What do we think about it all? A bit of a wait and see job i think unfortunately!
Not sure if it's pig flu but I feel cr*p today
i think with all this media coverage all the hypochondriacs will be going crazy 
I'm dyinnnngggg cough cougggggh AAAARRRGG!!
what a load of baloney, bet more people die putting on their trousers in the morning
yes i have! i've had a sinus infection since saturday afternoon! my hearing has gone all funny as well now! can't breath through my nose at all.
I've already died a couple times from bird flu, and foot in mouth and the planet has frozen to death due to an ozone layer hole etc, etc, etc.
Reading papers and watching sky news is the only thing that will kill ya!
The missus went to the Doc's yesterday with the lurgy, I think she's got pig flu.
I'll make her squeal later 
i'll be ok i've got some OINKment from the doctor
Just unloaded 5 pallets of chimeneas from Mexico, so hopefully I won't get it!
Some facts and figures from someone forced to study H5N1 and viral genetics last year:
Spanish flu killed 50 - 100 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1919, there was a mortality rate of 2.5%. The current mortality rate of this
H1N1 (swine flu) variant is just under 7% although not all of these are confirmed cases - death was caused by flu-like symptoms. This H1N1 variant has
displayed the sustained ability to transfer between humans via air, rather than H5N1 "bird flu" which only ever transferred through
prolonged physical contact with birds. This is the last stage before a pandemic begins. Young adults are most of risk, and by risk I do mean death,
due to a knee jerk immune reaction. In respiratory infections its your own lymphocytes which cause lung failure rather than the virus itself (the
process is called a "cytokine storm"
. Its far to late to stop the progress of the virus if it is to become a pandemic.
Bottom line really is that viruses evolve millions of times faster than humans and hundreds of times faster than our MHC system (used to control
immunity) so its not a case of "if" its a case of "when" a disease like this will break ranks and cause some major death tolls. On
the plus side we have already got 2 complete gene sequences of the virus to aid a vaccine and the drug "tamiflu" will be effective in
limiting its effects (which was stockpiled after the H5N1 scare). Also all cases outside of mexico have been a milder variant so far, so the possible
pandemic virus could cause very few fatalities but provide immunity from the nastier "killer" version.
[Edited on 28/4/09 by cd.thomson]
hmm, i seem to have had a cold for the last 3 weeks.
quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
Some facts and figures from someone forced to study H5N1 and viral genetics last year:
Spanish flu killed 50 - 100 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1919, there was a mortality rate of 2.5%. The current mortality rate of this H1N1 (swine flu) variant is just under 7% although not all of these are confirmed cases - death was caused by flu-like symptoms. This H1N1 variant has displayed the sustained ability to transfer between humans via air, rather than H5N1 "bird flu" which only ever transferred through prolonged physical contact with birds. This is the last stage before a pandemic begins. Young adults are most of risk, and by risk I do mean death, due to a knee jerk immune reaction. In respiratory infections its your own lymphocytes which cause lung failure rather than the virus itself (the process is called a "cytokine storm"
Bottom line really is that viruses evolve millions of times faster than humans and hundreds of times faster than our MHC system (used to control immunity) so its not a case of "if" its a case of "when" a disease like this will break ranks and cause some major death tolls. On the plus side we have already got 2 complete gene sequences of the virus to aid a vaccine and the drug "tamiflu" will be effective in limiting its effects (which was stockpiled after the H5N1 scare). Also all cases outside of mexico have been a milder variant so far, so the possible pandemic virus could cause very few fatalities but provide immunity from the nastier "killer" version.
[Edited on 28/4/09 by cd.thomson]
ah just take a lemsip
newspapers...only good for wiping your bottom
quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
The missus went to the Doc's yesterday with the lurgy, I think she's got pig flu.
I'll make her squeal later
I've died before from aids, mad-cow disease, bird flu and pig flue... I got better though!
quote:
Originally posted by omega0684
quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
Some facts and figures from someone forced to study H5N1 and viral genetics last year:
Spanish flu killed 50 - 100 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1919, there was a mortality rate of 2.5%. The current mortality rate of this H1N1 (swine flu) variant is just under 7% although not all of these are confirmed cases - death was caused by flu-like symptoms. This H1N1 variant has displayed the sustained ability to transfer between humans via air, rather than H5N1 "bird flu" which only ever transferred through prolonged physical contact with birds. This is the last stage before a pandemic begins. Young adults are most of risk, and by risk I do mean death, due to a knee jerk immune reaction. In respiratory infections its your own lymphocytes which cause lung failure rather than the virus itself (the process is called a "cytokine storm"
Bottom line really is that viruses evolve millions of times faster than humans and hundreds of times faster than our MHC system (used to control immunity) so its not a case of "if" its a case of "when" a disease like this will break ranks and cause some major death tolls. On the plus side we have already got 2 complete gene sequences of the virus to aid a vaccine and the drug "tamiflu" will be effective in limiting its effects (which was stockpiled after the H5N1 scare). Also all cases outside of mexico have been a milder variant so far, so the possible pandemic virus could cause very few fatalities but provide immunity from the nastier "killer" version.
[Edited on 28/4/09 by cd.thomson]
Virology - my specist subject
Its right... Virii can reproduce every few days / weeks (depending on the strain).
The Human reproductive cycle is approx 16-30 years (on average between generations)
We have no hope of catching and overtaking the bugs, bacteria and virii.
Now is a good opportunity for rolling out those "H1N1 - World Tour Tee Shirts"
lol, Virii ???????????
single viral particle is called a Virion
plural is viruses
Craig, ever thought of taking up medicine??
(Just don't abandon the car!)
just eat plenty bacon,you will be immune then.
funnily enough i was talking to a nurse from my local hospital,they are in defcom 3 mode and have converted the maternity wards into isolation wards
and are being fitted supplied with masks and all sorts of jabs
We are due a BIG pandemic and plans have been put in place for 60% mortality so the authorities are not about to take any threat lightly!
Does not look like this is going to be the big one mind!
Rupert
Possibly in bad taste, but you can play the part of the virus if you want
http://www.crazymonkeygames.com/Pandemic-2.html
Think I've got it, got up this morning coverd in rashers...
Yep, I'll get me coat
quote:
Originally posted by iank
Possibly in bad taste, but you can play the part of the virus if you want
http://www.crazymonkeygames.com/Pandemic-2.html
quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
quote:
Originally posted by iank
Possibly in bad taste, but you can play the part of the virus if you want
http://www.crazymonkeygames.com/Pandemic-2.html
You can never "win" at that game, canada or the island off the coast of Africa ALWAYS closes its borders no matter how undetectable your disease is at first