Quote Originally Posted by Puckstop31 View Post
IIRC, I read somewhere that about 36,000 people die each year in the US from the flu. Often the flu itself is not the killer, but the complications that develop from it. Also, again IIRC, most of the people who die from the flu and/or complications from it are older, very young or have compromised immune systems. For instance, a AIDS patient who contracts the flu has a much higher chance of dying from it. Does that count as a AIDS or flu death?


Personally, I do not think it is an accident that the media is going ape over this and, IMO, blowing it WAY out of proportion. Further, we should keep a watchful eye on Big Nanny. They never want a "good" crisis to go to waste ya know. LOL

Did anybody notice that because of this "crisis", Kathleen Sebelius's confirmation was rushed through? Even though Health and Human Services (as Unconstitutional as it is...) was handling things fine.
Gotta disagree with you on this one Puck!

Personally, I don't see where it's being blown out of proportion. I feel we are being informed, and since NOBODY had a flu shot that would be effective against this since no vaccine exists for this strain, then we need to be informed. I don't think anyone has pushed any panic button - do you? First of all, what most people think of as the regular flu season has passed, therefore they might be more lax in the preventative measures they would normally take, and be potentially more susceptible. Of course folks should practice sensible preventatives year round, but does that happen? I don't think so. At least with the reporting of this outbreak, they might be a little more cautious. And I agree - most flu deaths probably aren't from the flu itself - but if you can avoid the flu in the first place - then your odds of survival are greater, aren't they?
I am "older" and also have a compromised immune system, so IF I should be so unfortunate to get it, it would probably be a lot more serious than if YOU got it. I'm not in any kind of panic, and I'm not going to lock myself in my house and not go anywhere, but I do appreciate knowing what's happening around me. It's just common sense that the public should be informed without causing undue alarm, and that's all I'm seeing so far.