Posted on 05/01/2009 10:24:46 AM PDT by Scythian
Q: Dr. Manny: The reason that this flu pandemic seems to be less deadly than what we saw in Mexico is perhaps that the American population has some passive immunity to some portion of this new virus — and that indeed — one of the unintended benefits of the regular flu vaccine we have been administering over decades is that it’s created some protection — even from this latest virus that has popped up. Is there any truth to this?
A: Dr. Gross: In the flu vaccine — for more than the past 30 years — we’ve had an H1N1 strain in the standard flu vaccine that everyone gets… at least since 1976 when we had the last swine flu scare. So the theory goes that if you’ve had a vaccine that has a N1 in it... when you encounter a slightly different H1 (which is what the swine flu is) that you will be protected from severe illness and death, but not from getting a cold or a bad cold from that flu strain.
The other thing is we haven’t seen reports of a lot of older people getting H1N1 influenza A… so they must certainly be immune. An educated guess here would be that these older people may not be coming down with this new strain because most of them – particularly if they got the standard vaccine — would have some degree of immunity.
Click on the link for the rest of the story
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
You might be right, when co-workers have the flu I often feel it coming on for a day or so then it fades, I never get sick or cough or sneeze, just the initial flu like feeling as in “Oh no, here it comes” then nothing, so I think I am as immune as they are only without the shots (and all the mercury and Lord knows what else is in them). I’ve been exposed to the flu’s just as they have, no doubt about it.
It's anecdotal and it may mean nothing, but clearly a lot of people have had similar experiences.
Very good point. Mexico is not noted for its hygiene.
Best advice I can say is stay away from those traveling to Mexico and ILLEGALS that go back and forth. Last I hear, this Mexican Swine Flu originated in Mexico.
They considered one side of the coin, but not the other side. That is, Americans get immunized more, but they also get flu outbreaks more.
Flu is transmitted by coughing and sneezing ideally at 40F and low humidity. The higher the temperature and humidity, the more dependent flu is on being transmitted by surface contamination.
For this reason, flu outbreaks are not common in Mexico. This implies *not* that Americans have better immunity, but that Mexicans have less immunity to flu.
This is ironic, because Mexico has some truly savage bacteria, made more so by the ability of Mexicans to buy antibiotics over the counter. But this doesn’t affect viruses like the flu.
This is exactly what happens to me. I feel like I'm getting sick and then, nothing. Maybe they should study our genes!
We have much better hygiene, sanitation, water etc. Don’t forget, one of the reasons that people die from the flu is that they get a secondary infection (pneumonia, bronchitis, strep) due to a compromised immune system. Today we have antibiotics and other meds to combat secondary infections.
I mean as long as everyone’s being anecdotal, I might as well, too.
Easy!
We have good health care and the U.S. is NOT a third world country yet. We are more prosperous, so we EAT better and practice better hygiene. Mexico, where this thing seems to have originated from has none of those things.
We have MORE deaths from a “flu” than this phony “pandemic” a year in the U.S.. Very few WORLDWIDE have died. We usually have about 10,000 a year die from the typical flu. This is another created “crisis”.
Ping.
Very interesting ‘yefragetuwrabrumuy’, I think there is a lot of common sense in your comments
You know, you made thing about something. We were in Florida about a month ago when that really freakish cold snap hit, it got cold even in way south florida, wonder if Mexico got really cold and the flu (being as the conditions were right) spread like crazy to a populace unaccustomed to it?
I’m sorry, perhaps I’m dumb, but I still don’t understand the mechanism that is driving us not even getting as virulent a strain of the flu. It would seem to me that even IF being more prosperous, eating better, etc were the reason we would still see sicker people in pockets of the US, for instance, the inner cities.
I still think something else is afoot (and generally more immunity to this particular sort of virus makes far more sense).
LOL!
Why not? Thanks.
If you were asking me, I’m not sure. I don’t see why the flu shot couldn’t be part of the equation, but then again, I don’t tend to believe vaccines are the source of all evil and illness!
The Mexican flu is only weeks old and he’s making conclusions like this?
Your data please.
I don’t get a flu shot, but I have not had the flu in years either, and allot of people around me at work and family have it year after year. I used to get sick with colds/flu allot, so maybe it’s immune system build up over the years. But I also take vitamins and have for years.
Count me in with those who always get flu shots. I’ve gotten them for about 18 years after a horrible bout of flu 19 years ago — thus far, knock wood, I have never gotten the seasonal flus that have circulated around.
I have also never once had a flu-like reaction to the shot unless you count a warm spot on a slightly sore arm for about a day a big reaction. Maybe I’m lucky, or maybe you truly can’t “get the flu” from the shot as some people claim.
Shots are generally about 70% effective — or more, but it’s better than nothing. Sure, I’ve had really bad colds, sinus infections, and bacterial infections that caused fevers and digestive issues, but no classic respiratory flu since getting annual flu shots.
But to each his own — take it or don’t take it — I am 60 now and think I’ll get the pneumonia shot next fall as well.
Actually, the drug companies have tried to get OUT of the fluvax business, but the gummint won’t let them. Tain’t a money-maker...
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.