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[rs7k]

I was just reading the paper today, and my county's local health unit seems convinced that there's going to be a huge pandemic soon. They say it's not a matter of "if", but rather "when". I'm just posting this because I've seen local papers talk about this stuff a lot, although I haven't seen anything on GAF about it.

"It will happen," says Stanford. "We'll know when it's here because (influenza) is tracked and when we have (certain) numbers of people being sick and it starts appearing in different parts of the world, (we'll know)."

Once a pandemic flu is confirmed there will be widespread communication - just as there was with SARS. Communication plans are currently being formulated to determine the best and fastest way to get the information to the media and the public.

When it does hit, the estimated numbers in Simcoe County are chilling, with an expected 110-415 deaths; as many as three out of four people being infected but not necessarily ill; two out of every three people who are infected becoming ill; half of the ill people requiring outpatient hospital care; and approximately 1,100 needing hospitalization.

http://www.simcoe.com/sc/barrie/story/2780420p-3218788c.html

Simcoe County is an hour north of Toronto, and it only has about 400,000 people, most of them in Barrie. In a city like Toronto, odds wouldn't be as good because of the population density, and an epidemic would probably originate there rather than here. We'd be looking at something like 5,000 deaths in T.O, but probably more.

Anyways, enough of the doomtalk, but why is it certain to happen?

 

[Ninja Scooter]

good thing im immune.

 

[Spike]

My grandmother is in the hospital right now, clinging to life, with "flu-like" symptoms...

 

[DMczaf]

good thing im immune.

"Give Uncle Magic a hug!"

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

The flu done went. Bitchslapped me into the bed 3 times in as many months; symptoms similar but different every time.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

I've been immunised, I will fight this flu with my blood. somebody buy me a plane ticket.

 

[Socreges]

I just got over it. Was sick for a week and missed four days of work. So shitty

 

[Lakitu]

Yeah I just had that, caught it from my dad and gave it to me my mother who is lying in bed and suffocating as we speak, my bad...

 

[Ghost]

Wait, ive got the flu...


/me runs to chemist

 

[Error Macro]

I've had this nagging, fucking shitty flu for almost two weeks now. I started to feel better a couple of days ago, but now I feel worse. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

Oh, I'm in Southern California, if anyone is curious about tracking where these outbreaks are. Perhaps they're all over the country/continent by now.

 

[mrkgoo]

Anyways, enough of the doomtalk, but why is it certain to happen?

Because history tells us so.

Annual outbreaks of flu occur because small changes in teh surface of influenza viral particles are enough to help it avoid our immune system. Technically, every time you get teh flu, and recover, you are then immune to that particular virus. Too bad influenza mutates so rapidly.

When major changes occur, often by mixing various types of haemaglutninin and/or neuraminidase (from different strains of flu), or by incorprating changes in one or both of these surface proteins, that make it really effective in spreading, along side partial or full immunity to it impossible, it can be deadly.

The biggest pandemic in our life time was in 1918 (well, not really our life time, but in recent times), which was responsible for 40-50 million deaths, worldwide. There have been recent scares that could have broken out (ie. honk kong bird flu, which resulted in every chicken in HK being slaughtered, or some such), so it is considered only a matter of time before one gets past. Rest assured there are constant monitors going on worldwide to see if it can be prevented, or at least predicted before it happens.

 

[B'z-chan]

I've had two heat strokes in the past 24 hours. And with a 101 fever i'm starting to think the flu is already here. It just hasnt poped up yet. I wrote about how we as a country dont have much control over how the spread of the virus (a large pandemic). Due to lack of measure in place for such a event.

I'll be honest just like i said before to my class, the next big thing is already here. Its metabolic rate is quick, it just hasnt found the best host to spread it yet. And when it does, god help each and everyone one of us. Just my theory though. It'll grab onto something like or similar to itself. Someone whose already infect so that it can then transfer quickly throughout an area.

Its freaky to think about such a thing happening, but we've known about this for sometime. If its not one thing its another.

 

[MrAngryFace]

get over the flu, get hit by a truck. life is a pretty dangerous game.

 

[sspeedy]

i just had it barely a couple of months ago. i'd never had it before and don't ever want it again. i had it for no less than two weeks (mind you, 1-week was for spring break )..... i couldn't even walk straight. couldn't eat much either. it felt horrible to walk even 20 feet to the toilet, with the head pouding.
i think i may have had a slight fever.
point being, it took me DOWN.
and thanks loads to my roommate who gave it to me :lol so um yeah, we both went thru it at the same time.

 

[Ghost]

Update: Got some sleep and feel much better, still kinda fluey but i think i'll live.

hooray!

 

[Doth Togo]

"Give Uncle Magic a hug!"

:lol

 

[Manics]

Nice, and the wife and I are going to the cottage this weekend..just in time.

 

[Dilbert]

My grandmother is in the hospital right now, clinging to life, with "flu-like" symptoms...

I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully she recovers soon.

 

[teh_pwn]

I haven't been sick in over 10 years. At our age (well most of us are 14-30 I'd think), you shouldn't ever get sick. If you do, you've got some sort of genetic problem or a fucked up diet.

 

[Dilbert]

I haven't been sick in over 10 years. At our age (well most of us are 14-30 I'd think), you shouldn't ever get sick. If you do, you've got some sort of genetic problem or a fucked up diet.

Nice theory, but you're wrong.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

"Give Uncle Magic a hug!"

SO very evil, :lol

 

[teh_pwn]

Nice theory, but you're wrong.

How so? During cold season, a lot of people I know around me get sick. I get absolutely nothing. They'll eat fast food, I'll eat vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and other whole foods.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

i eat fast food i STILL don't get sick. IM simply invincible. I've never had so much as a broken bone either. ME=bruce willis in Unbreakable, only for REAL!

 

[Escape Goat]

Superhero, let me touch u

 

[Ninja Scooter]

get away from me, mortal.

 

[Escape Goat]

 

[Dilbert]

How so?

I think it's great that you've avoided getting sick, but to generalize about all people in the age range 14-30 based on your own individual experience doesn't make any sense.

 

[Mainline]

I'm home from work right now with the flu

 

[Manics]

I think it's great that you've avoided getting sick, but to generalize about all people in the age range 14-30 based on your own individual experience doesn't make any sense.

I occasionally get sick, but I believe the strain is so severe that it would most likely kill otherwise healthy people. My body can fight off ebola no problem.

 

[speedpop]

Yeah atm I have a flu as well. Just getting over it actually.

 

[xsarien]

I haven't been sick in over 10 years. At our age (well most of us are 14-30 I'd think), you shouldn't ever get sick. If you do, you've got some sort of genetic problem or a fucked up diet.

Let's play "Who skipped health class in high school?"

 

[Bauer Action Hour]

The flu done went. Bitchslapped me into the bed 3 times in as many months; symptoms similar but different every time.

This is almost my situation. At the start of March I got the flu and it lasted about a week. Then right at the end of March I got it again, only that time I felt it for almost 10 days. Yesterday I started feeling hot and sapped of energy. I hope I'm not sick again...

 

[teh_pwn]

Let's play "Who skipped health class in high school?"

Okay, I was wrong in what I said. I'm just so frustrated at people that complain about getting sick when it's their own fault. They eat shit. They aren't giving their immune system anything to work properly.

Maybe my frustration is a bit personal. When I was about 11, I was overweight, and I got a couple colds each year. I ate terribly. Then I decided to change. That's when I lost my weight, and that's when I stopped getting sick.


I realize everyone's different -- of course there are people that have genetically weak immune systems. But like obesity, I'd wager the vast ammount of actual cases have little to do with genetics but with poor diet.


And health classes in high schools are jokes. They mostly focus on drugs...and when they cover nutrition they only talk about 'carbs' and 'fats' when there's so many different types. They don't suggest eating whole grains. They don't mention that nearly everyone in America is deficient in Omega 3 fats and the effects it has on brain health. Instead they give out very wrong food pyramid and tell you to take your synthetic vitamins and to exercise.

I can remember my class. Regarding fats, eat 30-60 grams a day. Absolutely nothing about what types of fats, just 30-60 grams.

They pushed the old food pyramid system where you mostly eat carbs. The teacher talked about eating counting carbs in units, like you need 12 serving a day and a subway sandwich is 4-6 units or something. Again, never anything about white vs wheat vs whole grain. Just carbs.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

I occasionally get sick, but I believe the strain is so severe that it would most likely kill otherwise healthy people. My body can fight off ebola no problem.

Me and you are going to have to have a fight. CLASH OF THE SUPERTITANS!

 

[Loki]

Yeah, I usually only get sick around once per year, if that. And when I do, it's typically very mild and occurs around the same time of year (late December/early January); I haven't had a fever above 100 degrees in at least 6 years. The last two years I haven't gotten sick once-- no fevers, colds, or even sore throats. Watch me jinx myself now...


I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a "supertitan", though, since then I'd have to battle it out with Manics and Ninja Scooter-- and I certainly don't want that.