I suppose so. I mean that's the case with the Avian flu.Originally Posted by Niamh
I suppose so. I mean that's the case with the Avian flu.
Let's not forget AIDS!
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It must be very scary where you are at the moment Elizabeth. I think it doesn’t help that the news channels hype it up so much. As far as I’m aware no one outside of Mexico City has died. Quite often these viruses mutate as they move through the poulation and away from the original source of the infection. That’s probably the reason the people in other countries, the USA included have only had mild symptoms of the flu. It may become a pandemic, but probably remain mild. That said, if you want to see a great romantic movie with scenes of a population in panic over an epidemic you should seek out ‘The Horseman on the Roof’ It’s French with subtitles:
Review Summary
In this beautifully mounted historical drama, Angelo Pardi (Olivier Martinez), an Italian soldier, is fleeing his country in 1832. After the fall of Napoleon, Austria is swooping down on Italy to take control of the nation, and like many patriots, Pardi is hoping to escape to France and fight for their freedom abroad rather than submit to Austrian rule. However, as Pardi discovers upon arrival, an epidemic of cholera is sweeping the land, leaving death in its wake and causing most people to be fearful of strangers, who may well be infected. As he tries to outrun a trio of mercenaries who have been hired to take him back to Italy, he finds himself accused by a group of villagers of infecting their water supply. Trying to escape would-be captors on all sides and searching for refuge in a rainstorm, Pardi finds a house and takes shelter inside. Unknown to Pardi, Pauline (Juliette Binoche), the lady of the house, is at home, but to his pleasant surprise, she welcomes him cordially rather than sending him away. It seems that Pauline's husband is missing, and as she desperately wants to find him and Pardi needs to escape to friendlier circumstances, they travel together through the French countryside, hoping to avoid both the disease and the tragedy travelling in its wake. Reportedly the most expensive French production ever made at the time of its release, Le Hussard Sur Le Toit (released in the United States as The Horseman on the Roof) was nominated for ten Cesar Awards (the French Oscar); it won two, for Best Cinematography and Best Sound.
Perfect to watch given the current situation Elizabeth!
Last edited by Michael T; 04-27-2009 at 04:22 PM.
That's HIV, Aids is the syndrome associate with the virus.
Yeah, so I was in a nitpicky mood, sue me...
j/k don't sue me, it was a joke... IN THE SERIOUS DISCUSSION THREAD... uhoh. Sorry about that.
Back to serious. There are so many diseases and viruses and what not that are dangerous and/or deadly, just because this one is fresh out there doesn't necessarily make it more dangerous or deadly. It's just new and that means it isn't well documented and so people tend to panic faster, something which a lot of people pick up on and they then go fear mongering. That doesn't mean you don't have to be careful, but really if it is the next big full blown pandemic after the Spanish flu, do you really think you can stop it by being afraid?
PANIC!!!
There is no darkness, there is no light, there is only Lasagne!
Now I'm reading that there have been no US deaths from this (thank god!) but they're going on 150 or so in Mexico. Only 7 confirmed cases in California. 2 of them in my hometown. I've become so neurotic since I've had a kid. eek. Its a level 4 now with the CDC (whatever level 4 means...)
Panicing is very unproductive though...Everyone wash your hands, see your doctor if you feel sick at all, and don't go to Mexico!
level 4: sustained human to human transmission
edit: looked it up on google: WHO website says: Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.” The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic. Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.
There is no darkness, there is no light, there is only Lasagne!
I see someone else has covered, but there have been no deaths outside Mexico so far, and even more importantly, note this comment:
In almost all swine flu cases outside Mexico, people have been only mildly ill and have made a full recovery.
Human-human transmission of the disease appears no worse than normal influenza.
So far, there are 40 confirmed. There may be others added, with a possibility that 160 have died from it.
Given the rate of spread of new flu bugs, the death rate is no greater than annual influenza - and probably less.
Important to remember that. Viruses behave of their own accord, and quite what happens with this one will be interesting to follow, but the likelihood right now is that it will die out as did SARS and H5N1.
The good news is, that even if it doesn't we have two anti-virals available which will knock it over bfore it knocks you over!
Go to work, get married, have some kids, pay your taxes, pay your bills, watch your tv, follow fashion, act normal, obey the law and repeat after me: "I am free."
Anon
What do you do in the airport? you must have one hell of an immune system. I'm totally the paranoid germaphobe whenever I'm in an airport
I like to cough in airports. It makes people not stand so close to me, I'm perfectly healthy but people that find it necessary to stand extremely close to me just annoy me, and playing into their fears seem to work.
Maybe it's a little mean, but it's their own fault for standing too close, having said that, airports are the best ways to spread disease. There is an on-line game called pandemic II(I think), it's a pretty good simulation on pandemics and diseases. I'll go look for it.
Well that was easy to find: go here for the game
Last edited by AimusSage; 04-27-2009 at 07:49 PM.
There is no darkness, there is no light, there is only Lasagne!
work in the bookshops.I use to catch things all the time. If something bad goes through i'm gone. but i havent been as sick as i use to get in well over a year now.
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That's exactly what I was thinking today. First of all, the regular flu causes a number of people to pass on. So this may not be any different. Second, the cases where fatality occurred was probably due to complications from additional medical issues. Of the 150 or so in the US, no one has died, and only one has even been hospitalized. Again only one was hospitalizd and he did not die.
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150 out of 300 million residents is fairly small. I wasn't worried anyway, but seriously, thank you (and Aimus) for posting these things. It's rather annoying that the Media is so incredibly misguided as to blow things like this so much out of porportion. They are brainless, seriously!
Seriously, though... (after reading a few comments above...) I have one heck of an immune system. Airports don't phase me at all... I think I could kiss 20 sick people and not catch anything. Although, I wouldn't!
Last edited by NikolaiI; 04-28-2009 at 01:42 AM.
I'm going to buy a sombrero tomorrow and walk around, talk in a Mexican accent and cough everywhere!
Go to work, get married, have some kids, pay your taxes, pay your bills, watch your tv, follow fashion, act normal, obey the law and repeat after me: "I am free."
Anon
Meh ditto librarys, I hve a theory about books incubating diseases.work in the bookshops.
The just mean, but it would serve them right for making snap what the word Im looking for judgmenst on appearance!
My mission in life is to make YOU smile
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"The time has come," the Walrus said,"To talk of many things:
Forum Rules- You know you want to read 'em
|Litnet Challange status = 5/260
|currently reading
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