Swine Flu

[ellenmillion]

Is it me, or is this the slowest and lamest pandemic Ever? Come on! If this were Hollywood, half the civilized world would have it by now, and our hero (a doctor, of course - and a sexy one!) would already have isolated the vaccine as well as a miraculous cure and right now there would be a power struggle over distributing it by means of an innovative new vector something etc. And the love interest would be dying of it. Beautifully, with soft lighting and long lingering looks from pristine white sheets.

Instead we get lots of warnings to wash your hands, and some schools closing because there are DEFINITELY some cases of POSSIBLY the flu. But maybe not swine flu. And it hasn't been worse than a cold for anyone outside of Mexico.

And it doesn't even cause zombification.

Color me disappointed.

Comments

[kiri-moth.livejournal.com]

It's more fun if you call it Bacon Fever. "Mmmmmm....I gots me some BACON FEVER, baybee!"

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the media for you. Doom is always around the corner. Well, it's not 2012 yet!

[dulcinbradbury.livejournal.com]

I'm going to Costume Con this weekend. Lots of people in close proximity who don't wash their hands enough!

Bets on whether people panic over whatever concrud they bring home? ;)

[chamois-shimi.livejournal.com]

It's got a ways to go to catch up with just plain ol' regular garden variety influenza, which kills about 36,000 people every year just in the United States alone. :P

[uminomamori.livejournal.com]

Haha, no zombies.

My mom's school is closed for a week because of a definite case.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

You shouldn't laugh... you're living in the state everyone's going to flee to in panic because it's the closest thing to "corner of nowhere" while still in the US. ;)

[renatus.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to rain on your parade a bit, here.

Yes the media is being stupid, which is dangerous in and of itself, because False Rumors Cost Lives (http://canonical.org/~kragen/costs-lives.html).

It's certainly not a good idea to panic over this--but it's also not a good idea to brush it away as just another flu. If quarantine measures are put into place and people don't keep them because 'it's just another flu, no big deal', there will be a problem. An ER doctor on why (http://slithytove.livejournal.com/670783.html?style=mine).

This flu is worrisome because of the particular mutation--it's not just a 'swine flu', but a swine-avian-human hybrid that's spreadable from swine to human and human to human, and that, so far, most deaths have not been of the very young and very old, but those from 20-50, who have strong immune systems (possibly because of cytokine storms--nasty stuff). That's similar to the 1918 flu.

To quote molez (from here (http://majic13.livejournal.com/987831.html?thread=4618167&style=mine#t4618167)):

The two big changes are

1) This swine flu version seems to be killing people who are do not fit the age normally impacted.
2) 0% of the population have been exposed to this and have had a chance to build up a resistance. This is a marked contrast to regular influenza, which you can assume approximately 90% of the population have significant resistance too.

And yes, washing your hands is one of the best health measures you can take agains this or any other flu, as Jim Macdonald says in this Making Light post (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/011241.html#011241).

I hope you continue to remain disappointed. If matters get 'exciting', we're all going to be very, very sorry.

[winterswitchery.livejournal.com]

I love how panicky they get. In Nova Scotia, it's in the papers and been on the news. But mostly because we had the first confirmed cases of it here in the province. if we hadn't, it would probably a cautionary "Try not to go to Mexico, kay?"

[frigg.livejournal.com]

You forgot the sexy doctor's dog. :p

And where is the monkey??

[sibylle]

Yeah ... we'll see how it goes, but right now I am not terribly worried, or panicing.

And a link to make you laugh: 10 things movies teach us about virus outbreaks!

[rendergirl.livejournal.com]

ROFL oh my, this has to be my favorite post of the day!!! ;)

[minor-architect.livejournal.com]

I find it amusing that you don't consider it a REAL pandemic unless zombification is involved.

There's just no pleasing some people... :D

[arslongu.livejournal.com]

Spews tea all over my key board...roflmao
You said it. Where are those zombies???

[celticelff.livejournal.com]

*giggles*
Ellen, you are full of win today.
That is all.

[jenelycam.livejournal.com]

LOL!!

[piotrov.livejournal.com]

Did somebody say the z-word? ;)

http://bouncewith.me.uk/europe/8027043.htm

[baba-studio.livejournal.com]

Ah no, now you see, that's the twist. Everyone who has it just sniffles for a bit and then recovers. All is well... they think.

But when the next full moon shines out... AAAARARRAARARARARAGGHHHHHH!