Swine Flu and other Non-Sense Stuff!

Unless you’ve been living in a cave… you know about the Swine Flu/H1N1 virus.   When I first heard about the “outbreak” last week, I’ll admit that I was nervous at first.  It was the first time as an adult that I really thought about an “outbreak” or “pandemic” and that it could affect us here in the US.  However, after a little reading and talking to some friends… I can’t help but think the general public is getting in a tizzy over nothing.  I also don’t think the government is helping the situation at all.  The way they’re going about it, they’re making it sound like this is ten times worse than our normal Influenza (H1N2).  But really?  Have you looked at the statistics from the H1N2 virus versus the H1N1 virus?

Per the CDC’s website approximately 36,000 people die every year from the influenza (H1N2) virus in the United States ALONE… that doesn’t include all the other countries, etc.  That is the regular old flu that every person will get in their lifetime.  Also, approximately 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu related complications, as well.  Complications from the H1N2 virus include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as CHF (congestive heart failure), asthma, or diabetes.

Now, per the CDC’s website for the Swine Flu (H1N1), did you know we’ve had an “outbreak” of it a few times prior?  In Wisconsin in 1988, there were mulitple human infections and no deaths… it was not considered an “outbreak”, but still – no deaths.  From December 2005 until February 2009, 12 cases of  H1N1 were reported – no deaths.   One 32 year old pregnant lady in September 1988, was hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later – The Swine H1N1 virus was detected however that lady four days prior before getting sick, visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.   The most well known outbreak of the H1N1 was among soldiers in Fort Dix, NJ in 1976.  The virus caused disease with xray evidence of pneumonia in at least 4 soldiers and 1 death.  This info came from here.  Also, in 1918, the influenza pandemic – it killed approx 50-100 million people around the world within about 18 months, however it took on average about 11 days for those people to die… which fits more with the known pattern of a bacterial virus than a viral infections.  They then discovered that the real death was due to strep infections, not the flu!   This information came from here. 

Here is a map of the H1N1 Swine Flu infected states throughout… it doesn’t look horrible.  Yes, there are a lot of suspected cases, however… how many deaths in the US?  Not many.  I really believe the deaths coming from Mexico are just due to the fact that living conditions and health care is much worse than here.  That’s a given if you ask me.

Symptoms and complications from the H1N1 are very very similar to the H1N2, including fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing.  Some also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. 

There is nothing we and citizens can do about the H1N1… it’s really just common sense.  It’s things we should be doing anyways, regardless of an outbreak of any type of sickness.  Washing hands for 30 seconds with hot water and soap, using Purell or some antibacterial gel, when you’re leaving the bathroom, use a paper towel to open the door and your elbow to shut the fosset off and of course the obvious…. if you’re feeling sick or have been around someone who just returned from Mexico or areas that have high diagnosis numbers, stay home or away from those people. 

Worldwide as of today per WHO, their are 11 countries and 331 confirmed cases with 9 deaths – ALL DEATHS are from people FROM/BORN IN MEXICO.  I know the 1 young child who was in a Texas hospital already had severe health complications.

Obviously this could all turn much much worse and there could be  more death and more infections… but come on…realistically, how much worse is H1N1 vs. N1N2?  Not very.

This info came from Mercola – I highly suggest you read it – it is VERY informational for those of you who are thinking like me!  More people die from the Swine Flu vaccine than the actual Swine Flu virus!!  Also? Malaria kills 3,000 people EVERY DAY, and it’s considered a “health problem”.  Do you remember when President Bush said that 2 million Americans would die fromt he bird flu?   Guess what happened?  Not 2 million deaths – that’s for sure.

Of course, anyone with a compromised immune system already – such as a person with cancer, pneumonia, severe health problems that lower their immune system… they’re already subject to getting very sick, faster than anyone that is healthy… and that is not just with the Swine Flu; that is with ANY virus or bacterial infection out there.

I don’t know… maybe I’m just naive, but I think we’re all getting our undies in a bundle for nothing.

**Also, on a side note for comparison… on the CDC, did you know that E-Coli/Foodborne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths in the United States EACH YEAR?

**Check this out as well.  These are 2005 statistics, but still.  And through Wikipedia, it’s kind of interesting.

Just chill out… now go wash your hands; chances are if you do get the virus at all… you’ll be fine.

Tagged as: H1N1, H1N2, Influenza, Statistics, Swine Flu