Swine Flu: What the Hell Happened?

[ScottThuy 140]

[Ali G. 37]

While I'm sorry it effected you, the overall effects of it were not that bad at all. Especially in comparison to the seasonal flu.

The seasonal flu takes tens of thousands of lives each year, and here we are making a big deal out of a strain that wasn't even as severe. The only real difference was the contagious factor which made kept it alive in your system for a couple of days more than the seasonal flu. Outside of that, there wasn't that much of a difference.

Just another SARS, Avian Flu, etc.. that got blown out of proportion, that doesn't nor will it ever effect the majority of people (whether they get some fast tracked shot or not).

Gotta love libertarians. Ever heard of the notion prevention is better than cure. Perhaps airlines should stop screening safety videos, because it should be up to the individual to guess.

By the way, someone I went to high school with died from this.

[PhiLandShiR 18]

There was NO way I was going to get the H1N1 shot.

I'm glad they didn't make it madatory for immigration medicals.

Any reason for that? I got mine and so did my pregnant wife...

No problems for any of us. Baby included...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

While I'm sorry it effected you, the overall effects of it were not that bad at all. Especially in comparison to the seasonal flu.

The seasonal flu takes tens of thousands of lives each year, and here we are making a big deal out of a strain that wasn't even as severe. The only real difference was the contagious factor which made kept it alive in your system for a couple of days more than the seasonal flu. Outside of that, there wasn't that much of a difference.

Just another SARS, Avian Flu, etc.. that got blown out of proportion, that doesn't nor will it ever effect the majority of people (whether they get some fast tracked shot or not).

It's ridiculous to think that the CDC was overstating the potential threat of the virus, much of which comes with a lot of uncertainty. There are enough cases of the flu that lead to death, confirming the potential danger of the virus....and these were not the typical people in poor health that are most susceptible to influenza.

[PhiLandShiR 18]

While I'm sorry it effected you, the overall effects of it were not that bad at all. Especially in comparison to the seasonal flu.

The seasonal flu takes tens of thousands of lives each year, and here we are making a big deal out of a strain that wasn't even as severe. The only real difference was the contagious factor which made kept it alive in your system for a couple of days more than the seasonal flu. Outside of that, there wasn't that much of a difference.

Just another SARS, Avian Flu, etc.. that got blown out of proportion, that doesn't nor will it ever effect the majority of people (whether they get some fast tracked shot or not).

That may be true for the average male or non-pregnant female but for those women who are pregnant and get H1N1, there is a much higher possibility of death for both the woman and the child.

[Peikko 1,575]

It was just a year ago people were freaking the hell out over nothing. I thought we were supposed to all be dead by now or something???

Most people didn't freak out, and it wasn't nothing. No one ever suggested that everyone, or even most people would die from the swine flu, what was said, and what occurred was that this flu became a pandemic, ie it effected populations all around the globe - it wasn't isolated to one geographical location. What was not known at the start was how 'deadly' this mutated strain of the flu would be - or indeed would it continue to mutate and become more deadly? Luckily, this time it didn't. Plenty of sensible preventative measures were taken on your behalf Paul, and some people did some stupid stuff, as some people always will, but to suggest that this was some kind of fuss over nothing just points out to how little you seem capable of understanding.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

It's ridiculous to think that the CDC was overstating the potential threat of the virus, much of which comes with a lot of uncertainty. There are enough cases of the flu that lead to death, confirming the potential danger of the virus....and these were not the typical people in poor health that are most susceptible to influenza.

The one's dying were, except for a few rare cases...

Granted most people who 'think' they have the seasonal flu anyway don't have a damned clue what the flu entails usually.

I hardly call 18,000 deaths in the United States much to worry about. Call me a heartless #######, but when you compare it to other diseases that take far many more lives (including the seasonal flu) each year, it's peanuts...

[PhiLandShiR 18]

The one's dying were, except for a few rare cases...

80% of those who died here in IOWA were not in poor health.

Granted most people who 'think' they have the seasonal flu anyway don't have a damned clue what the flu entails usually.

I hardly call 18,000 deaths in the United States much to worry about. Call me a heartless #######, but when you compare it to other diseases that take far many more lives (including the seasonal flu) each year, it's peanuts...

Maybe ONLY 18,000 died BECAUSE the rest of us idiots got our shots...

You make as much sense at those idiots who complained about all the fuss made over Y2K... Get a clue... nothing happened on that BECAUSE a fuss was made. I saw many computer and system programs that errored from that glitch. We had no serious problems BECAUSE they were patched!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The one's dying were, except for a few rare cases...

Granted most people who 'think' they have the seasonal flu anyway don't have a damned clue what the flu entails usually.

I hardly call 18,000 deaths in the United States much to worry about. Call me a heartless #######, but when you compare it to other diseases that take far many more lives (including the seasonal flu) each year, it's peanuts...

Perhaps you should read what the CDC actually had to say about the virulence of the H1N1 Influenza.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Paul's preconceived ideas strike again.

[PhiLandShiR 18]

Perhaps you should read what the CDC actually had to say about the virulence of the H1N1 Influenza.

No, No... conservatives can't read, they get told what to think from their radio talk show host...

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Paul's preconceived ideas strike again.

Please.

If you watched and paid attention on the grand scale of this thing, it was blown WAY out of proportion... School districts closing for a week. Public events shut down (including ones outdoors..), an untested shot being given to children and adults that wasn't even in the proper dosage amount allegedly to do jack ###### when it came down to it all.

More people get the stupid seasonal flu shot every year and still it fairs worse than this damn thing did/was predicted to. It was never that serious to begin with and was nothing more than a damned joke of a disease. Hell, it's still out there yet, but it's miniscule in comparison now that it's had a chance to be studied.

People always freak out about something new or a new strain of something that kills people. We paid attention to how this was killing people, while ignoring the tens of thousands more that the seasonal flu kills. It's bullshit.

As I said, the only true bad thing about this strain is it is a tad bit more contagious, but other than that.. it's a tiny ant bite, not that of a python.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Please.

If you watched and paid attention on the grand scale of this thing, it was blown WAY out of proportion... School districts closing for a week. Public events shut down (including ones outdoors..), an untested shot being given to children and adults that wasn't even in the proper dosage amount allegedly to do jack ###### when it came down to it all.

More people get the stupid seasonal flu shot every year and still it fairs worse than this damn thing did/was predicted to. It was never that serious to begin with and was nothing more than a damned joke of a disease. Hell, it's still out there yet, but it's miniscule in comparison now that it's had a chance to be studied.

People always freak out about something new or a new strain of something that kills people. We paid attention to how this was killing people, while ignoring the tens of thousands more that the seasonal flu kills. It's bullshit.

As I said, the only true bad thing about this strain is it is a tad bit more contagious, but other than that.. it's a tiny ant bite, not that of a python.

Excuse me mate, but who are you to say that the issue was blown out of proportion? On what factual basis do you make this claim?

Do you know more than the CDC and similar agencies around the world?

According to you, this entire event was exaggerated and health professionals had zip to do with tracking and controlling the outbreaks. Could you honestly be any more arrogant?

Edited April 26, 2010 by Its a MADHOUSE

[Peikko 1,575]

Please.

If you watched and paid attention on the grand scale of this thing, it was blown WAY out of proportion... School districts closing for a week. Public events shut down (including ones outdoors..), an untested shot being given to children and adults that wasn't even in the proper dosage amount allegedly to do jack ###### when it came down to it all.

More people get the stupid seasonal flu shot every year and still it fairs worse than this damn thing did/was predicted to. It was never that serious to begin with and was nothing more than a damned joke of a disease. Hell, it's still out there yet, but it's miniscule in comparison now that it's had a chance to be studied.

People always freak out about something new or a new strain of something that kills people. We paid attention to how this was killing people, while ignoring the tens of thousands more that the seasonal flu kills. It's bullshit.

As I said, the only true bad thing about this strain is it is a tad bit more contagious, but other than that.. it's a tiny ant bite, not that of a python.

Ah, you have your 20/20 hindsight goggles on again - what fun that is? I am sure you would be the first to point fingers if the WHO and individual governments acted as you think you want them to, only taking measures once they have confirmation that a particular new flu strain proves to be especially deadly, like the Spanish flu, or - no, you are not suggesting that despite the changes that have taken place with population movement since the 1920's when the last virilant strain took its toll we should simply let each flu strain run its course and take no action at all to try to prevent widespread problems?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Excuse me mate, but who are you to say that the issue was blown out of proportion? On what factual basis do you make this claim?

Do you know more than the CDC and similar agencies around the world?

According to you, this entire event was exaggerated and health professionals had zip to do with tracking and controlling the outbreaks. Could you honestly be any more arrogant?

Arrogant? No.

I simply go off statistical analysis and even plenty of doctors who felt it was overblown in comparison to other things.

It was serious for some who got the disease and some died (not 18,000.. excuse me: 12,270 people have died from 2009 H1N1-related illness. ) but not much for everyone else in comparison with symptoms/effects of the seasonal flu virus.

Hell, many people were confused between the "H1N1" and the seasonal flu throughout the year and even many doctors diagnosed H1N1 without even giving blood tests to determine if it was the H1N1 virus.

People want to fear new things that aren't understood, especially when they hear about a virus or other incidents close to home, but the fact of the mater is, things are usually blown up from what they really are and sometimes you have to take a step back and look at things rationally in comparison to things similar. The job of the CDC is to make sure that they cover their asses in the event something is much bigger than what they want to make it out to be. If the CDC stood by and did nothing/didn't encourage anything they'd look like a bunch of dopes to the world community. It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes down to it all. - Unfortunately sometimes being safe freaks people out and makes them think something is bigger than what it is, and that's exactly what happened here.

If there was ever any 'real' threat from this strain or any other strain of the flu, the preventative shots would be mandatory like with other major diseases.