Swine Flu in Idaho (Hope: how much, limo, neighborhood)
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Good job gang. I agree with just about everybody here. Very scary situation if it was purposefully introduced into the population. Hopefully it will disappear soon.
The problem is not the malady. It's our new "Mother", the Federal Government, who turn almost everything that happens into a "sky-is-falling emergency". Interestingly, the government's solution to the emergency often ends up being financially wonderful for someone waiting to be paid back for helping some politician reach a goal. Or, to redirect our attention away from some really important issue.
Influenza rears its ugly head regularly. It's a fact of life in this country and, incidentally, around the World. It's been going on for years! Many of us take a flu shot each Fall to help protect us from influenza, particularly if we can be in danger because we are aged, very young, or without an A-1 immune system.
I'm getting tired of it. The government will be helping the people with hang nails next! See what Congressman Paul (a physician!) has to say about this Swine Flu Scare and the government:
If you ask me the problem being massive pig feeding operations with equally massive fields of pig poop and the accompanying flies seems a viable one, especially if you throw a few cats into the mix. I've never been happier to support my local small scale butcher and dairy.
Everyone complains about the government until they need it, everyone's in favor of a smaller government, except when it means cutting the programs you favor.
"The problem is not the malady. It's our new "Mother", the Federal Government, who turn almost everything that happens into a "sky-is-falling emergency"."
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with this portion - our gov't has not perpetuated the "sky-is-falling emergency" language with regards to swine flu, but rather it is the 24-hour-"have to report something"-television programs. Our gov't has actually been trying to promote caution, safety, education and common-sense with regards to this topic, but every time I hear elevated panic, it's coming from CNBC, Fox News, or CNN, not our heads of state.
And MSR brings up a good point - one reason for such reasonable worry in this case is that this flu type, like many other virus, can (and here, has) mutate from forms that we have seen & have medication for, to those that we haven't and don't. So while the US may have access to excess vaccinations for the "common" flu, they may not be effective towards this new flu strain.
As with all of strains of the flu virus (and most other viruses alike), the best defense is a good offense - soap and warm water, covering your mouth when coughing/sneezing, and if possibly contagious, taking a day or two to stay at home so as not to spread the virus to friends/family/coworkers/"man on the street".
I wish I could post confidential information I have received the past three days, but I can't. I'd suggest reading today's edition of the Dallas Morning News. They have a section about normal flu deaths and the rate of acceleration from H1N1.
What most people may not understand, who haven't studied virology/molecular biology, is the rate at which this virus is changing.
I'll stand up for Pharma here. People will sue when they, the patient use medications wrong, and are now starting to win verdicts. How many pharmaceuticals companies use to make vaccines compared to how many do now? The cost of lawsuits make it not worth it for most.
Any vaccination for the N1H1, potentially may not be good, given the rate of attenuation. It is true most people don't expect this wave of the flu to kill as many as the second wave. It's also true we shouldn't be getting a new flu at this season. And it is the second wave of the flu (our usual flu time of year) for which scientists are racing to unlock this swine/human/avian combination virus. I think it is public info they can't get the egg cultures to grow well currently.
So when people think of vaccinations, that will be for the second wave.
The anti-viral medications can be very effective. It depends on when people are diagnosed. It's a 48 hr. window.
Thanks for posting here, Torrie. It's good to have your viewpoints here. You and I will probably see this issue differently. I don't think pharma will benefit at all. Then again, I personally know and have been in contact with some in the trenches.
I do wonder in 1918 if people would have taken anti-virals had they had the chance.
MSR
MSR, I went to the newspaper you recommended, but couldn't find what you were specifically referencing. I spent a lot of time surfing around without success. Nothing stood out to me that seemed of special interest or anything out of the ordinary that I haven't all ready read or heard. If you can, post a link for me and I will gladly read it.
The Pharmaceutical industry is big money regardless of how many companies are around. You can bet they are making millions of dollars and I noticed you didn't refute that fact, so I can assume you agree? It's all about the money; I really don't feel it's about saving humanity anymore. The link between the FDA, Big Pharma and Congress is enough to make someone sick to their stomach. There is so much corruption in the system, that they no longer have credibility in my eyes; it's all become about the all mighty dollar. Please explain to me how Big Pharma will not benefit? You watch, they're working on that flu vaccine as we speak, no doubt about that, it'll be ready just in time for the second wave when it hits in the Fall. In the meantime, the panicked atmosphere will continue to be the message to the public as if 2012 has arrived 3 years early .
There are a ton of articles I could throw your way, but I found this one below to be somewhat appropriate, I hope you take the time to read it. I follow Mike Adams quite a bit and find him to be very credible, so I will quote him often. I'm also a follower of Dr. Saul of DoctorYourself.com - Health, Naturally!. I've probably been following both of them for almost 2 years now. In addition I have a family friend that use to work for the pharmaceutical industry and the main reason he left was due to the corruption and the lies being told to the public.
I really wish people in the medical field would pay more attention to natural remedies as there are many out there that work and have zero side effects. As stated in the article I posted in my last post, many people get sick because of nutritional deficiencies. If they were given the proper information of what their body really needs, not what the FDA says, because that's not even close to accurate, AND they had access to nutrient dense food, I don't think you would see as many people getting sick as you do. In case some aren't aware, a lot of the food in the USA contains GMO's(Genetically Modified Organisms) which can be toxic to the body. This contributes to the nutritional deficiency. You see....if you're not sick they're not making money off of you and the main reason the medical system shuns away from natural remedies is because you can't patent a natural ingredient and if they can't patent a natural ingredient they aren't going to make any money.
I'll give you an example as to why I support the nutritional deficiency theory....I use to suffer from allergies and sciatica nerve problems. I've found by taking Ester-C that I no longer have either of these ailments! I spend about $60 a year on Ester-C. When I use to take prescriptions for the allergies I was spending around $450 a year! What I didn't understand at the time, was I was deficient in Vitamin C and once I continued to take the Ester-C on a regular basis, both my ailments disappeared. When I went back to tell my doctor, he had no clue, never had heard of that before. This opened my eyes in a big way and made me wonder how many other things are out there that would be of benefit to people with different ailments. This is what made me understand that vitamin deficiency is the key to optimal health.
There is no doubt in my mind that many cures exist for all kinds of diseases, but unless it can be packaged in a little bottle and sold for a pretty penny, these cures will never be discovered. Just because someone in a white coat tells me that I need to inject myself with a mercury loaded vaccine doesn't mean I'm going to do it. If we are to grow as a society we need to step up and start questioning some of these practices by asking why and doing our own research. There is much manipulation going on....it's a disgrace as far as I'm concerned and the more I read and learn, the more disgusted I get.
MSR, I have the utmost respect for you, but I will adamantly disagree with you on this one. It's time that people know the truth and I feel the greater population is being deceived; enough is enough.
PS. Looks like Baxter is going after this one.....and if the demand is anywhere near what this article states...you bet.....there'll be money to be made! Watch their stocks soar....
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with this portion - our gov't has not perpetuated the "sky-is-falling emergency" language with regards to swine flu, but rather it is the 24-hour-"have to report something"-television programs. Our gov't has actually been trying to promote caution, safety, education and common-sense with regards to this topic, but every time I hear elevated panic, it's coming from CNBC, Fox News, or CNN, not our heads of state.
Breer23, I don't expect you to understand this....as most people aren't aware, but some of the media is "the government", and that's why the coverage is 24/7. There's an organization that's infiltered the media, so it's no mistake that you're hearing what you're hearing. To the best of my knowledge they're not involved with Fox, but they are with many of the other mainstream media such as MSNBC, CBS, CNBC, and ABC. So in a sense, it is coming from the heads of state......you're just not suppose to know about it.
Breer23, I don't expect you to understand this....as most people aren't aware, but some of the media is "the government", and that's why the coverage is 24/7. There's an organization that's infiltered the media, so it's no mistake that you're hearing what you're hearing. To the best of my knowledge they're not involved with Fox, but they are with many of the other mainstream media such as MSNBC, CBS, CNBC, and ABC. So in a sense, it is coming from the heads of state......you're just not suppose to know about it.
OK...and now we just about will need to move this to the P&OC forum because we're debating governmental conspiracies and media infiltration.
So....how 'bout that swine flu in Idaho, huh?.....
Some Differences Between Bacteria and Viruses When Infecting Hosts
Quote:
Originally Posted by breer23
"The problem is not the malady. It's our new "Mother", the Federal Government, who turn almost everything that happens into a "sky-is-falling emergency"."
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with this portion - our gov't has not perpetuated the "sky-is-falling emergency" language with regards to swine flu, but rather it is the 24-hour-"have to report something"-television programs. Our gov't has actually been trying to promote caution, safety, education and common-sense with regards to this topic, but every time I hear elevated panic, it's coming from CNBC, Fox News, or CNN, not our heads of state.
And MSR brings up a good point - one reason for such reasonable worry in this case is that this flu type, like many other virus, can (and here, has) mutate from forms that we have seen & have medication for, to those that we haven't and don't. So while the US may have access to excess vaccinations for the "common" flu, they may not be effective towards this new flu strain.
As with all of strains of the flu virus (and most other viruses alike), the best defense is a good offense - soap and warm water, covering your mouth when coughing/sneezing, and if possibly contagious, taking a day or two to stay at home so as not to spread the virus to friends/family/coworkers/"man on the street".
Thanks for your post, Breer23. I'm disappointed about the lack of CLEAR commentary by Infectious Disease Specialists on the networks. While all should differ to the CDC and ultimately the WHO (and a colleague told me to stop saying WHO - like the rock bank, so World Health Organization), I think a friendly physician face could clarify a lot for many.
In eastern ID, two superb Infectious Disease physicians practice together. NID also has I.D. at Kootenai and Boise/Boise metro has I.D. physicians as well. When will one of the local media use the knowledge within the state to answer some questions?
How to get the national news to use their experts, use the appropriate CDC/WHO members to explain. I don't know.
Currently, I'm watching CNN and 109 cases have been confirmed in 11 states. I look for that number to rise greatly in the next two days, as right now only CDC can confirm H1N1. After 05/01/09, most state labs will have the ability to run tests for that state, given supplies CDC is shipping. Hopefully, that will help people understand the "exposure" and why Round II is what most of us really dread. Worldwide, the H1N1 count increases with 300confirmed in Mexico alone.
I suspect we will get more info from Mexico on Friday since the CDC teams are now up and running in Mexico. So many people with symptoms didn't receive or still haven't received care. Plus, I think CDC is also one reason the earlier start of H1N1 starting is now being publicized. For the Mexican government to close and scale back to all but absolutely essential services, that is the first time I remember for an infection.
I received a fax in the past 24 hrs. from a Lab that has laboratory facilities essentially throughout the world. They explained the process of delay for samples to be processed in Mexico even now.
I think it can be confusing to many who don't work in healthcare when we talk about the "superbugs," which don't respond to 1,2,3 and now 4th line antibiotics. MRSA and now another bacteria have become very resistant to most antibiotics. However, those bacterial diseases do respond when the right therapy is selected.
Additionally, other micro-organisms such mycoplasm or other non-viral "bugs" respond to certain therapies. However, viruses don't obey the rules of other bugs, otherwise this would be more straightforward.
Bacterial infections are often stopped by administering antibiotics that inhibit (or disrupt) reproduction of more bacteria colonies. Thus the infection stops when an antibiotic stops spreading to more cells/tissue.
Viruses infect the next host cell in a manner that doesn't allow antimicrobials to stop the progression of the infection to other cells. Bacteria can be killed by heat (hot dishwasher temps and other treatments that are hot), certain chemicals (antibiotics) and other. Since viruses can mutate often (and as Breer23 has accurately stated here) we've seen mutations already in this particular virus. I don't want to be too technical here as others are kind enough to not write comments so complex I can't understand areas in which they have experience studying/working.
If some have questions, check the CDC or State of Idaho Dept. of Health (or your state Dept of Health, if you are in a different state) and check with your own personal physician. Your own physician/healthcare provider will have information most accurate for you.
My Inbox is getting filled by emails from a regional healthcare system with a tremendous amount of information. Indeed, it was an email from them on Monday that put our office on High Alert and changed what we did. Then daily emails, have made sure the latest info is being disseminated to hospitals, clinics and all practitioners. It was from this healthcare organization that I first learned of the WHO raising the alert level to 5.
I'd also encourage all to watch Bloomberg. They approach this news differently and have often given news earlier than others. I just switched to Bloomberg and learned that WHO is prepared to raise us to Level 6 potentially today or tomorrow, based on the number of samples that have finally been able to be cultured and tested.
Check the CDC to confirm this information, but the usual death rate from flu in "flu season" is about 1%. If we had the same rate from this flu in a "non-flu season," then we should expect at least double the deaths this year as we should have our "normal" amount of deaths during our next flu season plus any from this H1N1 flu. However, I'd pay attention to what the CDC says is the death and infection rate. Not solid enough info out of Mexico to show the numbers I've seen circulating. However, I won't be surprised to see a death rate higher than the normal flu rate in flu season. Maybe that will help some to understand why the WHO/CDC is at Level 5 in Pandemic.
What also may help clarify, if you visit the CDC/WHO or other scientific websites, a Level 5, which none of us have ever lived through previously, is when cases of the disease are identified not only in more than two continents, but are in different neighborhoods/areas in the same continent. In English, that means not all cases are from one school/family reunion etc. When patients, not related and not living by each other have been exposed by being in school/work etc. and then have become ill. When enough different areas have patients with positive test results, then we are at a Pandemic level, as I understand it.
We all hope there aren't many deaths in this first wave and the second wave.
If in doubt, don't delay seeing a healthcare provider. There is a second virus right now in the Intermountain area which is making some people very sick. The E.R.'s so far have been able to get positive test results on those patients so the right treatments can be started, and the patients/family.
I don't know enough about who the WHO operates at Level 6. You might want to check as I must learn rather quickly.
If you have symptoms, check with your doctor or Urgent Care facility etc. I hope everyone will remain healthy here. Many people are working in the background to make sure if you have a loved one that has to go to a hospital there are personnel there trained and WELL ENOUGH to help.
MSR
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Some Differences Between Bacteria and Viruses When Infecting Hosts
