Posted on 04/28/2009 5:32:22 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
It's a confounding question on the lips of disease detectives: Why have the only deaths from the swine flu outbreak happened in Mexico?
Investigators also want to know why the disease has killed young adults, who should have the greatest resistance.
"They're good questions that we're asking, too," said Von Roebuck, spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We're still young in this investigation and we're still trying to understand exposure in this country as well as exposure in Mexico."
Mexico has reported 152 fatalities in flu-like cases in recent days, seven of which have been confirmed as swine flu. Another 19 patients have been confirmed as having swine flu but surviving. About 2,000 people have been hospitalized with symptoms.
By contrast, the United States has had 64 confirmed cases, five hospitalizations and no deaths.
"The difference in seriousness between the known U.S. cases and the Mexican cases is the question that everyone wants to answer," said Maryn McKenna, author of "Beating Back the Devil," a 2004 book on the history of the CDC, and the forthcoming "Superbug," about drug-resistant staph.
There are no hard answers, but a consensus is emerging: The disease in Mexico has likely been around longer and infected more people than investigators can confirm.
"Do we really know all of the cases that existed in Mexico or is this just the tip of the iceberg?" asked Louis Sullivan, a physician and former head of Health and Human Services under President George H.W. Bush.
McKenna said it's possible "there is much more flu in Mexico than we know because it hasn't been counted.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Those closest to ground zero.....
>> McKenna said it’s possible “there is much more flu in Mexico than we know because it hasn’t been counted.
Why are we looking for the convoluted reasons?
The Occam’s Razor answer is simple: Mexico is an unsanitary third world craphole.
It’s worse where the weather is HOT.
no, wait for it, it will turn out to be an evil plot by bush and cheney.
Hmm... perhaps because Mexican infectious disease control sucks?
I may be wrong, but the Spanish flu, which struck after WWI also killed those with the healthiest immune systems.
yah....Gee CNN...why can’t we have more flu deaths here...
sheesh!
Because Mexico sucks. That would be my scientific answer anyway.
Hate to admit it, but -—I almost hope that Canada and Europe get it worse than the US, as well -—
Socialized Medicine needs to flop, NOW!
Well, It would not be surprising if it was developing in Mexico for a longer period of time and they just didn’t catch it. Mexico is a hell-hole for the poor, and the medical authorities would probably ignore most deaths among the poor, or just shovel them under quickly.
But that theory raises another question, IMHO. If it’s been spreading in Mexico for months, then why did it only now come back to the U.S.? Or has it possibly been here as well and not noticed?
Another possible answer, I suppose, is that it started to spread here at spring break, when probably a lot more people visit Mexico.
Tequila!
I know I felt close to death a couple of times after a bout with that stuff.
But seriously, I would look into their health care and sanitation.
“Why have the only deaths from the swine flu outbreak happened in Mexico?”
GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE!!
Coming soon to America!
Change that will kill millions!
Investigators also want to know why the disease has killed young adults, who should have the greatest resistance.
___________________________________________
During 1968, the world wide epidemic of Hong Kong flu, old people and the very young and young adults died...
I was 19 when I got it...
I went to a doctor who told me “Go home, you’ll either die or get well. There’s nothing I can do for you..”
Well, thanks...
I was sick for weeks with other things that led off from the flu...
But I lived...many didnt...
Didnt they study that flu to find out why it was the young healthy people who got it and died ???
It seems they either didnt or they have forgotten...
It was that 1968 Hong Kong flu that brought about the flu shots...
It’s the worm in the bottle...
Part of the problem some of us feel in Mexico, is that historically the gov’t has never leveled with the populace and gave them the hard cold harsh facts. The Earthquake of 1985 some estimates are that less than half of the actual dead were reported. They didn’t want to ‘send a message’ to the tourist prospects. In 1968 there was a student uprising and a massive operation that no one really knows how many died. SO...now that we have a full blown media frenzied situation that is easily distorted, we don’t know REALLY what to think, or who to believe? In my humble opinion, in the State of Mexico, we’ve had this gripe/flu bug going around and doctors thought it was pneumonia. I’ve talked to several who already have had the head ache, the high fever and the heavy phlegm and they’re fine.
Many in the USA have had yearly flu shots for a long time. We have better antibodies because of it. Now, if the swine flu, which has mixed DNA from other influenza viruses, has a component that looks like a flu we have already seen here, well, we may have a slight edge in fighting it off.
IMHO, just a theory
because it has not spread as far yet in the States, but the leftists are making sure it will soon.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.