H1N1

[cameraman]

Just wonderful, a shiny new pandemic flu virus is making the rounds in Mexico. It is of the charming variety that seem to cause a positive feedback loop in the immune system. It is this runaway immune response that trashes your lungs and quickly kills you (at least that is the current hypothesis) not the virus itself. What bugs me is the lack of money spent on figuring out if this immune reaction really is what is happening and if it is, how in the holy hell to shut it down.

Right now we have neither a method for the rapid production of a flu vaccine nor any clue how to break an immune system feedback loop but we sure have no shortage of boner pills :flame:

All we can do is hope that H1N1 doesn't have any legs and stays a minor player like H5N1 has. :shakehead

[EDwardo]

After reading your post I did a little surfing and reading about this new flu virus. I found a couple of potentially very scary things about it. First, it seems to be infecting healthy adults, not children and the elderly, as is characteristic of most other flu viruses. The other thing is that this outbreak is occurring at the end of what is considered the flu season.

[dando]

The other thing is that this outbreak is occurring at the end of what is considered the flu season.

Bingo. :irked:

-Kevin

[Ankf00]

Just wonderful, a shiny new pandemic flu virus is making the rounds in Mexico. It is of the charming variety that seem to cause a positive feedback loop in the immune system. It is this runaway immune response that trashes your lungs and quickly kills you (at least that is the current hypothesis) not the virus itself. What bugs me is the lack of money spent on figuring out if this immune reaction really is what is happening and if it is, how in the holy hell to shut it down.

Right now we have neither a method for the rapid production of a flu vaccine nor any clue how to break an immune system feedback loop but we sure have no shortage of boner pills :flame:

All we can do is hope that H1N1 doesn't have any legs and stays a minor player like H5N1 has. :shakehead

don't question Pharm, they produce everything we would ever need altruistically, they are all knowing and benevolent.

[WickerBill]

It's (relatively) easy to increase bloodflow to an area. It's pretty difficult to get rid of a virus. Don't think for a minute that billions upon billions haven't been spent on viruses, the "common cold", influenza, etc.

The easy ones get solved. The difficult ones don't, at least not quickly. Look at history -- some of the worst, most devastating diseases took years/decades to unravel and solve.

That being said, Big Pharma has big problems....

[oddlycalm]

So, a new virus which combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way researchers have never seen before and that spreads from human to human pops up out of the blue at the end of flu season and attacks healthy adults?

What are the chances that someone with human flu touched a bird with Bird Flu and touched a pig with Swine Flu and that the resulting infections in one person mutated into a human transmittable form? Or, did a sick pig get Bird Flu and give the mutation to a sick human whereupon it mutated again?

Not my field so maybe I'm missing something.

oc

[EDwardo]

Let's not forget that increasing blood flow to a specific part of the male anatomy is enormously profitable whereas flu vaccines aren't.

I found a few very interesting quotes regarding the manufacture and supply of flu vaccines.

Only one of the five manufacturers that sell into the US seasonal-flu market makes its vaccine within US borders. That has led to fears that, if a pandemic began, vaccines would not reach the US, because the countries where companies are based might hold back whatever is made there.

While federal health authorities have labored to convince Americans to take the seasonal flu shot, millions of doses go unsold each year: 27 million of the 140 million made for the 2007-08 season, for instance, and 18 million of the 121 million made for the 2006-07 season. This year, 148 million doses are anticipated.

Britain's Royal Society said in 2006: "It is not commercially viable for the vaccine industry to commit the necessary resources to scale up production in advance of a pandemic when there is no existing market, the threat of a pandemic may be years away and the risk in any single year may be considered to be low."
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/biz-plan/news/oct0308solvay.html

[oddlycalm]

The pucker factor goes up a notch....

7th case confirmed in California (http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2546290520090425)

[WickerBill]

Let's not forget that increasing blood flow to a specific part of the male anatomy is enormously profitable whereas flu vaccines aren't.

Don't mean to be a jerk about it, but you really have no idea what you're talking about. None.

[Methanolandbrats]

So with plane travel, this thing could spread everywhere very quickly?

[EDwardo]

Don't mean to be a jerk about it, but you really have no idea what you're talking about. None.
I made no claim of expertise on the subject but I do read quite a bit. Not to be a jerk about it but are you an expert on this subject?
If so, educate me. Are you disputing the fact that drugs such as Viagra haven't been enormously profitable for their manufacturers or are you disputing the fact that manufacturing Flu vaccines isn't very profitable, especially compared to drugs such as Viagra?

[STD]

Information is a useful thing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/24/AR2009042404075_2.html?sid=ST2009042404084

-------------------------
Last swine flu fear pandemic created a vaccine that produced far more negative results than that round of the swine flu.

[WickerBill]

I'm disputing your unspoken but obvious claim that pharmas are only going after the profitable lifestyle drugs at the expense of the drugs that would cure disease and provide a greater good for the general public, but wouldn't have the same profit margin.

Yes, I know an absolute boatload about the subject.

The most Big Pharma research money is spent on cancer treatments and it isn't even close. After that is infectious disease. Lifestyle drugs (hair loss, ED, etc.) are way, way down the list. But since they "hit" more often, and since you will see advertisements for Viagra but not for a cancer medication on TV, an assumption is made that the money is all spent there. That's the popular thing to think, but it's dead wrong.

There isn't a single Big Pharma that would take a $1 billion per year ED drug over a cure for cervical cancer or AIDS or leukemia that would make significantly less. No way.

Some very quick numbers: from creation of a molecule with promise to the first human dose costs approximately $500-$700 million dollars. Only one out of 20-30 of these molecules ever make it to market, due to serious side effects, lack of efficacy, or a dozen other issues. The ones that do make it to market cost hundreds of millions more for massive safety studies, case studies, efficacy studies, and FDA approval before they ever make a dime. Take away the money made from Viagra and suddenly there's a lot less profit to plow back into these molecules being researched. Or, if you're a fan of socialized medicine plans, put price controls decided by your favorite politicians in place, and there's also much less money to put back into research.

Marketing blitzes, fat cat lobbying groups, and lawsuits for illegal salesmanship are some of the (many) gigantic black clouds over the industry. It makes me want to vomit, because the vast majority of the people in these corporations want nothing more than to be a part, however great (scientist, molecular biologist) or small (receptionist, lab assistant, IT), of eradicating disease from the planet.

This isn't the vinyl siding business. This is insanely difficult work that costs insane amounts of money. It is difficult to explain why everything is so expensive, and it is more difficult to explain just how strong the desire is to cure cancer, or wipe out influenza, or eliminate AIDS.

I believe the cures will come, if the companies don't hang themselves first with missteps.

So pop your damn Cialis; your mate will thank you and maybe one day, so will those of us with cancer.

[trish]

So, a new virus which combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way researchers have never seen before and that spreads from human to human pops up out of the blue at the end of flu season and attacks healthy adults?

What are the chances that someone with human flu touched a bird with Bird Flu and touched a pig with Swine Flu and that the resulting infections in one person mutated into a human transmittable form? Or, did a sick pig get Bird Flu and give the mutation to a sick human whereupon it mutated again?

Not my field so maybe I'm missing something.

ocWell this is how the avian got mixed with the human (http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/02/27/8560781.html). I smell biowarfare.

[oddlycalm]

you will see advertisements for Viagra but not for a cancer medication on TV

Yeah, having been on the business end of Cytoxan, Adriamycin, Vincristine, Procarbazine, VP16 and others more than a couple of times I'm guessing TV advertising won't be coming anytime soon, though I can think I could write some good copy if they ever do. :gomer:

[gallows humor] "Adriamycin can cause congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy and sudden death. Ask your doctor if it's right for you. You can ask for it by it's hospital name Red Death" or "Cytoxan can sometimes cause incurable Leukemia, interstitial pneumonia as well as pulmonary fibrosis as part of the postmarketing experience and should not be used without doctor supervision. Those planning to breath air, have children or use their bone marrow in the future may want to consult with their doctors before taking Cytoxan." [/gallows humor]

oc

[oddlycalm]

Well this is how the avian got mixed with the human (http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/02/27/8560781.html). I smell biowarfare.

And there you have it. I'd say that you can't make this stuff up, but thanks to these jacktards you don't have to.

oc

[EDwardo]

I'm disputing your unspoken but obvious claim that pharmas are only going after the profitable lifestyle drugs at the expense of the drugs that would cure disease and provide a greater good for the general public, but wouldn't have the same profit margin.


You are mistaken in your inference of an unspoken claim on my part that includes a general condemnation of the entire pharmaceutical industry based only on profit margins.
The point I was trying to make is simply this. Drugs such as Viagra and Cialis, unlike Flu vaccines, are relatively easy to develop, manufacture, and sell, and extremely profitable. Despite not being an expert I do have a basic understanding of the many problems faced by pharmaceutical companies involved in developing and manufacturing flu vaccines. Problems such as the ever evolving nature of flu viruses. The need to predict on an annual basis which of the myriad strains of flu viruses might be most widespread. The lead time of 6 to 18 months required to produce needed quantities of vaccine. The limitation of producing a vaccine that only has a shelf life of one year and must be discarded and replaced annually.

I have also read with great interest, the many strides being made in developing new and extraordinary methods to combat the flu virus. These new strategies give hope that future vaccines will revolutionize the fight against viral infection.

[Napoleon]

A blog devoted to the subject.

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/

this also

http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/

[cameraman]

don't question Pharm, they produce everything we would ever need altruistically, they are all knowing and benevolent.

Big pharma isn't going to figure it out, period. It requires basic, basic research to figure out the biology of what is happening. Testing a quarter million compounds in an afternoon isn't going to cut it.

We need basic, ie NIH & NSF, research on the subject to provide the groundwork for big pharma to work off of. Basic research in this country is teetering on the brink of collapse. This recent surge of funding is giving the surviving labs a shot of short term money which will buy some much needed new gear fbut it won't fund any new hires nor will it start any new long term studies.

What we need are the really detailed biochemical/cell biology studies that are bloody hard to do and take years to accomplish. Right now, if you can't provide an answer in a year or so your project won't get funded so the really tough questions are going unstudied. Congress (both sides of the bloody aisle) need to understand that the Government must fund long term truly basic research if big, middle or small pharma is going to truly advance. No company can be expected to be able to afford to investigate a cell biological pathway for a decade before they can even think about beginning to work on a drug.

There is zero profit and not a whole lot of glory in figuring out biological minutiae but the devil is in the details and we sure as hell don't know the details. It is going to require a whole lot of pathway work in yeast, worms, flies & mice to figure out what is going on. It isn't sexy and 99.99% of the population can't fathom why anyone would care about that stuff and because it hasn't been done we don't have the first ****ing clue how fight this kind of an immune response.

[cameraman]

Or, did a sick pig get Bird Flu and give the mutation to a sick human whereupon it mutated again?
oc

Some flavor of that. The flu virus has the annoying ability of mixing and matching genes, so if some critter has one kind of flu and is unlucky enough to catch a second variety at the same, a whole new version can appear. Most don't take off, occasionally one does and here we are.

[cameraman]

Well this is how the avian got mixed with the human (http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/02/27/8560781.html).

Somebody wasn't following protocol and mixed two cultures. It shouldn't happen but it really sounds like it was mistake of the "it is late Friday night and I want to go home shortcut" variety. Protocols should prevent it but everyone has to follow them always.


I smell biowarfare.

Get a grip:flame:

[trish]

Because it's never happened before?

[Insomniac]

Let's not forget that increasing blood flow to a specific part of the male anatomy is enormously profitable whereas flu vaccines aren't.

Vaccines in general can be quite profitable. Take a look at the heavy marketing of the HPV vaccine. The company that invents it gets the patent rights and there are a lot of people in the world. Unless all the drug companies are colluding to not make vaccinations, they must all fear the other finding one since their treatment drugs are all immediately worthless.

[cameraman]

Flu vaccines are not profitable. The flight of manufacturers away from the product is as plain as day. The HPV vaccine is a long term product, it will still be in use ten years from now and it does not require handling millions of eggs to produce it. Flu vaccines are good for one season and are horribly labor intensive to produce. I'd work the night shift at 7-11 before I took a flu vaccine production job. Drug companies don't shy away from producing a guaranteed 100+ million annual doses without sound financial reasons.

[trish]

Vaccines in general can be quite profitable. Take a look at the heavy marketing of the HPV vaccine. The company that invents it gets the patent rights and there are a lot of people in the world. Unless all the drug companies are colluding to not make vaccinations, they must all fear the other finding one since their treatment drugs are all immediately worthless.

My co-workers 12 year old daughter was required to have the HPV shots before starting school last year. I'm not sure how they managed that but I thought it was very odd.

[cameraman]

My co-workers 12 year old daughter was required to have the HPV shots before starting school last year. I'm not sure how they managed that but I thought it was very odd.

Seeing as how HPV is the MOST common form of sexually transmitted disease and causes ~11,000 new cases of cervical cancer resulting in ~3700 deaths every single year, mandating a vaccine that will prevent a large percentage of those cancers/deaths seems like a very good idea. Not to mention helping stem the tide of the other half million women who get cervical dysplasia every year from HPV.

[TKGAngel]

Seeing as how HPV is the MOST common form of sexually transmitted disease and causes ~11,000 new cases of cervical cancer resulting in ~3700 deaths every single year, mandating a vaccine that will prevent a large percentage of those cancers/deaths seems like a very good idea. Not to mention helping stem the tide of the other half million women who get cervical dysplasia every year from HPV.

But there are people out there who ignore all of the good that can come from the HPV vaccine and refuse to have their daughters vaccinated. Somehow to them, a vaccine against HPV equates to a blessing to go out and have loads and loads of premarital sex. (I heard a variation of this conversation in the waiting room at my last doctor's appointment and was flabbergasted.)

[cameraman]

Better n' better.

The swine flu web site.
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm

and this


As a consequence of confirmed cases of Swine Influenza A (swH1N1) in California, Texas, Kansas, and New York, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Charles E. Johnson, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. § 247d, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists nationwide involving Swine Influenza A that affects or has significant potential to affect national security.

[dando]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090427/ap_on_re_us/un_who_swine_flu


MEXICO CITY – Mexico says the World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu by one level, two steps short of declaring a full-blown pandemic

Mexico health department spokesman Carlos Olmos confirms the move.

No worries, SuperPrez sez no need to worry. Move along now....nothing to see here. :saywhat:

-Kevin

[oddlycalm]

Just got a message from a friend who has a vacation booked to Mexico this weekend. She's blithely planning on going based on the logic that where she is going "is 2000mi from Mexico City." If I ever needed proof that advanced degrees and common sense have naught to do with each other she's provided it....:shakehead

oc

[cameraman]

If I ever needed proof that advanced degrees and common sense have naught to do with each other she's provided it....:shakehead

oc

Working in a medical school for 20 years has taught me that academic scientific career advancement and common sense are negatively correlated.

[extramundane]

Just got a message from a friend who has a vacation booked to Mexico this weekend. She's blithely planning on going based on the logic that where she is going "is 2000mi from Mexico City." If I ever needed proof that advanced degrees and common sense have naught to do with each other she's provided it....:shakehead

oc

My best friend and his new wife are in the middle of a 2-week honeymoon near Cancun. Excellent timing. :irked:

[Gnam]

F1 race dates/teams would seem to be safe since BE is currently boycotting N. America.

ALMS has one race across the border at Mosport, but it's Canada...beer kills everything.

What about the LeMans 24? How serious is the EU about restricting travel from N. America?

[Insomniac]

The CDC is quarantining people who have it and may've been exposed to it. Have they figured out how it is passed along? So far, one person on a plane back here (Wichita) from Mexico did not infect anyone else on the plane, but his wife did get it.

[JLMannin]

Secret weapon to defeat swine flu:

http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:GhzrpZhpID5I7M:http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50215978/Medicated_Antiseptic_Soap___24g__.jpg

Get your hands wet, rub this magic block on your wet hands. Vigorously rub your hands together while singing the ABC's in your mind. Rinse with water, dry. Repeat every time you use the bathroom, touch a doorknob, a stair hand-rail, shake hands, before you eat, before you pick your nose, before you rub your eyes, etc.

[cameraman]

China, Russia & Ukraine banning pork imports from North America?:saywhat::saywhat:

Wow that takes a special kind of stupid:shakehead

[G.]

China, Russia & Ukraine banning pork imports from North America?:saywhat::saywhat:

Wow that takes a special kind of stupid:shakehead

Egypt orders the slaughter of all pigs.

[dando]

Egypt orders the slaughter of all pigs.

Bacon thread. ;) :shakehead

-Kevin

[TKGAngel]

Get your hands wet, rub this magic block on your wet hands. Vigorously rub your hands together while singing the ABC's in your mind. Rinse with water, dry.

I thought you're supposed to sing Happy Birthday while washing your hands? ;)

[TedN]

F1 race dates/teams would seem to be safe since BE is currently boycotting N. America

Could the upcoming Spanish GP be run spectator-less?

Link (http://http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090429101712.shtml)



One solution to the swine flu crisis for Formula One would be to stage Grand Prix without spectators in the stands.

That is the claim of Motorsport Aktuell, after reports emerged this week that the Spanish region of Catalunya is recording the highest incidence of flu infections on the European continent.

Ted

[dando]

Could the upcoming Spanish GP be run spectator-less?

Link (http://http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090429101712.shtml)


Ted

Why not? They've run a race w/o cars in the past. :gomer: :saywhat:

-Kevin

[cameraman]

I thought you're supposed to sing Happy Birthday while washing your hands? ;)

No, it is the Alphabet song.


:gomer:

[dando]

No, it is the Alphabet song.

Local news peeps claimed HB as well the other night.

-Kevin

[G.]

Twinkle-twinkle, Little Star.




:gomer:

[TKGAngel]

No, it is the Alphabet song.

Then the nurse who told me that was wrong. Oh, well.

[dando]

Then the nurse who told me that was wrong. Oh, well.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. IMO, any songs lasting > 12 seconds should suffice. Perhaps Hava Naquila would suffice. :)

-Kevin

[TravelGal]

Is that Hava Nagila or Have a Tequila?


Sometimes I just *cannot* resist.... :D

[Dvdb]

"I'm picking put a thermos for you, for you..........."

Why the hell did I wake up with that song in my head?

[oddlycalm]

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. IMO, any songs lasting > 12 seconds should suffice. Perhaps Hava Naquila would suffice. :)

So for those with a touch of OCD the full 17 minute version of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" would work? :D

oc

[Sean Malone]

"There's a bathroom on the right". :D

[dando]

Level 5, Scotty.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/swine_flu_world

Of course SuperPrez will tell us tonight that there's nothing to worry about.

:irked: :saywhat:

-Kevin

[Gnam]

A1GP race in Mexico City cancelled. Final round will be at Brands Hatch instead.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74932

Bummer.

[dando]

NBC doc reporter just mentioned Happy Birthday as well or 15-20 seconds to wash hands.

-Kevin

[oddlycalm]

A1GP race in Mexico City cancelled. Final round will be at Brands Hatch instead.

Right, and I don't see this going away in the next week or two. A month from now TG might be fighting an uphill battle to run the five hunnert with anyone in the stands.

oc

[Methanolandbrats]

Right, and I don't see this going away in the next week or two. A month from now TG might be fighting an uphill battle to run the five hunnert with anyone in the stands.

oc Is that a change from the last few years?

[KLang]

The WHO has revised the death toll from H1N1 down to 8. 8. Isn't the worldwide response to this just a little overdone?

[extramundane]

Right, and I don't see this going away in the next week or two. A month from now TG might be fighting an uphill battle to run the five hunnert with anyone in the stands.

oc

It's all CART's fault for having 2 Mexican races, y'unnerstand.

[dando]

There goes Joe.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/us_world/Swine-Flu-0428.html


Vice president Joe Biden said today he would tell his family members not to use subways in the U.S. and implied schools should be shuttered as the swine flu outbreak spread to 11 states and forced school closures amid confirmation of the first U.S. death.

"I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now," Biden said when asked whether he would advise family members to use public transportation.

-Kevin

[dando]

The WHO has revised the death toll from H1N1 down to 8. 8. Isn't the worldwide response to this just a little overdone?

The reaction is based on the potential the virus has, especially considering how well it's spreading @ the end of the normal flu season. The scary part is what this thing might do later this year when the flu season starts. :eek: I read that 1 million died back in 68 and it's estimated that 50 million may have died back in 1918. In contrast, I heard 13K died of the flu this past flu season.

-Kevin

[extramundane]

There goes Joe.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/us_world/Swine-Flu-0428.html


At least it might finally keep Joe off Amtrak for good, which the Secret Service has been trying to arrange since he was named VP candidate.

[dando]

At least it might finally keep Joe off Amtrak for good, which the Secret Service has been trying to arrange since he was named VP candidate.

Yeah, we don't want to lose the new Dan Quayle. :gomer: ;)

-Kevin

[dando]

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3606923.story


As the World Health Organization raised its infectious disease alert level Wednesday and health officials confirmed the first death linked to swine flu inside U.S. borders, scientists studying the virus are coming to the consensus that this hybrid strain of influenza -- at least in its current form -- isn't shaping up to be as fatal as the strains that caused some previous pandemics.

In fact, the current outbreak of the H1N1 virus, which emerged in San Diego and southern Mexico late last month, may not even do as much damage as the run-of-the-mill flu outbreaks that occur each winter without much fanfare.


Let's hope so. :thumbup:

-Kevin

[datachicane]

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3606923.story



Let's hope so. :thumbup:

-Kevin

Agreed.

Of course, if it turns out to be true, you'll be owing SuperPrez a nice apology.

[dando]

Of course, if it turns out to be true, you'll be owing SuperPrez a nice apology.

:p

Now if just SuperPrez and SuperVeep would get on the same page.... :saywhat: :irked:

-Kevin

[datachicane]

It's not setting the bar very high, but I'm just grateful to have a veep who can cast a reflection.

[Napoleon]

. . . and now it is being reported that a staff member in the White House is thought to have it.

[Gnam]

That's nothing, wait 'till a reporter catches it, then you'll see some real coverage. :gomer:

I vote Geraldo.

[dando]

. . . and now it is being reported that a staff member in the White House is thought to have it.

$10 they got it from SuperPrez who met with an archeologist while in Mexico, and the archeologist suddently died a few days later. True.

-Kevin

[dando]

That's nothing, wait 'till a reporter catches it, then you'll see some real coverage. :gomer:

I vote Geraldo.

The new reality TeeVee. Dancing with SARS. :thumbup: :gomer:

-Kevin

[Napoleon]

I vote Geraldo.

Well if it happens to kill him they should entomb him in Al Capone's empty vault for eternity (come to think of it, why wait).

[TrueBrit]

Level 5, Scotty.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/swine_flu_world

Of course SuperPrez will tell us tonight that there's nothing to worry about.

:irked: :saywhat:

-Kevin

Nah, he just told us to be more hygenic and get a friggin grip....Until we reach the number 36,000 (that would be the number of people in the US that die from REGULAR flu every year) I humbly suggest everyone just settle the frick down and keep a little perspective...

Afterall...won't someone please think of the poor piggies?

(gonna have pork shops for dinner tonight I think...)

[TrueBrit]

Yeah, we don't want to lose the new Dan Quayle. :gomer: ;)

-Kevin

Big difrence between the two, at least Biden knoes how to spel...

[TrueBrit]

That's nothing, wait 'till a reporter catches it, then you'll see some real coverage. :gomer:

I vote Geraldo.

When did he become a reporter? ;)

[dando]

http://flu.collecta.com/

Real-time H1N1 updates from across the Web. :eek:

-Kevin

[dando]

Big difrence between the two, at least Biden knoes how to spel...

Only cuz Biden copied from someone else... :gomer: ;)

-Kevin

[TrueBrit]

Only cuz Biden copied from someone else... :gomer: ;)

-Kevin

:laugh:

[dando]

And here I was half joking. :eek:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21940.html


The White House is issuing a health advisory outlining "protective measures" for anyone who traveled on President Barack Obama’s trip to Mexico, after a member of the U.S. delegation came down with flu-like symptoms – and tests on his family showed they’re probably infected with the swine flu.

The individual – an advance security staffer for Energy Secretary Steven Chu –appears to have spread the flu to his wife, son and nephew. All three have tested probable for swine flu, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said.

-Kevin

[oddlycalm]

the current outbreak of the H1N1 virus, which emerged in San Diego and southern Mexico late last month, may not even do as much damage as the run-of-the-mill flu outbreaks that occur each winter without much fanfare.

That would be good because it becoming increasingly clear that everyone is going to be exposed sooner or later. The virus responsible for the 1918-1919 pandemic only had a 2% mortality rate and still managed to kill 20-40 million people in an era when intercontinental travel was by slow boats.

oc

[SteveH]

Just to be certain, you should check your symptoms now!

http://doihavepigflu.com/

[oddlycalm]

Swine flu? Time to stock up with a case or two of Yoder's canned bacon.:thumbup: [/survival]
http://s2.thisnext.com/media/230x230/Yoder-s-Canned-Bacon_3A72AE81.jpg
http://www.mrefoods.com/cart/scimages/bacon.jpg

ob

[meadors]

http://flu.collecta.com/

Real-time H1N1 updates from across the Web. :eek:

-Kevin

Another keep you up-to-date site here https://twitter.com/veratect

Check out the company running it http://www.veratect.com/ss_global.html Global risk mgt

[cameraman]

Okay the CDC has confirmed 109 cases in the US of A. They are tied pretty tightly to people who went to Mexico for spring break. Most do not seem to be deathly ill.

This may well be not as lethal as first thought which is great. Problem is the CDC & friends have to respond like this on the off chance that it will be the nasty variety. One of these days it will be, that is pretty much a certainty.

In the meantime everybody who isn't part of the CDC needs to stfu, wash their hands and relax.:shakehead

[TravelGal]

Okay the CDC has confirmed 109 cases in the US of A. They are tied pretty tightly to people who went to Mexico for spring break. Most do not seem to be deathly ill.

This may well be not as lethal as first thought which is great. Problem is the CDC & friends have to respond like this on the off chance that it will be the nasty variety. One of these days it will be, that is pretty much a certainty.

In the meantime everybody who isn't part of the CDC needs to stfu, wash their hands and relax.:shakehead

Right-o. My dentist and I were discussing this today. Justifyable overkill, we called it. Sounds like a contradiction in terms but cameraman just explained why it's not.

A friend's niece has it. Her brother went to a party with one of the guys from the infected school in NYC. He got it a week ago before it had a name. Now she has it. High fever and tamiflu but not life threatening. She's confined to her room and he is not allowed back to his school until she gets over it.

[FTG]

What better way to sneak a virus into this country than to give it to Mexicans?...Get it going real good and hot south of the border, then just spread a rumor that there's construction jobs available."
-- radio host Neal Boortz

"Make no mistake about it. Illegal aliens are carriers of the new strain of human swine avian flu from Mexico... Could this be a terrorist attack...?"
-- radio host Michael Savage

[chop456]

What? People aren't allowed to ask questions now? :tony:

[TrueBrit]

What better way to sneak a virus into this country than to give it to Mexicans?...Get it going real good and hot south of the border, then just spread a rumor that there's construction jobs available."
-- radio host Neal Boortz

"Make no mistake about it. Illegal aliens are carriers of the new strain of human swine avian flu from Mexico... Could this be a terrorist attack...?"
-- radio host Michael Savage

Idiots both....:thumdown::shakehead

[dando]

What better way to sneak a virus into this country than to give it to Mexicans?...Get it going real good and hot south of the border, then just spread a rumor that there's construction jobs available."
-- radio host Neal Boortz

"Make no mistake about it. Illegal aliens are carriers of the new strain of human swine avian flu from Mexico... Could this be a terrorist attack...?"
-- radio host Michael Savage

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/01/severin_suspended_for_comments_about_mexican_immig rants/


Jay Severin, the fiery right wing talk show host on Boston's WTKK-FM radio station, was suspended yesterday after calling Mexican immigrants "criminaliens," "primitives," "leeches," and exporters of "women with mustaches and VD," among other incendiary comments.

Heidi Raphael, a spokeswoman for the station, said Severin had been suspended indefinitely from his afternoon drive-time show. She declined to say which of his comments - made since an outbreak of swine flu was linked to Mexico in recent days - sparked the suspension.

:gomer: :saywhat:

Alex, I'll take Imus for $1000, please. ;)

-Kevin

[cameraman]

The entire Park City school system is shutdown right now because of the virus. Ya know how it got here? Spring Break. Rich white kids coming home from Mexico. This virus travels with a passport.

Gotta wonder if these tools wear their Klan hoods while they do their shows:shakehead

[JLMannin]

The entire Park City school system is shutdown right now because of the virus. Ya know how it got here? Spring Break. Rich white kids coming home from Mexico. This virus travels with a passport.

Gotta wonder if these tools wear their Klan hoods while they do their shows:shakehead

Why wear a hood and hide when you think your bigotry and hatred are anointed and blessed by God?

Two public schools shut down in Indy until May 11 because one child each has a confirmed case of the flu.

[Methanolandbrats]

The entire Park City school system is shutdown right now because of the virus. Ya know how it got here? Spring Break. Rich white kids coming home from Mexico. This virus travels with a passport.

Gotta wonder if these tools wear their Klan hoods while they do their shows:shakehead The real question is, do they go out to eat much?:D

[rocket]

Just got word that Brittany's school (Larkin HS) in Elgin is closed until 5/8.

[cameraman]

Okay so the cases up in Park City that have shut down the school system have been confirmed as H1N1. The kicker is the kids are fine, fully recovered but sitting inside for the next day or so. The kids had recovered before the test results had come back.

H1N1 is definitely highly contagious but it does not seem to be much more severe than a bad cold.

The Mexican death reports are suspect right now. The people died but was it due to the H1N1? People don't seem so sure anymore.

[oddlycalm]

H1N1 is definitely highly contagious but it does not seem to be much more severe than a bad cold.

The Mexican death reports are suspect right now. The people died but was it due to the H1N1? People don't seem so sure anymore.
Right, the reports from Mexico sound a lot more like the severe symptoms that Wickerbill and Brickman reported than what we are seeing here. Possible that the fatalities in Mexico had H1N1 but also had something else that killed them I guess.

oc

[rocket]

The Center for Disease Control has issued a medical alert about a highly contagious, potentially dangerous virus that is transmitted orally, by hand, and even electronically.

This virus is called Weekly Overload Recreational Killer (WORK).
If you receive WORK from your boss, any of your colleagues or anyone else via any means whatsoever - DO NOT TOUCH IT!!! This virus will wipe out your private life entirely. If you should come into contact with WORK you should immediately leave the premises.

Take two good friends to the nearest liquor store and purchase one or both of the antidotes - Work Isolating Neutralizer Extract (WINE) and Bothersome Employer Elimination Rebooter (BEER). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.

You should immediately forward this medical alert to five friends. If you do not have five friends, you have already been infected and WORK is, sadly, controlling your life. Get help immediately.
:D

[anait]

Right, the reports from Mexico sound a lot more like the severe symptoms that Wickerbill and Brickman reported than what we are seeing here. Possible that the fatalities in Mexico had H1N1 but also had something else that killed them I guess.

oc

First confirmed death in Canada "associated" with H1N1, a woman in her 30s from a remote Northern Alberta community who passed away on April 28th. She had not traveled to Mexico. Medical officials say she had existing medical conditions that were seen as the cause of death originally; but when a relative from the same community became ill with a mild case of H1N1, they tested the first woman for the flu.

CBC story (http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/05/08/edmonton-swine-flu-death.html)

[Ankf00]

the zombies are here.

[Dvdb]

Cool................... zombies. Need to ask them to happy hour next week. What do zombies drink?



And don't state the obvious.

[chop456]

Cool................... zombies. Need to ask them to happy hour next week. What do zombies drink?



And don't state the obvious.


http://humibase.com/images/features/rogue%20dead%20guy%20ale%20review.jpg

[G.]

Swine flu? Time to stock up with a case or two of Yoder's canned bacon.:thumbup: [/survival]
http://s2.thisnext.com/media/230x230/Yoder-s-Canned-Bacon_3A72AE81.jpg
http://www.mrefoods.com/cart/scimages/bacon.jpg

ob

too passive.

http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/images/1325-899.jpg


http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/images/1325-895.jpg

[Methanolandbrats]

The flu would kill you a little quicker than that bacon, almost a toss-up though.