Swine flu fears prompt quarantine plans, pork bans

[SirFrancis]

The 1918-19 influenza pandemic killed 20 million+...civilisation managed to survive it

 Tronsky

it was 40 million...and I see your point Tronsky. But that info doesn't help someone personally, when his family members are infected. In that case, civilization has to stand behind. Just my thinking...

p.s. Common seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people every year.

[moot]

Pretty sure I read the WHO say this wouldn't be worse than SARS was.

[Tango]

Sad thing is they won't do anything to shut the border down and we will see more coming in [illegally] with it.

[Hornet33]

This planet needs a pandemic. Too many people on this rock as it is.

[Curlew]

High Tech Creations announced today that in order to further contain the desease it wold be quarentining all memembers of pigs on the wing in order to not infect the rest of the Aces High community

Associated Press

[Bruv119]

High Tech Creations announced today that in order to further contain the desease it wold be quarentining all memembers of pigs on the wing in order to not infect the rest of the Aces High community

Associated Press

    

[MORAY37]

The 1918-19 influenza pandemic killed 20 million+...civilisation managed to survive it

 Tronsky

Yup, no big deal.

Unless you were one of the 20 to 40 million, that is.

The effect of the influenza epidemic was so severe that the average life span in the US was depressed by 10 years. The influenza virus had a profound virulence, with a mortality rate at 2.5% compared to the previous influenza epidemics, which were less than 0.1%. The death rate for 15 to 34-year-olds of influenza and pneumonia were 20 times higher in 1918 than in previous years (Taubenberger). People were struck with illness on the street and died rapid deaths. One anectode shared of 1918 was of four women playing bridge together late into the night. Overnight, three of the women died from influenza (Hoagg). Others told stories of people on their way to work suddenly developing the flu and dying within hours (Henig). One physician writes that patients with seemingly ordinary influenza would rapidly "develop the most viscous type of pneumonia that has ever been seen" and later when cyanosis appeared in the patients, "it is simply a struggle for air until they suffocate," (Grist, 1979). Another physician recalls that the influenza patients "died struggling to clear their airways of a blood-tinged froth that sometimes gushed from their nose and mouth," (Starr, 1976). The physicians of the time were helpless against this powerful agent of influenza.http://virus.stanford.edu/uda/

It was estimated that around 5% of the population of the planet died because of that one single strain.  This really isn't a laughing matter. Especially since influenza mutates so readily when it meets another strain.... they basically swap DNA at first glance.  Since this strain has already gained human to human transmission, ie "it's airborne", if it runs into another strain that's more virile than it is.... this could very well get interesting.

This strain seems to have an untreated mortality around 1.8 to 2.0%.  Luckily, it seems antibodies work, if given soon enough.

[Masherbrum]

Yup, no big deal.

Unless you were one of the 45 million, that is.

The Spanish Flu Pandemic killed anywhere from 40-100 million people. 

[MORAY37]

This planet needs a pandemic. Too many people on this rock as it is.

I nominate you to go first.

[oakranger]

High Tech Creations announced today that in order to further contain the desease it wold be quarentining all memembers of pigs on the wing in order to not infect the rest of the Aces High community

Associated Press

 

[xNOVAx]

I nominate you to go first.

+1

[Angus]

If you want to tackle the Spanish flue of old, one of my friends happened to pass it. (yes, born 1917) as well as I knew more, - people I grew up with.
This was no laughing matter. You had a huge part of the population in our rather insulated island (ICELAND with 1918 transport, which is rather ...slow compared to modern day's standards) infected. Very much so, enough to screw up just about everything. On top this happened in the coldest climate for a long time, making things even worse in cold housings.
Deaths were of completely unique numbers, including entire families (Parents and all children) being found dead in their homes. All got sick and by the time somebody came to check, they were all dead.
The disease even killed people in Spitzbergen, which (logically) was the first place to look for in the quest of analyzing the virus involved. Corpses in permafrost.
It was not successful, however from human remains frozen up in Alaska, it was established that the Spanish disease was basically the same as what was on in the business of the bird flu.
If this is closely related, and going pig-pig, not to mention with the meat, this is no joking matter.
Well the alarm has been on for years. I hope the best, but fear the worst.

[Die Hard]

One thing that works against the swine-flu is its short incubation period of only 1-3 days. In 1918 that would have protected the Icelanders, among others, but today with air-travel we are more at risk from these very virulent strains.

[Hornet33]

I nominate you to go first.

OK but I'm taking you with me   (coughs and sneezes in your direction)

[Toof]

I wouldn't be too concerned about this if I a.) didn't work with children. and b.) there weren't 8 high school students at a Newberry, SC High School "exhibiting flu-like symptoms". Bout 70 miles from here. They just got back from Cancun, most showed symptoms days after being back in class.