Pandemic? 80k hospitalized in Mexico

[cgallery]

Just what the world needs right now:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...042501335.html

They now say it jumped from birds to pigs, and now to humans.

And the news reports say 800 have been hospitalized in Mexico, and that Mexico city seems like a ghost town.

Yikes.

[Richard in Smithville]

Reminds me of back when SARS hit up here. Everyone was walking around with masks on other countries were advising against travel to Canada.

[jackellis]

I've heard numbers of infected individuals in the range of 1-2 thousand, not 80 thousand.

This particular strain appears to be very treatable with common anti-viral meds, unlike variants of H1N1.

[cgallery]

I've heard numbers of infected individuals in the range of 1-2 thousand, not 80 thousand.

This particular strain appears to be very treatable with common anti-viral meds, unlike variants of H1N1.

It looks like they edited the article about 2:00 my time, at least a couple of hours after I posted that message. I swear they said 80k.

There is a BIG difference between 800 and 80k.

[Knottscott]

80K had my attention! 800? ...well, not to minimize the tragedy of 800 deaths, but with 6 billion people on the earth, 800 probably dropped dead from natural causes while I type this.

[Tom Slick]

Maybe it will take out 80k of those scum bag drug gangs on the border.

[MilDoc]

Not just Mexico.

11 confirmed cases in the US, including California, Texas, Kansas. no deaths yet. Let's hope it does not spread as this is a new never before seen strain.

[Mrs. Wallnut]

Not just Mexico.

11 confirmed cases in the US, including California, Texas, Kansas. no deaths yet. Let's hope it does not spread as this is a new never before seen strain.

I was reading about this on Friday while I was at Les Schwab having the breaks checked. I was concerned about it being up this way but I haven't heard of any around our area. I have relatives that can and will probably get this. My grandmother seems to get most of the bad and new cases that are going around every year even though she gets a flu shot and pneumonia shot. But thank goodness she hasn't had the latter.

Is there a vacine for this or is it just one of those that they will have to make one for or are they going to do something like that at all.

[MilDoc]

This is a brand new flu strain, has elements of human, swine, and avian flu. No past vaccination will help, and there is no vaccine for it now. That would take months to make and distribute.

It is spreading, worldwide. One problem is that people that have it have been found to still be contagious for 7-10 days AFTER they are completely recovered. I expect it will continue to spread, but who knows how much. Don't panic (yet).

BTW, forget masks. Worthless. Cover your cough (NOT with your hand!) Wash hands frequently. Stay home (and see your doc) if you have flu like symptoms.

[jackellis]

My MO is to avoid seeing the doctor for every sniffle and sneeze. However if I come down with any of the symptoms I will find someone to treat me promptly. Especially since this strain seems to be readily treatable with anti-viral medications.

I'm normally not the macho type but there's just something that's not very manly about dying from the flu.

[chopnhack]

Curious Paul, why do you think masks are worthless in this case?

[MilDoc]

The usual "surgical" type mask first, is not "tight" enough of a weave to stop a virus, and second, fits too loosely, allowing air (and virus) infiltration around the edges.

Now, if you want to wear an N95 rated respirator that hugs the skin all around, that would be OK. I can stand to wear one for, oh, maybe 45 minutes!