Swine Flu update

[craig7501]

18 Cases of swine flu in Britain, this conforms from 14 in England and 4 in Scotland. Another 716 cases in Britain are currently under investigation. One of the confirmed cases is in a 6yr old girl.

[heatemyfather]

18 is very very low in my opinion and I would expect many more to be honest, statistically speaking there will be a certain percentage of those coming home from Mexico and the US who are bound to have been exposed to it, caught it on the flight home, etc.

Doesn't sound like it's any worse than normal man-flu though so I'm not rushing out to buy my Michael Jackson mask just yet. Wouldn't surprise me if the people who died in Mexico contracted some other nasty thing from their less-than-hygienic surroundings simply because their resistance was low due to having this flu virus.

[Booksandstuff]

I think we should not get paranoid about it at this point in time.
We are far from a pandemic, as the rate of multiplying is too low.
And as heat says: the Mexicans that have alledgedly died of the flu, may well have had other complications due to poor living standards - the official number of "flu deaths" there has been reduced by one third in the last few days.
However, like the 1918/19 outbreak, the chances are that we currently have a mild version of something that may return with avenges in the autumn/winter - that's when we should be on guard!
I suffer from a mild allergy - musky perfumes! I am just waiting for the suspicious/angry looks, when I end up having a sneezing fit in a supermarket queue, due to another customer's perfume!!! :rolleyes::eek:

[moonwitch]

Just heard the news on the radio

Apparently, the swine flu is no worse than any other flu we have experienced in the UK and everyone who has had it has shown that it is very easy to treat

[heatemyfather]

I want to know what happened to all those bird flu cases in the far east - where are those people now? Where and how many cases of bird flu are in the avian and human population at the moment? By all accounts, the bird flu virus sounded a lot worse than the current swine flu.

[papagran40]

hello all , as I said a fewdays ago....there is a heck of a lot of scare mongering by the MEDIA on this .....and the last I heard of this so called PANDEMIC was ..... just over 800 WORLD WIDE....so , sorry but this is just a lot of hot air ....bad , yes , but not what we are being told.............papa.

[Fossy]

I phoned the NHS helpline about it and all I got was crackling on the line.

[bykimbo]

I phoned the NHS helpline about it and all I got was crackling on the line.

If you're really worried just get some oinkment.

[ejean9]

i think Fossy is telling porkys

[moonwitch]

I phoned the NHS helpline about it and all I got was crackling on the line.

I had to read that 3 times along with the replies before I realised that was a joke:rolleyes:

[cornishmaid1961]

I had to read that 3 times along with the replies before I realised that was a joke:rolleyes:

Don't worry Moony - Fossy just likes to ham it up ! :D

[ejean9]

Don't worry Moony - Fossy just likes to ham it up ! :D

:D...lol

[damian_steele]

hello all , as I said a fewdays ago....there is a heck of a lot of scare mongering by the MEDIA on this .....and the last I heard of this so called PANDEMIC was ..... just over 800 WORLD WIDE....so , sorry but this is just a lot of hot air

I think we should not get paranoid about it at this point in time.
We are far from a pandemic, as the rate of multiplying is too low.

The media have NOT said we have reached pandemic status. Following the advice of the W.H.O. and the official announcements, the media have only stated that we are on the verge of a pandemic - one is imminent.


As the official figures for the numbers of infections and deaths are coming out, and are lower than predicted, we are now at the point where we are in MORE danger than before. Too many people will now stop taking precautions as they don't see the need. This will aid the spread of whatever level of virus there is out there.

The W.H.O. have also stated that this virus may well follow past outbreaks where the summer levels are low, but a return of the virus in later waves - probably during the autumn and winter - could see levels of infections and deaths going up dramatically.

So the official message is not to panic, but to continue all sensible precautions at least until after a vaccine has been produced and distributed.

[Fossy]

Some people have been known to break out in a rasher.

[ejean9]

It is a serious issue.
.this morning i woke up with my hair in pigtails :eek:

[ejean9]

i have a sore eye...think its a sty..

[ejean9]

Blonde wife calls husband, I’ve run out of petrol, Im so scared to fill-up coz of the swine flu. Hubby says daft mare its in Mexico not Texaco

[ejean9]

What do you feed someone ill from swine flu? Pancakes, pizzas, tortillas… and what ever else will slide under the quarantine door.

[Fossy]

............... and no you cant catch it by doing the Mexican Wave.

[craig7501]

Another nine UK cases of swine flu have been confirmed taking the total to 27, the Health Protection Agency has said.

Five of the nine diagnosed with the H1N1 virus were year seven pupils from Alleyn's School in Dulwich, London. It is the fourth school to close.

A sixth Alleyn's pupil has already been diagnosed with the virus and staff and pupils are being given antiviral drugs.

Two other cases were London-based siblings of one of the pupils and two were adults who had visited Mexico.

The two siblings go to a different school but are related to one of the Alleyn's School pupils, the HPA said.

Their school is not being closed as they were "asymptomatic" whilst there, the HPA added.

Alleyn's, an independent school, will be closed for at least seven days.

Headmaster Colin Diggory is contacting exam boards to reschedule some exams, he said in a statement on the school website.

A Department of Health spokesperson said seven of the nine new cases appeared to involve person-to-person contact.

"The arrangements in place across the UK are continuing to ensure that we are well-placed to deal with this new infection," the spokesman added.

However, Health Secretary Alan Johnson told the BBC he expects a second, more serious, wave of cases later this year.

There are now 23 cases in England and four in Scotland, the DoH said. The tally in London has reached 13, according to NHS London.

Swine flu has closed three other schools - South Hampstead High School in north west London, Downend in South Gloucestershire and Paignton Community and Sports College in Devon.

Classrooms at South Hampstead have been closed until at least Thursday after a 14-year-old girl from Barnet in year nine was diagnosed with the virus.

Antiviral drugs have been been offered to her year group and special arrangements are being made for upcoming exams.

In a letter to parents on its website, the independent school said the girl was "at home and well".

An 11-year-old girl from south-west London who had visited the US as well as a man from Ayrshire are also amongst those who have contracted swine flu.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the 11-year-old's school will remain open as the child "did not attend school while symptomatic".

Several Britons are still under quarantine in a Hong Kong hotel after a guest there became China's first confirmed case of swine flu.

Eddie Sweeney and his wife Terry, from Buckinghamshire, checked into the Metropark Hotel on Thursday for two days but were told on Friday they and about 300 other guests would be confined to the building for a week.

Mr Sweeney told BBC News: "Effectively we're in our rooms, apart from going to collect meals. Some of us are using the stairs as a way of exercise. Otherwise we're confined."

Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said there was one further probable swine flu case in Scotland, in addition to the four already confirmed.

It involves a woman from Fife who travelled from Las Vegas to Edinburgh via London on 30 April.

She said eight of the 10 people regarded as close contacts of the man from Ayrshire on flight BE7096 on 30 April had been traced, none of whom were showing any symptoms.

He is thought to have picked up swine flu while in Texas and was diagnosed with the virus on Sunday.

Cases have been confirmed in Newcastle, Oxfordshire, Devon, Merseyside, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, as well as London and Central Scotland.

A six-year-old girl in Oxfordshire diagnosed with the flu has made a full recovery, doctors have told the BBC.

Health chiefs are awaiting the results of around 300 more tests.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told GMTV the outbreak was less severe than first thought, but people should "play safe".

Dr John McCauley, a virologist at the National Institute for Medical Research, said it was still important to prepare a good vaccine.

"It's certainly not a savage variety like the bird flu is. But still, it's still like seasonal flu - and seasonal flu does kill," he said.

Two previous cases had seen Britons falling ill without having travelled to Mexico.

Barry Greatorex, 43, from South Gloucestershire, had been in contact with a traveller to the country.

And Graeme Pacitti, of Falkirk, was infected through contact with the first British people to develop the flu.

Information leaflets about how to reduce the chances of spreading infection are to be sent to people's homes from Tuesday.

Members of the public can call 0800 1513513 for recorded information about swine flu. The number for NHS 24 in Scotland is 08454 24 24 24.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/craigals_album/SwineFlu.gif

[XCESSBAGGAGE]

Who had the very first case?

And if it was the first case, how did they know what it was?

[smiffy49er]

Due to being surrounded by fields of rape my friend has hayfever or rather an allergy to the rape. We went shopping today but I wouldn't walk with her as she was sneezing all over the place pmsl. People gave her a very wide berth so could somebody make some badges that say "I have hayfever NOT swine flu"

[ejean9]

Due to being surrounded by fields of rape my friend has hayfever or rather an allergy to the rape. We went shopping today but I wouldn't walk with her as she was sneezing all over the place pmsl. People gave her a very wide berth so could somebody make some badges that say "I have hayfever NOT swine flu"

Good idea Smiffy..:D

[canuckbid]

Did we give pigs the swine flu? (http://technology.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=swine-flu-spanish-origin&feedname=CBC-TECH-SCIENCE-V3&show=False&number=10&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True)

http://stb01.msn.com/i/23/C2EFCAE5D920BF3EDC654BD5299537.jpg (http://technology.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=swine-flu-spanish-origin&feedname=CBC-TECH-SCIENCE-V3&show=False&number=10&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True)

Canadian scientists have suggested pigs may have contracted swine flu from humans in the first place. More (http://technology.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=swine-flu-spanish-origin&feedname=CBC-TECH-SCIENCE-V3&show=False&number=10&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True)

[Rednosty]

Do you know ONE day and soon, something will come along (like Swine Flu) and Kill 50% of all of us and stupid joking threads like this one will be put where thy deserve to be. (Cor rednosty goes nuts)

More to the point How would YOU Feel if your child has it real bad!

[smiffy49er]

Red,
The answer to that is: stress is the biggest killer in this country and worrying about things you have little control over will put you in an early grave,
By far the best stress reliever is laughter.

You also know that if any of our families were actually affected by this flu we would all do whatever we could to help.
So laughing about it helps.

[JudesNiceThings]

Re: Oilseed Rape - For the first time in 10 years, I'm not suffering with this allergy!

I have found a chemist who makes his own rapeseed pollen homeopathic remedy - I just have to suck a tiny pill every morning, and then no symptoms whatsoever all day!

Simples!!

[damian_steele]

Simples!!

Did someone call?!

[shezz]

Red,
The answer to that is: stress is the biggest killer in this country and worrying about things you have little control over will put you in an early grave,
By far the best stress reliever is laughter.

You also know that if any of our families were actually affected by this flu we would all do whatever we could to help.
So laughing about it helps.


Sorry Red but i have to agree with smiffy on this, not only that if something really big (virus) came along and wiped out 50% of the population, that may mean also that I would lose 50% or more of my immediate family

would I wanna live after that ?

And as such i do not wish to ponder over what if's but live for today

as the saying goes

Were here for a goodtime
Not a long time

[damian_steele]

... if something really big (virus) came along and wiped out 50% of the population, that may mean also that I would lose 50% or more of my immediate family

It also might be that you all die or none of you die, or just one or two, or maybe loads or, or, or ....

There's no point trying to guess what might or might not happen with a hypothetical situation. There's no point in getting worked up and scared of a hypothetical situation. Just be sensible; work out what is realistic, work out how to deal with that, get whatever kit and learn whatever skills are necessary to help you survive such a situation . . . and then move on and live your life.

Don't ignore any real possibilities (even if you dislike thinking about them) any more than you'd ignore planning to survive a fire. Nobody likes to think they could die in a fire, but we all accept that it is sensible to plan how to deal with one, so think of this flu thing in the same way and you'll be fine.

[merlin]

we had bird flu now we know pigs can fly with swine flu