Now for my Debbie Downer moment: IIRC, the Great Influenza

[hedgehog]

Epidemic of 1918 began with a few cases in the summer, then seemed to go away, then came back like a hurricane.

[uppityperson]

1. Goes to show that you just can never tell. Predictions are difficult.

[Taverner]

2. Of course they didn't have Tamiflu back then

Or widespread antibiotics...

At least this one isn't antibiotic resistant (yet)

[Ladyhawk]

3. Influenza A is a virus. It doesn't respond to antibiotics. nt

[hedgehog]

5. There is a lot of debate about what killed people back then. My guess

is that some people died in a day or so as a result of a massive immune system overreaction. Antibiotics wouldn't be of any help for those people. I think other people were taken out by secondary bacterial infections (pneumonia) while they were weakened by the influenza.That's where antibiotics would be a game changer.


Toss in that most people these days are better nourished, better housed, not over-worked and aren't carrying latent TB.

[MrsMatt]

7. Influenza is a virus, so antibiotics are totally ineffective

and who knows if Tamiflu will be any real help - flu viruses are very good at mutating (that's why we have a different flu vaccine every year).

[depakid]

15. Secondary bacterial infections killled a lot of people (and still do)

Check out the leading causes of death in 1916:

1. Diseases of the heart
2. Pneumonia (all forms) and influenza
3. Tuberculosis (all forms)
4. Nephritis (all forms)
5. Intracranial lesions of vascular origin
6. Cancer and other malignant tumors
7. Diarrhea, enteritis, and ulceration of the intestines
8, Accidents excluding motor-vehicle
9. Premature birth
10. Syphilis (all forms)

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/lead1900_98.pdf

[Avalux]

4. Actually, there were three waves.

A spring wave (started in March 1918) a fall wave and a third wave in the winter. Each one more lethal than the other. The genetic material we have is from the second wave, so we really don't know where/how it all started or the original strain's make-up. Still a lot of unanswered questions.

There are similarities between what's happening now and the pandemic of 1918 which is why I think the WHO and CDC are so concerned. Good article:

1918 Influenza: the Mother of All Pandemics

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol12no01/05-0979.htm

[hedgehog]

6. You should re-post that as an OP so I can give it a K&R!

[Avalux]

11. OK - I just did.

Isn't the article fascinating? :hi:

[luvspeas]

8. holy sh*t a FLU HURRICANE?????...

BONG! A Fox news alert...

[hedgehog]

9. Hey, it's Sunday, I'm too lazy to think up a better metaphor right now!

:)

[luvspeas]

12. BONG! Fox news alert...

breaking news -
a blond intern is missing after she was swept away by a pig flu hurricane. It was also noted that she was not wearing underpants when she entered the hurricane. Pictures at the top of the hour.

[L0oniX]

10. Take some puppy uppers and chill.

[hedgehog]

13. I'm a mother, it's in my contract that I'm required to worry!

The reason I posted this is that if this dies down, people shouldn't discount the hazard. A flu pandemic is like the Big One that California is waiting for. We know it's coming someday, but we don't know when.

[aquart]

14. Exactly. Influenza is nothing to mess with.

If it comes to nothing? Fine. But with this going around, a very full social schedule this fall and winter is not the best idea. And colleges need to be sure as many classes as possible can convert to online if necessary.

There are contingency plans that need to be made everywhere.

Here's a question: what happens with a major flu epidemic in a major hurricane?

Sleep well.

[hedgehog]

16. You mean, with a lot of strangers forced into close quarters with limited

sanitation for a few days?