Friday night Pandemic Watch - Swine Flu coming to you?

[yathrib]

Well.. Might be a good time to give up pork, or even meat.

Yuck. Our food literally emerges from giant swamps of reeking, festering shit.

There's something seriously wrong with this picture.

[Jeff]

[Nordic]

Saw a guy a while back with one of these on his T-shirt. He was one of the "meat is murder" protestors at a farmer's market here where they give kids pony rides. These folks were protesting the "cruel" treatment of the ponies.

I did like the shirt, though, and the sentiment.

I once confronted a Ronald McDonald at an Earth Day celebration. After I shouted him down, he left, tail between his legs. I just couldn't believe there was a fucking Ronald McDonald at an Earth Day event! I was completely offended.

[Brentos]

I once confronted a Ronald McDonald at an Earth Day celebration. After I shouted him down, he left, tail between his legs. I just couldn't believe there was a fucking Ronald McDonald at an Earth Day event! I was completely offended.

Yeah, the Tea Party 'protests' recently near my house had a corporate presence.
On my way home I noticed that the police had taken a ton of time to divert traffic for this 'protest', and lo and behold, there were a bunch of very sedated 'protestors' with anti-tax billboards backed up with McDonalds & other Corporate stalls.
It was ridiculous and very bizarre, the police participation especially.

[smiths]

Despite the hysteria, the risk to Britons' health is tiny - but that news won't sell papers or drugs, or justify the WHO's budget

We have gone demented. Two Britons are or were (not very) ill from flu. "This could really explode," intones a reporter for BBC News. "London warned: it's here," cries the Evening Standard. Fear is said to be spreading "like a Mexican wave". It "could affect" three-quarters of a million Britons. It "could cost" three trillion dollars. The "danger", according to the radio, is that workers who are not ill will be "worried" (perhaps by the reporter) and fail to turn up at power stations and hospitals.

Appropriately panicked, on Monday ministers plunged into their Cobra bunker beneath Whitehall to prepare for the worst. Had Tony Blair been about they would have worn germ warfare suits. British government is barking mad.

What is swine flu? It is flu, a mutation of the H1N1 virus of the sort that often occurs. It is not a pandemic, despite the media prefix, not yet. The BBC calls it a "potentially terrible virus", but any viral infection is potentially terrible. Flu makes you feel ill. You should take medicine and rest. You will then get well again, unless you are very unlucky or have some complicating condition. It is best to avoid close contact with other people, as applies to a common cold.

In Mexico, 2,000 people have been diagnosed as suffering swine flu. Some 150 of them have died, though there is said to be no pathological indication of all these deaths being linked to the new flu strain. People die all the time after catching flu, especially if not medicated.

Nobody anywhere else in the world has died from this infection and only a handful have the new strain confirmed, most in America and almost all after returning from Mexico. A couple from Airdrie who caught the flu on holiday in Cancun are getting better. That tends to happen to people who get flu, however much it may disappoint editors.

We appear to have lost all ability to judge risk. The cause may lie in the national curriculum, the decline of "news" or the rise of blogs and concomitant, unmediated hysteria, but people seem helpless in navigating the gulf that separates public information from their daily round. They cannot set a statistic in context. They cannot relate bad news from Mexico to the risk that inevitably surrounds their lives. The risk of catching swine flu must be millions to one.

Health scares are like terrorist ones. Someone somewhere has an interest in it. We depend on others with specialist knowledge to advise and warn us and assume they offer advice on a dispassionate basis, using their expertise to assess danger and communicating it in measured English. Words such as possibly, potentially, could or might should be avoided. They are unspecific qualifiers and open to exaggeration.

The World Health Organisation, always eager to push itself into the spotlight, loves to talk of the world being "ready" for a flu pandemic, apparently on the grounds that none has occurred for some time. There is no obvious justification for this scaremongering. I suppose the world is "ready" for another atomic explosion or another 9/11.

Professional expertise is now overwhelmed by professional log-rolling. Risk aversion has trounced risk judgment. An obligation on public officials not to scare people or lead them to needless expense is overridden by the yearning for a higher budget or more profit. Health scares enable media-hungry doctors, public health officials and drugs companies to benefit by manipulating fright.

On Monday the EU health commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou, advised travellers not to go to north or central America "unless it's very urgent". The British Foreign Office warned against "all but essential" travel to Mexico because of the danger of catching flu. This was outrageous. It would make more sense to proffer such a warning against the American crime rate. Yet such health-and-safety hysteria wiped millions from travel company shares.

During the BSE scare of 1995-7, grown men with medical degrees predicted doom, terrifying ministers into mad politician disease. The scientists' hysteria, that BSE "has the potential to infect up to 10 million Britons", led to tens of thousands of cattle being fed into power stations and £5bn spent on farmers' compensation. A year later, the scientists tried to maintain that BSE "might" spread to sheep because, according to one government scientist, "the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence". The meat industry was wrecked and an absurd ongoing cost was imposed on stock farmers with the closure and concentration of abattoirs.

This science-based insanity was repeated during the Sars outbreak of 2003, asserted by Dr Patrick Dixon, formerly of the London Business School, to have "a 25% chance of killing tens of millions". The press duly headlined a plague "worse than Aids". Not one Briton died.

The same lunacy occurred in 2006 with avian flu, erupting after a scientist named John Oxford declared that "it will be the first pandemic of the 21st century". The WHO issued a statement that "one in four Britons could die".

Epidemiologists love the word "could" because it can always assure them of a headline. During the avian flu mania, Canada geese were treated like Goering's bombers. RSPB workers were issued with protective headgear.The media went berserk, with interviewers asking why the government did not close all schools "to prevent up to 50,000 deaths". The Today programme's John Humphrys became frantic when a dead goose flopped down on an isolated Scottish beach and a hapless local official refused to confirm the BBC's hysteria. The bird might pose no threat to Scotland, but how dare he deny London journalists a good panic?

Meanwhile a real pestilence, MRSA and C difficile, was taking hold in hospitals. It was suppressed by the medical profession because it appeared that they themselves might be to blame. These diseases have played a role in thousands of deaths in British hospitals - the former a reported 1,652 and the latter 8,324 in 2007 alone. Like deaths from alcoholism, we have come to regard hospital-induced infection as an accident of life, a hazard to which we have subconsciously adjusted.

MRSA and C difficile are not like swine flu, an opportunity for public figures to scare and posture and spend money. They are diseases for which the government is to blame. They claim no headlines and no Cobra priority. Their sufferers must crawl away and die in silence.

simon.jenkins@guardian.co.uk


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... -uk-media1

[pepsified thinker]

I'm going back to the flu with this--

A pretty chilling video because it's description of how a government would respond to a really bad version of a flu outbreak is pretty much just what the headlines report from Mexico.

If you go to this website, it gives clips from the video.

http://ffh.films.com/id/13992/Outbreak_in_America_When_the_Flu_Pandemic_Hits_Home.htm

But a few highlights:

1) the really bad thing about H5N1--which is the BIRD flu we've been hearing about for the past few years, and NOT, repeat NOT what is supposedly surfacing now in Mexico, the U.S. and so on (so this is maybe what we're avoiding--but watch out for it?)--the really bad thing about H5N1 is that it doesn't just infect the respiratory tract, but can reside in any/all organs, and so lead to multiple organ failure. Harder to support a sick person when that's going on, I guess, though having their respiratory system affected is bad enough.

2) the video reports that studies out of Los Alamos (by a doctor Macken, a woman with a brit or aussie or ? accent) looked at the effect of anti-virals on stopping the spread of such a pandemic. If the drugs work, they CAN stop it...for as long as they last. Once they run out, it picks up right where it left off. (By the way--this show flashed close-ups of TAMIFLU boxes about 10 times, in one scene or another--seems like there's a hidden agenda to it, which given it's pretty grim message of DOOM! has me taking it with a grain of salt).

3) a vaccine could be produced, but would take about 6 months and even then (based on 2007 info?--that's the copyright) to get a supply that would be limited.

Please note again--that first items relates to H5N1 and what reported in the news is that Mexico's seeing H1N1.

[Cosmic Cowbell]

Apologies if this has been posted prior.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/flu-viruses.htm

Influenza Viruses

On this page:

* Overview
* How Influenza Viruses Change: Drift and Shift
* Types, Subtypes, and Strains

Types, Subtypes, and Strains

There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B, and C. Only influenza A viruses are further classified by subtype on the basis of the two main surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Influenza A subtypes and B viruses are further classified by strains.

Human Influenza Viruses and Avian Influenza A Viruses

Humans can be infected with influenza types A, B, and C viruses. Subtypes of influenza A that are currently circulating among people worldwide include H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 viruses.

Wild birds are the natural host for all known subtypes of influenza A viruses. Typically, wild birds do not become sick when they are infected with avian influenza A viruses. However, domestic poultry, such as turkeys and chickens, can become very sick and die from avian influenza, and some avian influenza A viruses also can cause serious disease and death in wild birds.

Low Pathogenic versus Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A Viruses

Avian influenza A virus strains are further classified as low pathogenic (LPAI) or highly pathogenic (HPAI) on the basis of specific molecular genetic and pathogenesis criteria that require specific testing. Most avian influenza A viruses are LPAI viruses that are usually associated with mild disease in poultry. In contrast, HPAI viruses can cause severe illness and high mortality in poultry. More recently, some HPAI viruses (e.g., H5N1) have been found to cause no illness in some poultry, such as ducks. LPAI viruses have the potential to evolve into HPAI viruses and this has been documented in some poultry outbreaks. Avian influenza A viruses of the subtypes H5 and H7,including H5N1, H7N7, and H7N3 viruses, have been associated with HPAI, and human infection with these viruses have ranged from mild (H7N3, H7N7) to severe and fatal disease (H7N7, H5N1). Human illness due to infection with LPAI viruses has been documented, including very mild symptoms (e.g., conjunctivitis) to influenza-like illness. Examples of LPAI viruses that have infected humans include H7N7, H9N2, and H7N2.

In general, direct human infection with avian influenza viruses occurs very infrequently, and has been associated with direct contact (e.g., touching) infected sick or dead infected birds (domestic poultry).
How Influenza Viruses Change: Drift and Shift

Influenza viruses are dynamic and are continuously evolving. Influenza viruses can change in two different ways: antigenic drift and antigenic shift. Influenza viruses are changing by antigenic drift all the time, but antigenic shift happens only occasionally. Influenza type A viruses undergo both kinds of changes; influenza type B viruses change only by the more gradual process of antigenic drift.

Antigenic drift refers to small, gradual changes that occur through point mutations in the two genes that contain the genetic material to produce the main surface proteins, hemagglutinin, and neuraminidase. These point mutations occur unpredictably and result in minor changes to these surface proteins. Antigenic drift produces new virus strains that may not be recognized by antibodies to earlier influenza strains. This process works as follows: a person infected with a particular influenza virus strain develops antibody against that strain. As newer virus strains appear, the antibodies against the older strains might not recognize the "newer" virus, and infection with a new strain can occur. This is one of the main reasons why people can become infected with influenza viruses more than one time and why global surveillance is critical in order to monitor the evolution of human influenza virus stains for selection of which strains should be included in the annual production of influenza vaccine. In most years, one or two of the three virus strains in the influenza vaccine are updated to keep up with the changes in the circulating influenza viruses. For this reason, people who want to be immunized against influenza need to be vaccinated every year.

Antigenic shift refers to an abrupt, major change to produce a novel influenza A virus subtype in humans that was not currently circulating among people (see more information below under Influenza Type A and Its Subtypes). Antigenic shift can occur either through direct animal (poultry)-to-human transmission or through mixing of human influenza A and animal influenza A virus genes to create a new human influenza A subtype virus through a process called genetic reassortment. Antigenic shift results in a new human influenza A subtype. A global influenza pandemic (worldwide spread) may occur if three conditions are met:

* A new subtype of influenza A virus is introduced into the human population.
* The virus causes serious illness in humans.
* The virus can spread easily from person to person in a sustained manner.

Types, Subtypes, and Strains
Influenza Type A and Its Subtypes

Influenza type A viruses can infect people, birds, pigs, horses, and other animals, but wild birds are the natural hosts for these viruses. Influenza type A viruses are divided into subtypes and named on the basis of two proteins on the surface of the virus: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). For example, an “H7N2 virus” designates an influenza A subtype that has an HA 7 protein and an NA 2 protein. Similarly an “H5N1” virus has an HA 5 protein and an NA 1 protein. There are 16 known HA subtypes and 9 known NA subtypes. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Only some influenza A subtypes (i.e., H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2) are currently in general circulation among people. Other subtypes are found most commonly in other animal species. For example, H7N7 and H3N8 viruses cause illness in horses, and H3N8 also has recently been shown to cause illness in dogs.

Only influenza A viruses infect birds, and all known subtypes of influenza A viruses can infect birds. However, there are substantial genetic differences between the influenza A subtypes that typically infect birds and those that infect both people and birds. Three prominent subtypes of the avian influenza A viruses that are known to infect both birds and people are:

Influenza A H5

Nine potential subtypes of H5 are known. H5 infections, such as HPAI H5N1 viruses currently circulating in Asia and Europe, have been documented among humans and sometimes cause severe illness or death.

Influenza A H7

Nine potential subtypes of H7 are known. H7 infection in humans is rare but can occur among persons who have direct contact with infected birds. Symptoms may include conjunctivitis and/or upper respiratory symptoms. H7 viruses have been associated with both LPAI (e.g., H7N2, H7N7) and HPAI (e.g., H7N3, H7N7), and have caused mild to severe and fatal illness in humans

Influenza A H9

Nine potential subtypes of H9 are known; influenza A H9 has rarely been reported to infect humans. However, this subtype has been documented only in a low pathogenic form.

Influenza Type B

Influenza B viruses are usually found only in humans. Unlike influenza A viruses, these viruses are not classified according to subtype. Influenza B viruses can cause morbidity and mortality among humans, but in general are associated with less severe epidemics than influenza A viruses. Although influenza type B viruses can cause human epidemics, they have not caused pandemics.

Influenza Type C

Influenza type C viruses cause mild illness in humans and do not cause epidemics or pandemics. These viruses are not classified according to subtype.
Strains

Influenza B viruses and subtypes of influenza A virus are further characterized into strains. There are many different strains of influenza B viruses and of influenza A subtypes. New strains of influenza viruses appear and replace older strains. This process occurs through antigenic drift. When a new strain of human influenza virus emerges, antibody protection that may have developed after infection or vaccination with an older strain may not provide protection against the new strain. Therefore, the influenza vaccine is updated on a yearly basis to keep up with the changes in influenza viruses.

[chiggerbit]

I can remember as a kid getting puke-my-guts-out and shit-my-pants kinds of flu every single year like clockwork, and at least one of those years was quite serious--I remember a classmate's sister died of that year's flu. Later as an adult I got the type A flu several times, including once when I was preggers. But we just didn't think much about it then. Rarely ever get the flu now. Funny, but I don't remember my kids getting sick every year like we did when I was a kid.

[anothershamus]

I can remember as a kid getting puke-my-guts-out and shit-my-pants kinds of flu every single year like clockwork, and at least one of those years was quite serious--I remember a classmate's sister died of that year's flu. Later as an adult I got the type A flu several times, including once when I was preggers. But we just didn't think much about it then. Rarely ever get the flu now. Funny, but I don't remember my kids getting sick every year like we did when I was a kid.

I remember the same thing seems like about 4-6 years in a row, when I was 3rd grade to 8th grade or so.

I didn't get the flu for a long time, then I spent a year in France on a college exchange, and I got the puke-my-guts-out flu, just like old times. Haven't had it since (20+years). Knock wood....

[8bitagent]

It would be completely and totally wonderful if the entire pork industry was shut down, and not just Smithfield's in Lagloria(where many believe the virus came from)

People say dont blame the pork industry...Im thinking "Orly? Is there wild boars out and about carrying the plague?"

Theres a reason Jews and Muslims dont eat pork, as well as myself and everyone I know

[lightningBugout]

I love pork, preferably organic but there are few organic taco trucks in Lush Angles. Carnita, Al Pastor......

[lightningBugout]

speaking of meat, speaking of hugh....

did anyone know they eat manatee in FL?

HOW TO HANDLE MANATEE MEAT
Manatee meat has a mild taste and readily adapts to recipes for beef. Choice cuts of meat, primarily the tail and peduncle, can be used in any recipe. The body and flipper meat, with just a little extra preparation and special recipes, can be just as tasty. I recommend cubing the less-tender cuts for extra tenderness or pounding steaks with a meat mallet.

Regardless of what cut of manatee meat you are using, all fat and sinew must be removed before freezing or preparing. Even the yellowish fat between the layers should be removed. When using flipper or body meat, we recommend removing the white tendons and vessels as well.

Manatee meat has been successfully frozen for over a year. This was done by removing all fat, wrapping well in cellophane and then again in freezer paper. Manatee meat can be tenderized in several different ways. Some restaurants run each piece of meat through a cubing machine. Other restauranteurs recommend pounding each peice of manatee with a meat mallet until thin, usually about one inch. All restaurants recommend cutting manatee meat across the grain for a more tender piece of meat.

Body and flipper meat cuts are excellent choices for burgers, casseroles, ground meat, soups and stews. Peduncle and tail meat work well for roasts, steaks and barbecue.

Regardless of which cut of meat you use, you will find manatee to be a very delicious and versatile meat. It is also low in fat, making it a great item for the calorie conscious person.

[stickdog99]

This is wonderful. The liberals get dirty Smithfield and the conservatives get dirty Mexicans.

[Nordic]

This is wonderful. The liberals get dirty Smithfield and the conservatives get dirty Mexicans.

That's funny as hell.

All this is proving to me is that the media still controls the minds of most people in the "civilized" world.

The media says "boo", the people jump out of their skins.

It's really weird. You'd think we'd be over the media by now.

But no.

[Cosmic Cowbell]

Sad news...


Swine flu kills first victim in U.S.

The CDC says a 23-month-old child in Texas has died. 'My heart goes out to the family,' acting director says.
By Mark Silva
4:46 AM PDT, April 29, 2009

Reporting from Washington -- The swine flu outbreak has claimed its first victim in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: A 23-month-old child in Texas.

Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the CDC, confirmed the fatality in an appearance this morning on NBC's "Today" show.

With 64 confirmed cases of the disease nationwide according to the agency's latest accounting – including 45 in New York City – the agency says it's too soon to say how fast the flu is spreading.

Health authorities had anticipated the first U.S. death after the disease was suspected in the deaths of more than 150 people in Mexico, where the outbreak is believed to have begun. Yet the death of the toddler in Texas is tragic, Besser said.

"As a pediatrician and a parent, my heart goes out to the family,'' Besser said.

The flu case in Texas was one of six that had been confirmed in the U.S. in addition to 10 in California, 2 in Kansas and one in Ohio, according to the CDC's accounting Tuesday. In addition, other reports of illnesses from Chicago to New York have raised the possibility that the number of cases will continue to climb.

http://www.latimes.com/la-sci-flu-death ... 6691.story