scenario by the WHO

I also happen to know that worst case scenarios rarely come true

That said, I also happen to know that this is expected, predicted on SCIENCE

You also deny global warming?

[Zenlitened]

33. Some people in this world fear information itself.

Sad, but true. :(

That said, I'm actually surprised that there are people complaining about the number of flu-related posts on DU.

First off, complaining that a discussion board is buzzing about a hot topic has never seemed to be successful in quieting the buzz.

And second, this topic strikes me as a genuinely interesting, important and still-developing story. The interest in it seems entirely appropriate, IMO.

What doesn't surprise me at all is the fact that those doing the most complaining about the fact that a discussion is taking place... on a discussion board, canyabelieveit??!! -- are up to their usual rhetorical tricks.

To hear them tell it, they are merely pious and level-headed protectors of decorum, wisely warding off -- in this case -- warding off panic. Saints they are, all of 'em.

That there is no sign of an actual panic... well, why that little fact get in the way! :D

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. Well the panic may come

factoid from being a PIO for the Red Cross in TJ

You said to people remain calm, don't panic.

Guess what happened?

They used those worlds today.

So I do expect to see a little panic

:-)

I love to study human behavior

[BlooInBloo]

36. I'm too busy killing millions if Ghanans to bother denying global warming, thanks.

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. So that was YOU!

Factoid for ya... most of the victims, if this indeed goes pandemic, will be in places like Ghana

Why I find your humor kind of in the gallows category we medics usually keep away from polite company

[arcadian]

6. The problem is nadin, is that we can't take what the Federal government or the MSM says seriously.

Too many Peter and the the wolf scenarios. Besides the Federal government response to any crisis is to let it play out and then do absolutely nothing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Problem is that in this case Peter has been the WHO for YEARS

since we are overdue for this... and the wolf has been the Pandemic they've been warning about since 1996

Right now, unlike chimpy, they are doing what any reasonable government would do... which is start activating the emergency plan

I wasn't surprised... then again I helped write one of them.

I guess 1918 never happened, neither did 1957 or 1968 for that matter

:-)

This is actually predicted on the science of epidemiology and what we know of how this develops, not the federal government

Right now watching the reporting from Mexico, if they go all the way, pretty much the shit has hit the fan

(Yes I know THAT particular plan in broad strokes)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. Thanks, Nadin, this needs repeating and no snark.

this is extremely serious. Flu killed more USers after WWI than the fighting in Europe.

[stray cat]

13. Good news - that means it could be a hell of a lot worse and being minimized

[AllentownJake]

7. Oh Noes!!!

I'll check the CDC website like I do with any other outbreak.

What kind of action are you asking for, duct tape windows and carts to bring out the dead?

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Oh noes, wash hands and go see a doctor if you are sick

OH NOES!!!!!!!

And I'd add the WHO map to your search for spread

[AllentownJake]

15. That seems to me common sense that I do anyway.

I also drink a glass of pomegranite juice a day, and try to drink 2 glasses of orange juice a day.

Other than that, don't know what else I can do.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Stock up on some canned goods

no the CDC will not tell you that, and it is common sense for disasters anyway

The plans world wide do contemplate home bound quarantines as a last step

So I will get canned goods, I need to just for the ... quake potential round these parts

[AllentownJake]

20. I did that when the economy started to go nuts

That's just common sense to have 3 weeks of food around.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Common sense is not as common as you think

for me, I buy my canned goods, and use them... and then restock

Due for restocking anyway

[seemslikeadream]

11. one source fits all?

[glowing]

24. I understand that the flu pandemic is seriously distressing and scary.

However, I don't believe that the probability of coming down with this flu is even close to the stats of cancer or diabetes or food poisoning or pneumonia or car crash...

Imagine if we actually considered and treated illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes like we do the threat of a viral flu-pandemic? Imagine if addressed homelessness like we did the plague. Imagine if we treated war like a pestilence?

I'm sorry, I don't chicken-little. Death comes to all at some point. Its always the saddest for those left behind who are without their loved one's... and this particular virus seems to be taking the lives of younger persons; so it seems shocking to lose people in the beginning of their lives.

Common sense is much better in dealing with any issue emergency issue. Be prepared and take precautions and be advised about updates and the status of the emergency. Many you are condoning are not making light of the flu-virus or the deaths; they are pointing out the media's over-hyped sensationalizing of the story, the usage of red flashing updates, and the over-dramatized expressions in their voices which induce nervous-anxiety and worry in people who should be operating in a calm and collected manner. The last time the fear was ratcheted up over the avian flu virus, Tami flu stocks went thru the roof... guess who was a major winner on that stock.. old Rumsfeld himself.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. I expected the conspiracy buffs to come here

by the way... here is a little factoid, Tami-flu ain't that effective against this

Not the only antiviral in town either.

but I am sure, in fact proof positive, that you knew that

NOT

[Bluebear]

27. psst

They are saying that Tamiflu is effective...

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200904251215dowjonesdjonline000319&title=who-says-initial-findings-show-swine-flu-responds-to-tamiflu

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. psss other antivirals are far more effective

... according to ahem CDC

[Bluebear]

31. ok thank you

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Of course as the virus evolves that could change

:-)

[glowing]

34. Yes, I know there is other effective anti-viral remedies... which was odd to the

community that deals in these viral issues, since tami-flu wasn't as good as some of the others in dealing with the avian flu.. yet, it became the recommended remedy and stock-piled by the govt. AND its not a conspiracy to see the $ benefits from owning the stock of certain companies in conjunction with those who have means to help themselves. Congress is allowed inside trader access all the time.

AND I didn't say anyone caused the flu. tamiflu doesn't prevent the flu. Its used in helping to treat persons who contract the flu. But if you think there is a conspiracy to be had, please do tell.

[Hannah Bell]

28. some folks hyping the flu have a bad record on their prognostications. that is all.

[Dogmudgeon]

30. Paranoia is more fun than prevention

We're far too hip to believe that chicken-little-shit. Hey, didn't Cheney or Rumsfeld own stock in the company that made Tamiflu? Yeah, all forms of the flu are just conspiracies to make Republicans rich and take our attention off of their crimes! It'll be on 24 in a month or so!

:eyes:

--d!

[ohheckyeah]

35. It's hardly whistling

through the graveyard for people to take the precautions and then go on with their lives. Frankly, there are some people here to seem to be reveling in the idea of a pandemic because after all we are OVERDUE AND DAMMIT IT SHOULD HAPPEN.

Could this become a pandemic? Of course it could. Will it? Who knows. What can we do about it? Take the same precautions many of us take all flu season.

I live in the country and I always have extra food and water on hand so there isn't much else for me to do than take the usual precautions.