Although several schemes to slow or interrupt transmission have been proposed, none are known to be effective.
It is reasonable to expect, based on data from the 1947, 1957, and 1968 pandemics that 60-75% of the human population will be infected within the next 18 months.
That is, 3.6 billion to 4.5 billion people - so if the mortality rate is a very low 0.5%, twenty million people will die.
Now, if failing to prevent H1N1 transmission becomes a reimbursable tort, we are going to run out of money pretty fast.
Jim Noble, thanks for the epidemiological data. Do you have a convenient source?
A/California/04/2009 H1N1 influenza spreads extremely rapidly, and causes a generally mild illness.
Although several schemes to slow or interrupt transmission have been proposed, none are known to be effective.
It is reasonable to expect, based on data from the 1947, 1957, and 1968 pandemics that 60-75% of the human population will be infected within the next 18 months.
That is, 3.6 billion to 4.5 billion people - so if the mortality rate is a very low 0.5%, twenty million people will die.
Now, if failing to prevent H1N1 transmission becomes a reimbursable tort, we are going to run out of money pretty fast.
Indeed, we can't discuss tort reform while we're supposed to be having a debate about healthcare reform. This family is suing for what is no longer a reportable disease, and it's now being treated just like seasonal flu.
Making thing worse, this administration had plans for involuntary internment and quarantine for failure to comply with involuntary vaccinations, among other things. IIRC, the gathering of the safety and efficacy of these vaccines made by five different companies is still a work in progress.
Fortunately, a federal district court in NJ has issued a preliminary injunction against involuntary swine flu vaccinations.