Confirmed cases of H1N1 virus approach 900

[steven johnson]

Source: CNN

UPDATED: 07:49 PM EDT 05.03.09
 
(CNN)
The World Health Organization cautioned that the swine flu outbreak could gain momentum in the months ahead, despite claims by the health secretary of Mexico -- the epicenter of the outbreak -- that the virus "is in its declining phase."

The outbreak is only about 10 days old, and even if the illness is declining, it could return, said Gregory Hartl, the WHO spokesman for epidemic and pandemic diseases, at a briefing Sunday.

"I ... would like to remind people that in 1918 the Spanish flu showed a surge in the spring, and then disappeared in the summer months, only to return in the autumn of 1918 with a vengeance," Hartl said. "And we know that that eventually killed 40 million to 50 million people."

As of Sunday, WHO confirmed 898 cases of swine flu -- known to scientists as influenza A (H1N1) -- reported in 18 countries.

Read more: http://m.cnn.com/cnn/lt_ne/lt_ne/detail/296337

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There seems to be a bit of over reaction to the H1N1 influenza.

"I'm sure the deaths in Mexico have something do with the infrastructure," said Anthony Markovich, a graduate student in Marina del Ray, California. "I know our health care system has its flaws, but it is more advanced."

The world should focus on diseases that have more fatalities, according to Markovich.

"This is a joke compared to other things going on," he said. "Malaria is killing thousands of people daily, the economy is not getting any better, it is time to move on."

"When you put it in context, 700 cases in the world is nothing," said Kapadia, a commodities trader in Karachi. "I understand it is a horrible new disease and governments should find a cure for it, but the media has created too much paranoia."


Hysteria over swine flu is the real danger, some say

[panader0]

1. Didn't "regular" flu kill 36,00 last year?

Too much hype, I think, on this flu.

[MADem]

2. Yes, it did. And that's just in the USA.

That's not a world wide figure.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us_flu-related_deaths.htm

CDC estimated that about 36,000 people died of flu-related causes each year, on average, during the 1990s in the United States. This figure includes people dying from complications of flu. This estimate came from a 2003 study published in the Journal of the American Medication Association (JAMA), which looked at the 1990-91 through the 1998-99 flu seasons <10>. Statistical modeling was used to estimate how many flu-related deaths occurred among people whose underlying cause of death on their death certificate was listed as a respiratory or circulatory disease. During these years, the number of estimated deaths ranged from 17,000 to 52,000.

In 2009, CDC published additional estimates of flu-related deaths comparing different methods, including the methods used in the 2003 JAMA study. The seasons studied included the 1993-94 through the 2002-03 flu seasons <9>. Results from this study showed that during this time period, 36,171 flu-related deaths occurred per year, on average.



I agree about the hype--it's like shark bites a few years back.

[Baby Snooks]

4. Why? Because it hasn't killed thousands already?

The pandemic of 1918 started out the same way. Few cases, few deaths. And then suddenly it spread quickly and killed millions. Some within hours. It was worse than the Black Plague.

What outrages me most are the "experts" who claim this virus doesn't have the capability of becoming deadly. It may be mutating. Which they forget. Influenza virus mutates. What you see today ain't what you may get tomorrow. What is really behind the "experts" suddenly downplaying this is the economic considerations. It is costing too many too much to shut down in order to protect the public interest which may be the only reason why this has not exploded as everyone thought it would. Tourism is down in Mexico. As is air travel. People are afraid of going to Hong Kong. They may end up being quarantined. The world has taken it seriously. The world leaders of course are worried only about economic impact. And so they have engaged the spinmeisters. The "experts."

As always, profit before public interest.

[Bluebear]

6. This virus is what, 10 days old? How do you think pandemics start?

[quidam56]

9. Not necessarily true-

36K died because they had the flu and a combination of other disease our health care system is breeding and spreading MRSA into our communities. This could have serious health implications as far as five years down the road. Last Fall they were warning to give a flu shot to children as young as 6 months because of MRSA. It is shocking to see what now a days is deemed, defended and supported in Tennessee and Virginia as "the acceptable standards of health care". See for yourself - http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 Profit Care comes ahead of Patient Care in America.

[Mojorabbit]

3. The outbreak is only about 10 days old

I am in a wait and see mode. I am glad the international community is taking it seriously instead of blowing it off.

[kestrel91316]

10. Exactly. People watch too much TV, and think that by the 10 day mark the

miniseries should be over.

[Mermaid7]

5. politically correct??? I say yes.

I'm going to step out on a limb.
But given the current information, I think Joe Biden spoke the truth and what came from his heart.
I support his, unfiltered, unrevised view

As of 3 days ago, I would have not wanted to get on a plane, nor would have, in the least, advised anyone in my family to have done so either.

Of course, the gov and everyone else criticizes him, but given the unknown at that time, still at this time, I think he was/is the most honest politician's of all of them. They were all concerned more w what this would have done w commerce/the threat to the fragile economy, more than they were about the potential threat to us. So, what, if it turns out to be nothing or amounts to the same as the common flu, on the other hand, it had the potential to kill millions upon millions.

I want a guy, who first of all, cares about us.

I too, am not getting on a plane, regardless on the economy, and chancing getting a virus, none of us know about or have any immunity to.

Maybe it now proven to be not so severe, but could have been, and maybe that precaution, is just Joe and Me, just watching out for ourselves and our families, to we know better.

I say Joe Biden, sometimes speaks out of turn, according to what the Gov wants to announce, but to me is much closer to home.

Just look what happened, after they tried to rebuke and change his statement, aircraft grounded several times, because of flu victims aboard.

I'm not saying let's panic, but let's also look at what the POLICIES are about underplaying this and not only the MEDIA overplaying this and causing hysteria.

Neither are right, but something in between, got's to be right~

When an supposedly class 5 pandemics

[aquart]

7. And yet...

I keep wondering if now isn't the very best possible time to contract this flu. Get the antibodies while it's still no biggie. Just in case.

[aquart]

8. I would say Egypt is overreacting. Everyone else is just reacting.

[kestrel91316]

11. That pig killing spree in Egypt is completely insane, and just shows that

there are places in the world even more ignorant than America.

[Mojorabbit]

12. I don't know if they are over reacting or not

They have had a lot of cases of H5N1 this year and I think it was found in ten percent of Indonesian pigs. Maybe they were afraid of some mixing it up if their pigs had it too. No way to know what their motives were.

[Hugin]

13. So, a graduate student in Marina del Ray and a commodities trader in Karachi are the experts on this

Boy, we're in more trouble than I thought. :sarcasm:

:eyes:

I will remain alert and cautious.

[bananas]

14. I wonder what he's a graduate student in?