If you've not already heard, the entire world currently has all eyes on deck on an outbreak of the H1N1 Swine Flu. Researchers are still not calling this outbreak a pandemic, but if you've been following the hashlink on Twitter you've probably seen a huge amount of panic. As this virus continues to spread around the world, there are three tools to help you keep up-to-date with information.View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map
The above is a Google Map created by Biomedical Research and is one of the fastest ways to track the spreading of the virus. Click here to view the larger size of the map.
The second tool is to check the WHO (World Health Organization) website. The WHO is the leading source for information and news regarding any major epidemic health outbreaks. They also have a RSS feed for those tech-savvy folks.
The third and probably the most useful tool to stay up-to-date where this outbreak is occurring is a map provided by Health Map. The map aggregates news feeds from the WHO, Google News, ProMED, Euro Surveillance, and the Wildlife Disease Node.
At the time of posting at least 90 cases have been confirmed worldwide, including 50 in the United States, six in Canada, three in New Zealand, two each in Spain and the United Kingdom, and one in Israel. With at least 11 other countries suspecting infections, the World Health Organization has raised its alert level from three to four on its six-level scale.
Hardly, it doesn't appear to be a particularly fatal flu bug, it's just new and wide spread, and once you catch it, your immune to it. It appears the worst symptoms simulate the stomach flu. It's just massive worldwide hershey squirts, and personally I want to catch it myself so that when it gets worse I'm immune.
I hope you and everyone else caught that I was being completely sarcastic.
Well, in all fairness, it has killed people, so it is "dangerous", but mostly to those in countries with poor healthcare.... No one's died in the US yet. There probably will be a few eventually, but seriously, this virus.... totally not scared. This is mostly just more media sensationalism. hell, the common flu has killed more than this has..... So far.
Well yeah.
Yup
If it mutates significantly after you've caught it (ie, it mutates and becomes much more fatal), your immunity is suspect. You become immune to the specific strain, but those strains can mutate.
That's why AIDS vaccines have been so difficult to create. AIDS mutates very rapidly, so any immunity a vaccine may give you may be nullified in a month.
http://twitter.com/cdcemergency - US Center for disease control
http://twitter.com/sanjayguptacnn - Dr. Sanjay Gupta's Twitter feed, he's currently in Mexico and has access to Mexican hospitals.
EDIT: BTW, it's interesting that all the deaths are in Mexico.
Will I be able to travel to US in May now ...
www.xkcd.com
I use health map but currently is offline.
you too can use:
http://www.idemc.org/ (epidemic)
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php (broad alert map).
Except that it's already not like 1976, since it has spread.
Symptoms:
- Strong headache
- High, sudden and persistent fever (102 F (39 C) and up)
- General body pain
- Cough
- Throat pain
- Mostly all of the common flu symptoms BUT stronger.
This is completely treatable with antibiotics. Ground zero is Mexico City (NOT the whole country), so, don't travel unless necessary. If you need to go to Mexico City, be sure to wear a "surgical face mask" (I don't know the correct term in english, I couldn't find it, sorry), try to avoid crowded places, try not to touch handrails and doorknobs, don't touch your face (mostly mouth, nose and eyes) with your hands and keep them clean at ALL times, and obviously do not be in contact with people who has the virus and don't eat live uncooked pigs
If you need to go to Mexico City, follow the steps described above and you WON'T get infected.
THE SITUATION IS NOT AS BAD AS THE NEWS MAKE IT SOUND!!!
Last edited by Gladiatorus on 28 Apr 2009 - 15:42
It's kind of difficult to tell what flu symptoms are like when they're stronger if people aren't commonly afflicted. I suppose it's alright to flood the medical system in the states with everyone with a cough since they have to pay.
You are absolutely right. I meant antivirals.
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