General Chat

I don't think any of us are criticising the media reporting it, just the delight they take in doing so and how it becomes such a frenzy of panic.

I think the media is right to report it, at least people will be on the look out for symptoms. On the down side though we still have ordinary flu around and, as I understand it the symptoms are similar. somebody mentioned being vaccinated. As I understand it there is no vaccine as yet only anti viral medication, which should be sufficient for those who are fit. Obviously with it being a holiday location it is going to be carried back to other countries. I think they waited too long before reporting it. And fancy not saying anything before President Obama visited.

Hayley, I hope they an find out what is wrong with your sister soon.

Ann
Glos

Rose, it is the same for this one apparently, those most at risk are not the very young and the elderly, it's those between 20 and 45 with healthy immune systems. something to do with over production of antibodies and fluid into the lungs.

I'm sure somebody will google and get a much clearer explanation than that!

Glad I'm 46 now anyway lol seems to be the only advantage!

Maz. XX

Just changed it Sylvia :))

Its a bit of a swine allright jean the makers of tamiflu are living off the pigs back.
seriously though I was watching some pharmacists on tv last night and they could barely contain there glee at selling all there old stock of handwash and facemasks.
its just such a bloody hype
I for one wont be losing a lot of sleep,and I am all over the community,if it turns into a pandemic we are in a whole different position to 1918.
We are well fed most of us have access to good health we know how to prevent transmission we have antibiotics and we havnt been through a really crappy war

The difference between this and the bird flu scare is that the bird flu (h5N1?) only passed directly from bird to human, not human to human. This strain obviously has mutated to be able to do that. I think it is cause for concern, but not for 'panic' or media frenzy.

Did you know (courtesy of Bill Bryson ) that the spanish flu epidemic of 1918-20 was a mutation of swine flu...but the majority of deaths were not in the usual groups of young and old but 20 and 30 year olds...that it surfaced at the same time all over the globe ? that 300 volunteers injected with the virus all survived but the doctor did not.

was only reading it a few days ago which seems strange.......

I'll watch out for it on the news later.

I saw it on ITN, she was on her mobile on the inside of the window, while the reporter was on HER mobile, on loudspeaker, on the outside. They were only a couple of feet apart, was really wierd.

Thanks TW. I was watching sky and Nicola whats her name would not give ages etc.

The only 'flu I have ever had was Hong Kong strain back in the late sixties.............that epidemic killed about 1000,000 worldwide.

I think it's worth remembering that any strain of 'flu kills vulnerable people every year and try not to panic unnecessarily.

Well on the news one of the scottish ones was talking to the press through her window, her house is quarantined. She's in her thirties and doesn't look too bad.

It's not the healthy adults that are at risk, it'll just be a dose of flu...its the children and elderly, and people with chronic conditions like diabetes and asthma....as well as those who's immune system is at risk because of illness, they are the ones at risk.

This isn't bird flu all over again, that never actually spread to humans and became a new virus, although the risk was always there. This one HAS spread to humans. It's a pig flu which has taken on the characteristics of a human flu and made itself a hybrid virus.

2 in Scotland, and 7 of their 20 contacts have *symtoms...not confirmed yet*
Not giving ages or who they are though.
They came back from Mexico on Tues and werent well on Sat.

Just heard from nephew in the USA two reported cases at a school four miles from where he lives, is worrying.

This is not a joke, its serious.anyone who is worried or even sceptical of this, log on to, you should then get the latest gist on this.**M**.Gave a website for this but it seems GR,do not take it seriously enough to print it so hence.double you double you double youdotdocguidedotcom perhaps this will get through.M

I hope it's inder control soon and they ban holidays to Mexicio.

I was in Australia at the time of SARS. Went to travel agent over there to ask if we could fly home direct and cancel our stop over in Singapore. We were told they hadnt heard of it!!

Marion

I said that only today, anything can happen at any time, if you spent your life worry about might or could happen you an''t going to have much time to have a life ..

On the other side of the coin, what if the media DIDN'T report it and it really does turn out to be pandemic worldwide?

We'd all be moaning then.

like this, it give people like my mum, and ashtmatic and in her 70's, a chance to get vaccinated.

Last year pmsl.

Sorry but I can't get in a state about this. I just think the media whip everything up to a frenzy.

Let's be honest there ain't a lot any of us can do about it is there ?

Jean.

Hope they find out whats wrong with your sister and she makes a speedy recovery Hayley xx