New strain of flu in Mexico and parts of the U.S.

[Karen]

Actually in this case, Puckstop is more at risk than you. It is not the usual flu where people who are very young, old, or have compromised immune systems are at risk. It is people in the 20-40 age range - those with good, strong immune systems. WIth this flu, the danger is that it provokes such a strong response from the a healthy immune system that everything gets inflamed, and that's the danger - fluid building up, pneumonia and death.

That is one of the reasons the World Health Organization is so very concerned, as that is a population society needs - to take of the ones at the other ends of the spectrum!

And we all, who have watched journalism for any time know - if it bleed, it leads. Nothing is quite as exciting and newsworthy as possible death!

[Pam]

Nothing is quite as exciting and newsworthy as possible death!

Agreed... That and the sensational stories like the Octomom and the Craigslist murderer. I am not minimizing this flu, but am not impressed with the way it is being reported.

[Puckstop31]

Pom, Karen.... I hear ya.


Just be wary as to what is actually done to "protect" us. You know me and how I roll. LOL


As for me personally... What will be, will be. I'll just keep living my life the way I am lead by the Lord. When my time comes, I am ready.

[Pam]

I'll just keep living my life the way I am lead by the Lord. When my time comes, I am ready.

Amen!

[pomtzu]

As for me personally... What will be, will be. I'll just keep living my life the way I am lead by the Lord. When my time comes, I am ready.

Hey - I'll drink to that.

However, I am also a firm believer that ignorance is NOT bliss !

[Medusa]

ignorance is NOT bliss !

I second that, Ellie. A late friend of mine used to drive really fast and w/out a seat belt and she'd say "God will protect me". I told her that God gives us common sense, too, and that she'd better start using it. I think it's good to be informed about the swine flu and anything else that affects our lives but to be overly concerned at this point is unwise.

[Puckstop31]

I second that, Ellie. A late friend of mine used to drive really fast and w/out a seat belt and she'd say "God will protect me". I told her that God gives us common sense, too, and that she'd better start using it. I think it's good to be informed about the swine flu and anything else that affects our lives but to be overly concerned at this point is unwise.

Good analogy. LOL


Its like that famous story about the guy on his roof in a flood.... The water is rising and a boat comes to help him. "No thanks, God will save me." Next, a helicopter comes. "No thanks, God will save me." He eventually drowns. Standing before his Creator, he says, "Lord, why did you not save me?" God says, "I sent you a boat and a helicopter....."



Things can be done to help us. Things should be done to help contain whatever this bug ends up being. We just need to be wary as to WHAT is done to keep us "safe". Further, I am not saying that anything WILL be done that is out of line (IMO) during this event. But anymore, my "spidey sense" goes all tingly when a "emergency" happens. Because "you can't let a good crisis go to waste."

War and the moral equivilant of war has been the tool despots have used for millenia to control people and take away their God given liberty. So just keep on living and keep your eyes and ears open.

[smokey the elder]

People can minimize their own individual risks by taking the precautions outlined (ooh, personal responsibility!) At least for now (strictly IMO), the only difference between this flu's spreading pattern and the garden variety winter strains is the timing. This flu is coming at the tag end of the "usual" Northern Hemisphere flu season. It's too early to tell if it's more, less or approximately as dangerous (from a statistical standpoint) as the "garden variety" flu.

It is tempting to consider that the virus mutated in that little Mexican boy they are calling "patient zero". I guess he lives near a pig farm, but the animals tested negative for the particular strain. So he either "grew" it inside him, or got it from somewhere else.

The big difference between now and the swine flu scare of the 70s is there is a good test to determine the presence of the particular H1N1 or whatever strain this one is.

[Puckstop31]

Hey - I'll drink to that.

However, I am also a firm believer that ignorance is NOT bliss !

Quite.


No problems, of course, with being in the know. I just fear ANY time Big Nanny comes trying to "save" us from the next big evil.