Q&A: Why is swine flu such a big deal?

I am wondering if this is all going to turn out like SARS & Avian Flu? No one I know came down with either of these illnesses.

Nature has a way of biting errant humans back.

Most infections/pathogens originate in animals; the flu in avians. The dometication and close confinement of animals such as ducks, pigs, and cattle resulted in disease incubators; the pathogens mutate and jump to humans---wether you accept evolution or not!

Human overcrowding/overpopulation provides the fodder.The big outbreak will occur within our lifetime.

Pathogens thrive on our stupidity.

Why is swine flu such a big deal?

It could wipe out the entire republican party!

Because of it's "Unpredictability Features"--It just might wipe out the "Present Congress"-- for just down-right meaness!! Who can foresee what either, the Swine Flu or Congress is going to do next-!?

Well, I felt it necessary to reply since I have been reading about lots of people thinking this is just a joke. I, on the other hand, do not feel that this swine flu scare thing is just a big made up tale that we are trying to be scared with. I'm pretty positive there are LOTS of people that have had this lately and are either misdiagnosed or just fight it off at home without any treatment, since this is what has happened specifically in my family it seems. My reasoning is this: Just last month, March 20-22, my husband and I took a small weekend trip to Austin, Texas from Missouri, healthy I might add. Got there on a Friday early morning and left Sunday afternoon. We attended a giant music festival called SXSW and there were tons of people all over the place during that time. As we were on our way back home I first told my husband how I felt like I was getting flu sick (I hadn't drank so that wasn't the issue) and I don't remember the last time I had flu. Soon after, my husband mentioned that he was as well not feeling very good. By the time we made it back to Missouri about 2 am, I realized he even looked sick and was getting a temperature and ended up vomiting all through the night. He called into work on that Monday, thought he'd possibly feel better by Tuesday but was getting worse, temperature wise and vomiting wise. He had also been feeling short of breath and his breathing became very rapid over the next couple day. He was like this Wednesday when he woke up too and I noticed that his skin color looked SO blue that I was getting really worried because it just did not add up. He looked TERRIBLE and he was so weak and tired and had now gained a cough with everything. No appetite, only could sleep. He finally decided that it was not getting better so he went to a local walk in Dr. office (family Dr. was on vacay). All the doc did was listen to my husbands lungs and said he had pneumonia and prescribed him a five day antibiotic.I do NOT understand why there were no tests run, last I knew, people with pneumonia didn't vomit constantly. He was ordered to stay home the rest of the week and he was still sick up until that Friday. My 3 year old son (who has had the flu shot back in Dec.) ended up getting this as well. He had the fever & a cough & I didn't think it sounded very bad,(not like the pneumonia he had at 18 months old) but I had him checked at the pediatrician and of course they said he definitely had pneumonia in one lung just by listening with the stethoscope, confirmed by x-ray. He took 2 different medications and seems better now. This was near the end of March. Thing is, I have a small daycare and 2 out of the 3 families I care for ended up with the same types of illnesses, especially the parents and they had the fever, coughing, shortness of breath, vomiting........only 1 other child has had a fever. All of us adults are in our early to mid 20's and 40's. I have not been to the doctor but tomorrow I will plan on going in because I have been having trouble catching a normal breath and my chest has been tightening lately. I've been worried it may be pneumonia since they both had it but I wasn't sick with fever or vomiting so I kind of held off till I just read about all of this stuff on the internet about the Swine Flu scare. I HONESTLY feel like this is what is going around here in my area, there have been unrealistic amounts of pneumonia cases that are going from people to people like crazy. In lots of the articles I have read, Swine Flu can cause respiratory illnesses....along with this other stuff we've seen. My husband is a VERY healthy person and only 25 years old! I've never seen him with a fever in the 9 years I have known him and he sure doesn't get the flu like he had with the pneumonia a month ago! I thought he was going to have to be put in the hospital, that's how bad he was with this. And on another note, one of my friends (who I have not been around in over a year but we live in the same town) told me how her mother was diagnosed with pneumonia around the end of March I believe and my friend ended up getting the same illness as her mother, but got it under control before it turned to pneumonia. Her mother had recentely traveled to Mexico the end of February. It is all VERY VERY almost too coincidental for me not to believe it is Swine Flu. Especially since we were in Texas and the articles I have read say this "The city health department has asked doctors to be extra vigilant in the coming days and test any patients who have flu-like symptoms and have traveled recently to California, Texas or Mexico." Had we known all this then, we would have probably had a different diagnosis than pneumonia. I'm just afraid it is going all around now and we have contributed to the spreading of it unknowingly.......I know the doctors said that it is running "rampant" around here. So, I don't know about you, but I believe testing would have been more wise than just pure speculation this time on the doctors part. I understand that Swine Flu wasn't really talked about a month ago like it is now, but I wish they would have tested with more than just a stethoscope! Now it's probably too late to see if that's for sure what my husband had unless somebody that has it now that has been around us gets tested and it comes back positive for Swine Flu.

I have suggested to my elderly parents, one with a compromised immune system, in independent living that they not attend public places, such as church, eating out, shopping in general and also eating in their in-house cafeteria. Since this virus has caused young people to die in Mexico, it is a very deadly without compromised immune systems it posed a terrible hazard. The article in my estimation written is entirely too calming.

Since the virus is from birds and pigs; I conclude that our food system may be highly contaminated, given the glut of products coming in from California and Texas right now. This would include fruits and vegetables and pork products, since the virus is so widely dispersed in the United States. The vegetables and produce that are the cheapest are often from California or Texas, with many migrant Mexican workers used to bring in the havest. If you have ever visited Mexico, you would know of the deplorable filth, terrible water system and people and pigs @!$%#ting in their garden yards. I would avoid purchasing products from bordering states like California and Texas. Especially those subject to bird droppings, handling by Mexican migrants and pork products from those areas. Buy products from others areas if possible such as Florida and Holland.

Also I have read reports that the likes of Walmart and another company they own that distributes food products to be especially suspect. I have seen reports in the past that much of their slaughter is done near the Mexican borders using again migrant Mexican workers. They enter this country not very clean and with stuff under their nails. The FDA can only do so much to regulate the massive word-wide distribution of food under normal cicumstances, without a potential crisis like this.

If you already have California or Texas products on hand or choose to buy them, I would thoroughly wash by putting a strainer in a pot and flushing with water. I would avoid all berries from those regions, since things like black berries are impossible to get thoroughly clean of bird droppings. Strawberries buy the largest and take off the outer layer, but that is not even safe enough. Produce with skin like an apple or oranges, thoroughly soak in water on purchase, dry with paper towels and upon consumption remove the skin. Remove all outer leaves of lettuce, romaine, bibb lettuce and avoid leaf lettuce entirely. Since you refrigerator may be contaminated, remove everything and clean with a product containing some clorax. And process foods on hand as outlined above. Don't forget about germicide hand wipes and products from Walmart.

One more comment I did not have room for on swine flu from swine and birds. The question comes to mind about migratory birds and people that feed birds. Because of the hurracaine in the Gulf two years ago hunters reported seeing them as far north as Galena, Il on the Missisppi. I personally witnessed huge flocks of pelicans landing right in front of me at my cabin last summer. A pelican has never been witnessed in this area before. Thus another possible reason for widespread contamination, since the Missippi intersects with many rivers and streams and birds near rivers seek out food and isolation for nesting.

People that feed birds, as I do, should also use disposable gloves; when handling the feeders that are often covered with bird excrement. And our own home garden products growing right now in the Spring, will be targets as well. Shame on the journalists or aledged experts that down play possible results in our country given it hits the young in Mexico without compromised immune systems and how widespread it is. It nothing short of journalist irresponsibility to assure nothing may happen at all in this country. It is okay to comment about symptoms, so to not swamp Emergency Rooms already deadly enough; but to suggest anything short of serious precautions is inept.

Wow, being a conservative and in favor of strong border reform I find the comments by Meezermom disgusting and insensitive. You'd be surprised at what lengths you'd go to feed your family and if that would mean crossing the border illegally you would probably do it. You have to differentiate between the people and the government, and unfortunately the people of the U.S. and Mexico have been getting a raw deal from their governments. You can be in favor of a strong border security policy while also realizing that these people crossing over are humans and they are doing it for the most basic of human needs. Get mad a the U.S. government for not securing it's border properly or the Mexican government for not providing these people with better opportunities but don't take it out on the people just trying to make a living. You may think it's funny to make a joke about Mexicans dying and making a " "two for one deal" but I don't think this flu is anything to joke about. Comments like these make conservatives look bad. We're not all like this, some of us actually have compassion.

How about both the US and Mexican government take the blame for not securing the boarders? Not just blame one, but both. How about telling us when it first starts instead of waiting? Like the case of Aids and Herpes. The government has know about Aids since the 1970's but the public never was told about it until the late 80's and 90's. It is called Population Control. The government makes the decision on who lives and who dies. If you are rich you are protected, if you are poor you die. A 46 year old friend needs a liver transplant(he has cancer) the hospital denys him the liver even though there is a liver available(why you ask) because the cancer is spreading. But, if that was a rich politican or millionaire they would not deny that person. If you took away the health insurance from one politican, you could give it to at least 5 unhealthy poor persons. If you and I got the Swine flu and was very ill, they would not care, but let that be someone famous or rich and they would have every specialist on their side. Boarder patrols on both sides of the boarders should be stopping travel until this problem is isolated. But, do they do that no. Both countries are too blame. The US and Mexico. The government tells us every day who lives and dies. If I were to get sick with no health insurance they would not treat me or give me very little care. I can prove that. I am a business owner and work as security some times, and work at Walmart., but can not afford health insurance and make to much to get medicaid. There is my point. Welcome to Population Control. Barbara

I remember in the 70s ,that there was a flu shot, that caused a such called that,,.?

i would not use a flu shot for many years from then until this last 12 years.

but this seems much worse.?

I hope this will be not be a destructive strains ?.

we all could try to be civil in this day and age ,not dis -cuss in an abby fashion.

there are many calamaties sure.?

this generation of ours could try to help those around them if the people are willing to try .?

what would happen if you or yours were in need.!!

I hope for some miracles , I think .

good luck ,

from the midwest .

Larry

Over 1600 people get sick in Mexico, several die, many individuals from all over the world visited Mexico while all of this was going on---AND THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT DID NOT WARN ANYONE? Or did they? This is why we get so many freakin diseases in this country. This is RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!! And the borders are not being closed yet? What in the heck is going on. Lets stop this from spreading before it is too late--CLOSE THE FREAKIN BORDERS!!!!

This strain of swine flu is really creepy. Pigs catch not only their own strain (swine flu) but also human and avian (bird) flu. Once all three strains are present in any one pig, they can combine their viral DNA into new strains. That's what we presently have: a new flu strain created by pigs by recombining swine, human, and avian flu viruses.

In other words, the pigs appear to be carrying on their own experiments in recombinant DNA processes (genetic engineering). Maybe the pigs have decided it's payback time for all those Sunday pork roasts.

Lune

To the so called "sensible" and "intelligent" people. I agree his comments were ignorant, but to support and show sympathy to illegal immigrants is just plain DUMB. While they are here making the money to feed their family while doing a hard job for the lowest price possible, an American citizen is unemployed that has the credentials to do that job at an average salary. So tell me how that's fair?

close the borders quickkkkkkkkk

To all on the illegal immigrant kick:

Give it a rest. Flu epidemics are public health and science issues, not sociological and political issues. Does anyone here seriously believe that this new flu strain wouldn't have entered the US if we had no illegal immigrants from Mexico? People who use any chance (no matter how tenuous) to climb onto their soapboxes come to sound just plain silly, no matter what intrinsic validity their messages may or may not have.

Lune

I don't know if this is the same swine flu as passed through in 1976, but I had the pleasure of feeling as if I were gonna die with that one. I hope it passes me by this time.

Some people say that was a near miss, but it did not miss me, and many other people had it. Evidently, there was a problem with the vaccine.

Not only does travel and tourism take a hit from the economy but now we have to deal with the swine flu and Mexico travel. I feel sorry for those that are ill but also for those of us in the travel industry that must take another hit.

Mexico City is not only one of the most overpopulated cities in the world. It is also one of the dirtiest.

Mexico City has the most polluted air of any city in the world. That's not my opinion. This has been studied, researched by scientist and documented.

Could it be that breathing in this bad air from day to day has caused weakened and/or illnesses in their respiratory systems that perhaps many are not even aware of?

I believe so. I believe that this may be part of the reason so many there are dieing.

It has also been researched that breathing in the air in New York City is equivalent to smoking 5 packs of cigarettes a day.....for a non-smoker.

The health hazards from the air quality must be absolutely worse in Mexico City.

Are people going to die in the United States because of lack of proper health care in regard to the Swine Fever? I can't imagine that. But I suppose some people think so.

well, its unfortunate that mexico city sits in a valley surrounded by mountains,i mean unfortunate because its a great city. location ,location, location jajaja. it needs a big rain to wipe all the pollutants from the air. or a strong wind able to enter the valley and get rid of that air that usually just sits on top of the city.

great comment LUNEKELTKAR..... SO TRUE.

All right, blame it on dirty people, on close confinement between humans and animals. But what about this 3 virus vials that have disappeared from Fort Dedrick last week. What about the shipping of vacinnes infected by Avian flue to 18 countries by Baxter, pharma?

Is there anyone asking where those deadly viruses come from???? They are concocted in laboratories the same way that the Lime disease was made by the militaries dealing with bacteriologic material on the island of Lime off CT coast.

This are not nature mutation, they are men made for a slew of motives ranging from power and financial greed to more obscur reasons.

Start thinking for yourself and make the power in place accountable. Also protect you so you will not be sick or have to subject to useless vaccines. Use Silver water on a daily basis and you will not be sick from any flue or viruses.

Yes Bush can be blamed, but every other presidents including the current one since JFK for being puppets of the owners of this (and nearly all countries). None of them have really been placed in position to work for "we, the people".

HI Professor and some others that were remarking on the yard workers. Remember, they are US born citizens just like you, so ???????? Unreliability is not unique to latin origins, it seems to be prevelent among our latest generations. Ask any of our busness owners in here.

As for cities being dirty and unhealthy, I can provide a list of similar ones here in the US.

It is silly to blame this on a country or a race of people as if they created the virus on purpose. Having compassion and concern for our fellow human beings makes more sense.

Why does the government really care? It certainly isn't about it's citizens health. If that was the case why don't they go after big alcohol. 100 times more people die today due to alcohol related circumstances than even got sick with this flu but it is touted as an pandemic. It has to do with FEAR. If you will take the time to notice, about every 2 weeks another "really scary" thing happens and while the morons with their heads cut off race around civil liberties that would have sparked warfare happen. Have fun.

Man this is nothing but an attempt of the government to kill people. Come on this flu just happened to pop up from mexico then spread to new york, california, and new zealand within 1 week. yeah right First the bird flu now the swine flu???? LOL What next the dog and cat flu. Just ask Fema the government just forced them to buy 500,000 plastic caskets. Gee I wonder why???? The government believes the world is overpopulated. Sure you dont believe but you will when Obama passes Martial Law in Oct or next year.