Definitive Swine Flu Thread (POST ABOUT IT HERE ONLY)
2,680 replies, posted
[b]What is Swine Flu?[/b]
Swine Flu emerged in pigs, as the name suggests. What happens is that pigs can get human flu, along with avian flu. When two flu viruses encounter each other, they can undergo antigenic shift.
[img]http://filesmelt.com/Imagehosting/pics/8976d32f05a1b89399dd74a3fd251ccc.PNG[/img]
(Warning: That's hideously simplified.)
[b]Should I be worried?[/b]
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/H1N1_map.svg/800px-H1N1_map.svg.png[/img]
It's really quite hard to say. There was a similar scare about swine flu in the 70s which came to nothing, although that was headed off by a vaccination program and was contained. If you have a look on the world map, it's possible that Swine Flu has passed out of possible containment and potentially could ravage populations like Spanish flu or the Hong Kong Flu in the 60s. You need to know the facts, though.
Oh, here are some symptoms:
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Symptoms_of_swine_flu.svg/250px-Symptoms_of_swine_flu.svg.png[/img]
[b]What should I do?[/b]
At the moment, the Government has not issued any information, and the World Health Orginisation don't think there's enough danger to issue a travel warning (although the EU has warned against Mexico). If there's a risk, you'll probably get some sort of announcement on telly and in extreme cases, schools, workplaces and public places could be closed. If you're concerned that the Government might not prepare sufficiently in time, you can always attempt to take precautions.
[list]
[*]Avoid travelling to countries with suspected cases of swine flu.
[*]In crowded areas, consider wearing a respiratory mask. (According to Wikipedia, "recommendations to protect against the avian flu indicated that using a face mask with a rating of N99, N100 or P100 in the United States or a rating of FFP3 in Europe should be effective in protecting against transmission")
[*]Consider taking vitamin C supplements. This has little affect on flu itself, but Vitamin C can induce quite a powerful placebo effect and every little helps!
[*]Practice personal hygene - wash hands with soap/alcohol based hand sanitiser, especially after being out in public.
[*]If you're seriously concerned about swine flu, avoid going out.
[*]Perhaps stock up on essentials.
[*]Are you in an area with conformed cases? If you are, and you get flu like symptoms, go see the doctor. And remember - coughs and sneezes spread diseases, so cough/sneeze into a hanky and not into the face of someone sitting on the bus.
[/list]
It is important to avoid being alarmist. There's probably nothing to worry about - the media always overhypes these things. Think back to bird flu and SARS - did you die from that? DON'T panic buy - you'll only compound issues.
[b]Am I at risk?[/b]
REMEMBER: Don't start freaking out, it's important to stay calm. Look at all the kids in California - they didn't succumb to a terrible death, did they? They were just mildly ill.
So, based on information available at the moment, unless you've a compromised immune system (e.g. you have AIDS) or are really old or really young (in which case you're not on Facepunch) there's probably nothing to worry about.
Stay happy! :D
I hope madagascar dies first =_=
[b][i]Start looting, people![/i][/b]
whats up hezzy getting sick of all the threads all day everday?
[QUOTE=Kool Keith;14862348]whats up hezzy getting sick of all the threads all day everday?[/QUOTE]
That's what moderators are for, durh.
<3
[QUOTE=Kool Keith;14862348]whats up hezzy getting sick of all the threads all day everday?[/QUOTE]
I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks it's dumb to have eight different threads on the same bloody topic
Sticky needed!
[QUOTE=Hezzy;14862359]I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks it's dumb to have eight different threads on the same bloody topic[/QUOTE]
maybe you should sticky it so the thread doesn't get buried and then you won't have to close more threads
[URL=http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ohshith.jpg][IMG]http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8554/ohshith.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Its funny how we can relate to this.
Anyways, If you have the symptoms of the flu, you should see a doctor.
This isnt somthing like birdflu, since this seems to have spread globally much faster.
I'm a bit paranoid about this, but hopefully we'll be fine.
There's always Madagascar for refugee.
Why is it that any time SWINE is brought up Madagascar is brought up, what does Madagascar have anything to do with SWINE?
[QUOTE=Canned Induvidual;14862365]
Anyways, If you have the symptoms of the flu, you should see a doctor. Make sure to sneeze on lots of people while you are out, and have sex with a lot of hookers to ensure you chances of infecting lots of people.
[/QUOTE]
Fixed
[QUOTE=NachoPiggy;14862370]I'm a bit paranoid about this, but hopefully we'll be fine.
There's always Madagascar for refugee.[/QUOTE]
Because HIV or Malaria is much better than Influenza.
Here is a map of all the cases so far
[url]http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=22.22809,-111.357422&spn=35.796953,63.896484&z=4[/url]
Lawl, vancouver. I'm screwed.
If you've ever played the flash game "Pandemic 2" you would know that Madagascar is extremely quick to close down everything as soon as the disease starts infecting, thats why people are saying it.
I'm not to worried about it, as far as I've heard it isn't that deadly if you've got access to proper medical care.
[QUOTE=NachoPiggy;14862370]I'm a bit paranoid about this, but hopefully we'll be fine.
There's always Madagascar for refugee.[/QUOTE]
Are you kidding? They closed the ports weeks ago!
Pack up and go to Madagascar.
But in all seriousness, my sister is in San Francisco, California. Which has several confirmed cases of swine flu.
I hope she'll be alright.
[QUOTE=hypno-toad;14862385]Fixed
Because HIV or Malaria is much better than Influenza.[/QUOTE]
Play pandemic 2 and you will get this...
I wonder if we, the United States people have to wear those doctor masks.
Inb4 conspiracy theories about bio-weapons.
This could get [I]very[/I] interesting....
[QUOTE=Axup;14862440]Are you kidding? They closed the ports weeks ago![/QUOTE]
Oh shit.
OK back to being serious, I'm just gonna be careful and stay healthy.
Good thing i live in sweden.
[QUOTE=ketchup;14862572][url]http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE53P23920090426[/url][/QUOTE]
Don't worry guys, since two thirds have been cleared everything is safe now.
[QUOTE=Nintendo-Guy;14862654]Good thing i live in sweden.[/QUOTE]
It probably will get here too.
But on the positive side there are few people in Sweden, so maybe it won't spread as fast.
MADAGASCAR LOL.
But really, this is kinda horrible.
If bird-flu and swine-flu hit at the same time, where will I get my bacon and egg pies?
Fuck, supermarket time.
Swine flu needs Drug Resistance III quick.
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