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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK
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 Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:13 am Post subject: Swine Flu Media Panic |
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| Is there a major concern for Swine Flu in the UK? I was thinking as the kids break up for there Summer break, there could be an increase when families return from their breaks aboard. I think it is a very real possibility that with children and Adults mingling on different summer hols, UK and abroad. Or could it slow down and the media are making people panic? |
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John W
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 3367
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:45 am Post subject: Re: Swine Flu Media Panic |
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| mark occomore wrote: | Is there a major concern for Swine Flu in the UK?
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No there's only been 80,000 cases and 30 deaths 
| Quote: | | I was thinking as the kids break up for there Summer break, there could be an increase when families return from their breaks aboard. I think it is a very real possibility that with children and Adults mingling on different summer hols, UK and abroad. |
More likely Brits are taking it abroad and spreading it
| Quote: | | Or could it slow down and the media are making people panic? |
Some NHS staff and doctors are offering confusing advice.
John |
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Toggy
Joined: 18 Aug 2008
Posts: 1239
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:48 am Post subject: Re: Swine Flu Media Panic |
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| mark occomore wrote: | | Is there a major concern for Swine Flu in the UK? I was thinking as the kids break up for there Summer break, |
I thought you were in the UK, where is 'up there'
In my view there is no point in panicking, if you get it you get it there is nothing you can do.
65,000 dead is worst case senario, which is an improvment on the 2 million some papers were predicting when this whole thing first blew up.
People seem to be forgetting that 'normal' flu' also kills otherwise healthy people, that is a fact but nobody goes into hysterics over that do they. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:08 am Post subject: |
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Confusing advice and conflicting signals abound, John.
We have a queue of GPs to our radio and television stations telling us that it's a very minor illness, no worse than any other type of flu, and saying that only about 1 case in 200 is progressing to anything more serious.
OK, but the one on BBC Breakfast this morning anticipates seeing 40-50 patients today who feel they have something more than the average dose of flu, and last week 55,000 other people obviously thought it sufficiently serious to report in as well.
The newspapers have splashed the Chief Medical Officer's "worst-case-scenario" of 65,000 deaths (0.1% of the population) all over the front pages.
Schools are closed the moment anyone is off with it... the government has issued GPs with special facemasks... they said we were better prepared for it than anywhere else, but the mass supply of vaccine is not available yet... Some countries will not allow people from the UK/USA in unless they have been vaccinated and have undergone a medical check.
The silence from Europe is deafening. Three deaths in Spain, but none reported from France, Germany, Netherlands. A correspondent from the last didn't think there had been any cases at all there... Spied a copy of le Monde in WHSmiths yesterday and there was absolutely no mention of la grippe porcine to be seen. Something in the water, or are they just very good at keeping things quiet?
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Ron
Last edited by RockitRon on Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Rachel
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:15 am Post subject: |
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| Surely the worst case scenario... is.... we all get it and we all die. |
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iwarburton
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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I accept that this isn't a trivial matter but the overwhelming majority will get nothing more than a few days discomfort.
Headlines like Swine Flu Panic Sweeps Britain are completely untrue and more than a little irritating.
And what do you make of the statistics that tell us that somewhere between 3000 and 65000 might die? Such imprecise figures would be laughable if they weren't being used to frighten people.
Ian. |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| This was discussed on JV show and those figures are out of the blue and not true. |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 11258
Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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Having suffered quite bad asthma at times during my life, I'll admit it has crossed my mind as to whether I'd be at a disadvantage if the virus got to these 'ere parts... 
but then again, I already have a Flu jab once a year and, I take an antihistamine everyday... so - up yours Swine Flu bug! 
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| mark occomore wrote: | | This was discussed on JV show and those figures are out of the blue and not true. |
65,000 is a simple mathematical calculation, based upon a projected fatality rate of 0.35 of all clinical cases if 30% of the population (20m people) falls ill.
They could quite easily have plucked a figure from the air, there's just as much chance of it being accurate in the end.
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Could there be a problem with workers forced into work. Some members of unions could be put under pressure mixing with the public, especially those who come into contact with the public all the time? For example People who work for the Railways, Underground staff, Hospital Staff. or even Bus / Coach Drivers? |
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colby
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
Posts: 1216
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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I would say that bus and coach drivers need to be particularly careful, for obvious reasons.
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| colby wrote: | | I would say that bus and coach drivers need to be particularly careful, for obvious reasons. |
Swine  |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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A bear, a lion and a pig all meet.
Bear says: "If I roar in the forest, the entire forest is shivering with fear."
Lion says: "If I roar in the jungle, the entire jungle is afraid of me."
Pig says: "Big deal.... I only have to cough, and the entire planet sh*ts itself."
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iwarburton
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:36 am Post subject: |
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I'm coming slowly round to thinking that, at nearly 61 and having had Asian flu in 1957, I might not have the Tamiflu vaccine if there's going to be a shortage.
Public-spirited or foolish? What do you think?
Ian. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:47 am Post subject: |
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I don't know, Ian. This is a different strain, so no-one has immunity, and there is as yet no vaccine specifically for it.
Tamiflu only relieves the symptoms and aids recovery.
61 is no age, but it could hit harder than you expect (why all the fuss if it isn't doing so?) and I would be inclined to take it, especially as it is "free".
You'll certainly get no thanks (other than here) for being public-spirited.
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Ron |
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Rachel
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:12 am Post subject: |
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The conspiracy theorist in me is very sceptical about vaccines.
My son has just taken a short contract in one of the swine flu call centres.... .. he says it's easy, they just have to read stuff out.
Last edited by Rachel on Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:04 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Minx
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4088
Location: France/Spain/Peterborough/Tenerife
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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They just said on the news bulletin that the rate of increase has levelled out. I hope so. Like SFF, I am asthmatic so, whilst not exactly worrying I have been very aware of proximity to people over the last couple of weeks.
Our local gym has closed indefinitely to become a Tamiflu distribution centre, and if Jeremy (we're all doomed) Vine's programme yesterday is anything to go by, will no doubt be rushed off its feet. He gave a very clear demo of how to abuse the internet diagnostic system to enable people to get Tamiflu to take away on holiday with them just in case, to sell at car boot sales, or to send abroad to their relatives! Great stuff.
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Minx
To err is human, to forgive - canine. |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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ITV News said " Swine could be slowing down" But only until the autumn.  |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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These swine haven't got the message yet
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Ron |
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