30 Apr 09
The post that was quoted here has been removedA similar strand of flu killed 50 million in the beginning of the century.
Today we can do much more to contain such outbreaks, but that means action must be taken. Even if in the aftermath not a lot of people die, it doesn't mean the threat wasn't serious.
30 Apr 09
1 edit
The post that was quoted here has been removedAre you really serious?
I heard on the news that 38,000 die from the flu each year in the U.S. That is from a population of over 300 million.
No one knows how bad this new strain of the flu with be or how many it will kill, I think that is always a concern, not an over reaction, better to be as prepared as possible than not.
30 Apr 09
Originally posted by PalynkaIt is serious, but I think the media is really milking it for all it's worth. Fear gets people to watch the news, buy newspapers...etc.
A similar strand of flu killed 50 million in the beginning of the century.
Today we can do much more to contain such outbreaks, but that means action must be taken. Even if in the aftermath not a lot of people die, it doesn't mean the threat wasn't serious.
The authorities, government agencies...etc. should be doing everything in their power to stop this outbreak. On the other hand, as regular citizens, what can we do? Not a whole lot. Maybe wash our hands more frequently?
So, what i object to is the media continually beating us over the head with this thing and sending everyone into a panic. I just don't see how that's productive. People have enough to worry about right now.
30 Apr 09
The post that was quoted here has been removedYes but don't forget that we pay a lot of money every year to 'prepare' for such eventualities. There is a lot of money being spent and the public need to feel there is a reason for it. Flu is pretty damned infectious, in any form, whether it is deadly or not. If the authorities want to prevent a wide spread out break then the public needs to realise 100% that if they start experiencing symptoms, they must NOT go around spreading it by continuing to use public transport, going to work, etc...
Personally i prefer an over reaction in this case. If this virus is virulent enough then no measures to contain it will prove ultimately successful, but an attempt must be made! As with normal flu, it only takes a chief somewhere to contract it and suddenly you have a massive out break which then goes on to cause more out breaks, and so on... More people died of flu during the second World war than died in combat, don't under estimate the seriousness of a situation like this. Not everyone who contracts it will die, but every person who contracts it will infect someone else, that is a very serious situation indeed!
30 Apr 09
1 edit
Originally posted by rbmorrisThere's some very important things people NEED to do. If they have some symptoms they should immediately check with a physician, wear breathing masks, etc.
It is serious, but I think the media is really milking it for all it's worth. Fear gets people to watch the news, buy newspapers...etc.
The authorities, government agencies...etc. should be doing everything in their power to stop this outbreak. On the other hand, as regular citizens, what can we do? Not a whole lot. Maybe wash our hands more frequent ...[text shortened]... panic. I just don't see how that's productive. People have enough to worry about right now.
Without this, it's almost impossible to stop an outbreak in this day and age of intense global travelling.