i dont want 2 sound like an overreactor, but i live in london england, and apparently swine flu has hit here, is there any case 2 be worried?? i mean yh im worried anyway but what are the odds ill get it? great? small? unlikley? All i know is that i should avoid getting a cold, that will make u more susceptible to airborne pathogens. any advice? thanks!
Swine Flu?!?!??!!?!?!!?!?
Posted in Quick Tips.
– May 23, 2009
5 Responses
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I work at a bank and they are taking this very seriously. They have issued each bank employee a container of hand sanitizer and encourage us to use it VERY often. We have also been receiving emails daily updating us on the current situation. Below is a copy of todays email.
The human swine flu outbreak continues to grow in the United States and internationally. The World Health Organization has raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 4 out of six phases. A Phase 4 alert is characterized by confirmed person-to-person spread of a new influenza virus able to cause community-level outbreaks. The increase in the pandemic alert phase indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased.
To protect yourself and others from the virus, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If a tissue isn’t available, sneeze into your elbow rather than your hand.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick, stay home from work and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
If you look at the percentage of people that have died in Mexico, AND look at their environments, I don’t think that you should be worried, You say you live in London, I don’t know much about England, but I am going to assume that your sanitation and general health standards are generally higher than that of Mexico which is at this time undergoing a drug war, with your medical care, even if you do get it, it shouldn’t be life threatening, so I would say not to worry.
And to Mike, he doesn’t know what he is talking about, every case that I have ever heard of in the US that has gotten it, has LIVED, I know you don’t live in the US, but I’m positive that if you get it you will have much higher than 98% or whatever to live, don’t worry!
About 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of flu.
If you do the math that is almost 100 people a DAY.
The swine flu has only killed about 145 people in Mexico and no where else. And its been going on for almost a week.
145 people a week…
vs.
100 people a day…
No one is scared of the regular flu, so why be scared of this one.
Your chances are very remote. Only in Mexico has the strain actually killed anyone as the strain has weakened in other country’s outbreaks.
Unless you work in the medical field, airport or come in contact with foreign travelers coming from Mexico with the virus you should be safe. Having a cold doesn’t change your susceptibility to this.
If you catch the swine flu, you ONLY have a 98% chance to live.