Posted on 04/29/2009 3:44:50 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3
Well, that's the question on which all proper policy turns.
But right now, there's no answer, and there won't be one soon.
To know the death rate, you need to know the number of cases. Right now, the case definition involves confirmation at a lab in Atlanta. You can imagine how many specimens they can process in a day, or in a week. This isn't the Jack Bauer flu, where CDC can do its thing in 15 minutes.
Mexico has confirmed 26 cases. If that's true (and I'm sure it isn't) their death rate is 7/26, one of the highest ever recorded for influenza.
For the present, the mortality will appear higher than it really is.
To me, the salient fact, and what's important, is the number of confirmed deaths in the 25-45 year old age band. Compared to "other flus", these people shouldn't die at all. The fact that some have justifies some possible overreaction, at least in my mind.
1st Swine flu death in Usa ping
Around 36,000 Americans are killed a year by the various usual flu strains, IIRC.
Not enough information to make any conclusions. Just because the child dies in the U.S. does not mean that child or the parents or relatives are even legal citizens. Or maybe it is from contact with a care-giver that’s illegal.
It is what is not in the story that concerns me.
Govt working on vaccine, 2nd week of May....
This flu hits hardest in the 25 to 45 age group according to a CDC spokesman on Fox... who knows.
LLS
Since I'm old enough to remember the 1976 charlie foxtrot, I won't be the first in line for the new vaccine.
I hear you. me too
Still not enough information to make any conclusions.
Amen to that. I have the same problem. I work with such a group now and I've never been so sick, so often.
“So what does that bring the death rate to? Compared with other flus?”
No one in the US died from Hurricane Ike either...that is until it hit land.
From the article:
“The memo from McGaw, who is DHS’ acting assistant secretary for the private sector, also said: “U.S. Customs and Coast Guard Officers assist in the enforcement of quarantine orders. Other DOJ law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Marshals, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives may also enforce quarantines. Military personnel are not authorized to engage in enforcement.”
That stat may be due to the fact that the US cases appear to be related to travel to Mexico on spring break.
You are a million percent correct, my FRiend.
And regrettably, this will be Zero’s legacy. The diseases unsolved, the devices not invented, the new surgeries not pursued. The years not lived. I don’t think people realize how grave this is. Although your recount if 100 years ago, certainly hands us a clue.
While I cannot speak for anyone else, I can safely say to you, that THIS is going to be my own personal Waterloo.
“I believe it’s time to panic.”
I’ve already panicked. Water, food, fuel, etc. all in place for hunkering down for months. It is time.
It’s not that I take the flu lightly. The only time I’ve been hospitalized for an illness is for a case of the flu. I got one of the strains they didn’t vaccinate for that year. I hate to think of how sick I’d’ve been without the partial immunity conferred by the shot. That said, I still won’t be the first in line for the first batch of vaccine. Not unless the mortality rate get a heckuva lot higher.
I hate to say it but my first thought was - did the child bring the virus with him/her from Mexico?
“While this is surely bad enough, imagine the heartbreak a century or more ago.”
Sure, but it was a different society back then. For example, you could have multiple kids without guilt and dirty looks.
If I remember, aren’t young adults hit hard by the “bird flu?”
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