Swine flu

[faceless]

Pigs are always killing someone...

watch out!

[pirtybirdy]

Tell me about it! lol!

[SpursFan1902]

Eat more bacon!

[faceless]

I think the only way to protect myself is to stay indoors as much as possible and avoid close contact with anyone.

So, no change there!

[faceless]

Ryanair boss says swine flu only a risk for 'slumdwellers'
Philippe Naughton

The outspoken head of the Irish budget airline Ryanair has dismissed apocalyptic warnings of a global swine flu pandemic, saying that the virus was only a risk to Asians and Mexicans “living in slums”. Michael O’Leary, who pioneered the 1p fares which transformed European aviation, told a press conference that he did not think the virus that is thought to have killed around 150 people in Mexico would wipe out his firm's business this summer despite UN warnings of a pandemic.

“Are we going to die from swine flu? No. Are we in danger of SARS? No. Foot and mouth disease? No. Will it affect people flying short-haul flights around Europe this summer? Thankfully, no," Mr O'Leary said. He added: “It is a tragedy only for people living ... in slums in Asia or Mexico. But will the honeymoon couple from Edinburgh die? No. A couple of Strepsils will do the job."

So far only two swine flu cases have been confirmed in Britain, a couple who returned from their honeymoon in Cancun last week and took ill at the weekend. Iain and Dawn Askham of Polmont, near Falkirk in Scotland, are said to be responding well to treatment with anti-viral drugs at an isolation ward in Lanarkshire.

Curiously, there have been no deaths from the virus outside Mexico and doctors have been unable to explain the high level of mortality in the country.

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It wasn't that long ago that there were still horses walking about the slums of Dublin...

[Brown Sauce]

this was on 30 march 09. I looked at it a while ago and when I heard of the swine flu guess what came to mind first ? She doesn't sound daft, but what she say's sounds crazy.

Apart from that, aren't we taking ours eyes off the global depression ball ?

As O'Leary says, no one outside of real poverty areas has died. There were over 600 deaths last year in the US from TB, but no one is shouting about that.

Incidentally, H1N1 is the same strain that killed 50 million to 100 million people worldwide over about a year in 1918 and 1919. "Spanish flu", killed millions in Spain, but almost all were the very poor.

I just heard that Mexico is going to ask everyone to stay indoors for 5 days. A five day curfew, the neo cunts would love it ...

I hate all this colour coded "how safe is it today" shit.

[faceless]

That woman sounds like she believes what she's saying, but I don't believe her story. Why would the Department of Homeland Security hire a Spanish man who clearly can't keep a secret?

How many of the TB deaths were of 'nice middle class white people' though? That's the difference as I see it. As soon as anything can affect that minority group (which includes politicians, journalists etc) then it becomes a problem.

[Brown Sauce]

I'd say that there may be lot's of reasons why drivers are paid huge amounts for govt black work. And that the drivers won't be as carefully screened as their CIA freaks, but give a poor man a load of cash and he may well boast. I'm not saying that I believe that there's anything to it, but it's just something to keep an eye on.

[eefanincan]

I was on a national call about this at work today, and I really do believe this will get worse before it gets better. The WHO (World Health Organization) is only one step away from declaring this a pandemic, which we anticipate will be declared within a few days (although I hope this doesn't happen).

The problem stems mostly from this starting in a country with a less than adequate health care system and social support system (whether this is politically correct or not!). For every case that has been confirmed in Mexico, you can bet there are SEVERAL others that have gone undetected because people either can't get to, or can't afford to get health care. Some of these people cross over into the U.S. in hopes of receving care --- and the spread starts.

This swine flu almost certainly started as early as Feb or March of this year and likely didn't get picked up because everyone had the usual winter cold/flu-like illnesses. We are now seeing it worsen because of all the recent winter travel/ school break trips to Mexico.

As an FYI, anyone who can get ahold of an N95 rated mask may want to keep one on hand. They are reasonably inexpensive but if there is an epidemic, they will shoot up in price. Hospitals and Health care companies are already starting to place LARGE orders for these masks and the company that makes them is going to hold back some from the market in case of a massive pandemic. So, it may be something you never have to use, but might be very glad to have on hand.

I'm hopeful that the pandemic will be minimal, however the reality is that we have learned some lessons from SARs and the biggest one is be prepared and don't panic.

[faceless]

"This Swine Flu is getting serious. I'm starting to fear the wurst."
(Gary Delaney)

[eefanincan]

[faceless]

The mixture of ancient mystical chants and a fecking commerical airliner is truly awe-inspiring.

[Brown Sauce]

it'll do a fuck of a lot more than tamiflu ...