Gaming World Forums

General Category => General Talk => Topic started by: Pulits on April 27, 2009, 08:21:24 pm

Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on April 27, 2009, 08:21:24 pm
I'm surprised there are no topics about this! So here I go:

It all started friday, when it was announced that classes were cancelled (I had an exam so I was naturally happy). For all of you who have been reading the news, basically a new sort of influenza virus appeared in Mexico, and it already spreaded in various parts of the world, including USA, England and New Zealand.

The virus is kinda different from other kinds of influenza, since it targets young healthy adults and is transmitted by... pigs.

So basically, I go out to the streets and everything is empty, and everyone is wearing weird masks. Seems kinda Apocalyptic actually!

Oh and today there was an earthquake in the morning, I didn't felt it at all but all of my friends did.

Link to news: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/25/swine.flu/index.html

Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: DS on April 27, 2009, 09:06:32 pm
I'm surprised if there's anyone who hasn't heard of the influenza yet.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Dulcinea on April 27, 2009, 10:45:29 pm

So basically, I go out to the streets and everything is empty, and everyone is wearing weird masks. Seems kinda Apocalyptic actually!



Sounds like Toronto during Sars.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: big ass skelly on April 27, 2009, 11:01:05 pm
Yet another reason to kill and eat all the pigs


edit that reminds me there was a girl at my school who said she would "for sure" have sex with a pig for £600 and we were all like :fogetlaugh: let's get a fund together for that but actually let's not because what if she's not joking
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Dulcinea on April 27, 2009, 11:02:44 pm
Bacon for all. And world hunger is brought to an end.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Jester on April 27, 2009, 11:05:19 pm
I hope this is all benign and they get it all sorted soon, I'm supposed to be going back to Texas in less than 3 weeks :<.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on April 27, 2009, 11:11:50 pm
I'm surprised if there's anyone who hasn't heard of the influenza yet.

Yeah well, I just thought it was a relevant topic you know... world is going fucking nuts.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 27, 2009, 11:15:22 pm
Yet another reason to kill and eat all the pigs
too bad we are all controlled by the jews
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Liman on April 27, 2009, 11:28:05 pm
Don't have a source, but apparently there are no confirmed pigs that actually have the disease to begin with. So killing them doesn't help at all right now.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 27, 2009, 11:46:01 pm
I hope this is all benign and they get it all sorted soon, I'm supposed to be going back to Texas in less than 3 weeks :<.

just keep her away from the other pigs and you'll be fine. wear a condom just in case.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 27, 2009, 11:47:18 pm
the president offered an official statement, your pigs will not be cured with lipstick.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 27, 2009, 11:48:54 pm
i must say the way this is being delt with is a little ham fisted
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 27, 2009, 11:50:44 pm
maybe they wouldn't be sick if we valued our police a little more.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 28, 2009, 01:06:42 am
I hope this is all benign and they get it all sorted soon, I'm supposed to be going back to Texas in less than 3 weeks :<.

benign? people are dying
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: the_bub_from_the_pit on April 28, 2009, 01:22:33 am
This will probably be another "media scare" that we see every year basically.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: YourHero on April 28, 2009, 01:24:44 am
i call bioterrorism
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Boulvae on April 28, 2009, 01:28:58 am
Until it starts passing on from human to human more frequently we just have to stay on our toes, until then avoid pigs.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: esiann on April 28, 2009, 01:51:10 am
hm. i call shenanigans
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: jamie on April 28, 2009, 01:55:33 am
i didn't see anything about this on my papers
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 28, 2009, 02:14:43 am
it is all in the news over here
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: jamie on April 28, 2009, 02:16:14 am
i was making a joke about bad new sources
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 28, 2009, 02:21:20 am
there is a californian girl in my class, she is going to USA tomorrow and coming back later.
crud.
im fucked
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 28, 2009, 02:23:50 am
hm. i call shenanigans

yeah this is probably just another one of the media's curly tales.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 28, 2009, 03:56:39 am
it seems to only be a problem so far in relatively hot places, do you think the spread might be related to the pigs bakin'?
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 28, 2009, 04:26:09 am
it seems to only be a problem so far in relatively hot places, do you think the spread might be related to the pigs bakin'?
what part of transmitted person-by-person don't you understand
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 28, 2009, 04:34:33 am
*snorts*

Quote
The virus is kinda different from other kinds of influenza, since it targets young healthy adults and is transmitted by... pigs.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 28, 2009, 04:47:57 am
is no one else worried by this? i feel like i'm hogging the topic
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on April 28, 2009, 08:43:39 am
Yes, from what I read it was started by porks, but you can't get it by eating pork, which is odd. It's transmitted from human to human. Also, it's some weird combination of many types of influenza.

But seriously this is driving me nuts, like everyone only talks about this and half facebook jokes are about influenza.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Warped655 on April 28, 2009, 08:47:11 am
The end is nigh? real life "The Stand" in progress? probably not...

CDC report. (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/) (only US cases... and I can't find the death toll)
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Bonehead on April 28, 2009, 01:47:56 pm
Don't have a source, but apparently there are no confirmed pigs that actually have the disease to begin with. So killing them doesn't help at all right now.
Yeah, apparently both the viruses are named H1N1 so there was some mixup during the naming (the pig version has never been confirmed to spread to humans or something).

Also use the modern technology guys and Follow this pandemic spreading across the world with google map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=32.398516,-107.885742&spn=18.503807,35.332031&z=5&source=embed)! We could like count the dots together or something, you know? Like a fun game. Winner's the one that doesn't have a dot in his hometown or last man standing.

edit:
My bet is that Alaska or Siberia will win this.. I should move there >_>
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Massy2k6 on April 28, 2009, 02:39:02 pm
Wake me up when there's an outbreak of zombism, thats the only pandemic I give a shit about.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 28, 2009, 03:19:13 pm
but you can't get it by eating pork, which is odd.
how is that odd. heat kills bacterias and viruses
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Ghost_Aspergers on April 28, 2009, 03:24:01 pm
It's odd because people are catching through other means.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: crone_lover720 on April 28, 2009, 03:38:20 pm
there aren't any cases in pennsylvania yet, but today the giant conglomerate my dad works for sent a bunch of people to mexico on business. time is money I guess
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 28, 2009, 03:40:15 pm
good lord I had no idea anyone had died of it! aaa the news here only reports CASES IN THE US OF POSSIBLE DEADLY VIRUS. jesus that sucks.

I hope this gets under control; I don't know enough about the disease. everyone wash ya hands all the time!
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: jamie on April 28, 2009, 03:40:57 pm
i'll never wash my mits post toilet
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: SupremeWarrior on April 28, 2009, 03:46:06 pm
Shit, man I'm getting worried now that there have been cases in the UK!
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Bonehead on April 28, 2009, 03:47:57 pm
Stop touching, talking and boinking other people for the time being. Good news are that the number of new infected people seem to be lower by each day in Mexico. The bad news could be that what if it means that the dead couldn't get to the hospital in time? There's anti-flu medicine that soothes this (one was called Tamiflu) but the "only soothing" part sounds pretty scary to be honest.

edit
Man, this shit is brutal in Mexico (newspaper say that the effects are not as strong in the US). You basically stop being able to breathe and suffocate :S

edit2
Updated above and: It's a mutation of A(H1N1) and there's is no vaccine for it right now so I guess we can expect a very international flu soon. It's apparently less deadly then that birdflu from some years ago though.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Angroth on April 28, 2009, 03:52:51 pm
I was quite weirded out because I returned from Mexico only just over a week ago, then started hearing about the flu! But the swine flu hadn't reached the city I was in at that point and I am healthier than ever, so I have no worries. 2 people have returned to the UK as far as I know, to Scotland, who have the flu.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: UPRC on April 28, 2009, 03:59:36 pm
Gaaah, fuck. I just spoke to someone who came back from Mexico. There are already a few confirmed cases in the province, too.

I AM IN SERIOUS NEED OF PUREL.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Bonehead on April 28, 2009, 04:30:03 pm
Man.. how embarassing to be THE guy that infects an entire country. I mean, just think about it for a sec.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on April 28, 2009, 04:39:17 pm
all the more reason to stay away from those dirty mexicans.............


in all seriousness: very few people have commented on the fact that, despite the virus spreading around the world and there being ~70 confirmed cases in the US, no one has died in any country other than Mexico.

Some news sources have been calling the strain in Mexico "deadlier" than elsewhere. While this is technically true using a literal definition (duh mexicans are dying), they're implying that the H1N1 swine strain is somehow drastically different in Mexico than in other countries. This is, as far as I know, impossible because a flu virus isn't going to mutate in a few days or even within the few hours it takes someone to fly a plane across an ocean! It takes a lot longer than that, which is why researchers can mass-produce a seasonal human flu vaccine and expect it to last a majority of the season.

What I'm trying to get at is, if we can take anything relevant out of this "pandemic" once it is over (hopefully, but not likely, soon), it is that Mexico's health care system is really shitty!

edit:
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 28, 2009, 04:59:32 pm
i'll never wash my mits post toilet

with swine flu you will reap what you sow
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: tuxedo marx on April 28, 2009, 05:01:09 pm
climbtreeeee stooooooooop
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 28, 2009, 05:53:48 pm
It takes a lot longer than that, which is why researchers can mass-produce a seasonal human flu vaccine and expect it to last a majority of the season.
said vaccine will be ready in 6 months
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on April 28, 2009, 06:03:08 pm
Quote
a seasonal human flu vaccine

i wasn't talking about this swine flu outbreak. i was talking about the annual flu vaccines that are distributed worldwide to hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices to combat normal human influenza.

But yes, they just announced that they are working on a vaccine for this hybrid swine/avian/human influenza virus that is killing people in Mexico, and it will take them many months to complete/safety test it.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Jester on April 28, 2009, 07:10:07 pm
benign? people are dying
i didnt actually know this, the article i read was just "12 US cases, blah blah, none fatal yet"

i didnt know some mexicans actually died.. although apparently only 7 are actually confirmed to be due to the disease. but thats still horrible.

yeah this sucks a lot.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Carrion Crow on April 28, 2009, 07:11:40 pm
If they don't make an episode of south park about this I will be very disappointed
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on April 28, 2009, 07:16:26 pm
Jester, what time zone of Britain are you in that you get your news 2 days late? You should probably relocate. BBC lists 20 confirmed deaths, while Wikipedia lists 26. Both list 152 as the "probable" number of deaths.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Barack Obama on April 28, 2009, 07:21:05 pm
I'd wait for this to blow over before you go out to bars looking to hook up and pork women you just met.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Jester on April 28, 2009, 07:23:28 pm
Jester, what time zone of Britain are you in that you get your news 2 days late? You should probably relocate. BBC lists 20 confirmed deaths, while Wikipedia lists 26. Both list 152 as the "probable" number of deaths.
i dont even know which article i looked at originally, but my ma just looked at one downstairs before telling me those numbers. i guess it was out of date??
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Barack Obama on April 28, 2009, 07:25:14 pm
This whole situation doesn't seem very kosher to me.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Sludgelord on April 28, 2009, 07:29:30 pm
I suggest you just sty home until this pandemic thing dies down.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Warped655 on April 28, 2009, 07:49:36 pm
That Google map is apparently not updating very quickly or is just incomplete, There are cases reported in Japan and some of the rest of Asia. According to a friend of mine that claims to have see a more up to date map he didn't link me to it.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 28, 2009, 07:51:39 pm
I suggest you just sty home until this pandemic thing dies down.
which you guys are pretty good at
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 28, 2009, 07:54:43 pm
climbtreeeee stooooooooop

are my sloppy puns boaring you?
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 28, 2009, 08:30:16 pm
yeah they actually are you've made like fifteen.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 28, 2009, 08:38:35 pm
this topic is dumb as hell is why, during the same period i'd bet more have died from the common flu. this isn't even sars dumb this is y2k dumb
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 28, 2009, 08:52:36 pm
this topic is dumb as hell is why, during the same period i'd bet more have died from the common flu. this isn't even sars dumb this is y2k dumb

yes a government declaring an epidemic and the common flu are the same jesus christ dude trolling isn't funny when people are dead and more are dying. people saying STAY INDOORS might be exaggerating but being like FEH POSSIBLE PANDEMIC is much dumber.

btw maybe look up something about the flu as this is a variant of it and that's kind of the concern whoops.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 28, 2009, 09:24:07 pm
usa admits there will be dead people in usa.
maybe that catches your attention.

obama wants 1500 millions for fighting the influenza
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 28, 2009, 09:24:55 pm
nah this is dumb and who cares, i'm going to keep on masturbating
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 28, 2009, 09:38:13 pm
whoa comparing the flu with the flu whoops. more people are already infected with the common flu and more people are dying and will die from it.

to focus on this is to ignore that we already have something much much worse.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 28, 2009, 09:39:36 pm
post 9/11 world we live in bucko these are dangerous times
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on April 28, 2009, 09:42:22 pm
millions of people are dying in africa so who cares about some FLU??? its not killing more people than starvation at the present moment, so its def. not important. lets ignore it. no need to monitor it carefully or anything. if we focus all of our resources on african babies, the evolving flu outbreak will go away by itself
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 28, 2009, 09:45:00 pm
it's the flu! as far as i can tell it's a less dangerous strain than the common flu and it spreads at a slightly slower pace?
STOCK UP THE BOMB SHELTER IT'S GONNA BE A LONG WINTER
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Damug on April 28, 2009, 09:46:08 pm
Hopefully this swine flu stuff will shut people about the stupid bird flu. The media blows everything so out of proportion.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Bonehead on April 28, 2009, 09:52:10 pm
So are we placing bets on which country gets it next or what?!
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Mateui on April 28, 2009, 10:09:10 pm
I'm going to be working full-time at my Pharmacy so I'll let you guys know if I hear of any cases.. hopefully not.. but the current graduating class from my college is currently at Mexico... what bad timing! I am at a greater risk of being infected since I see sick people all the time, which sucks. I'm going to need to disinfect my hands after every patient encounter from now on!
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ThugTears666 on April 28, 2009, 10:12:28 pm
new zealand has 9 confirmed infections! hooray!
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on April 28, 2009, 11:28:36 pm
It's kinda like playing Pandemic, but in real life.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Barack Obama on April 28, 2009, 11:44:57 pm
This just in: alex jones thinks it might be a government engineered bioweapon
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 29, 2009, 12:39:59 am
It just took me a google image search of Alex Jones to know how to digest that information.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: the_bub_from_the_pit on April 29, 2009, 02:13:16 am
it's the flu! as far as i can tell it's a less dangerous strain than the common flu and it spreads at a slightly slower pace?
STOCK UP THE BOMB SHELTER IT'S GONNA BE A LONG WINTER

your trolling isn't even funny. and if you're serious you're an even bigger idiot
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 29, 2009, 02:17:58 am
yeah when in less than a week, 150 people die and a bunch more are in the hospital writing shit off as HEH PANIC MEDIA entirely is more gauche than appropriate.

no one is actually bunkering down, but saying people should maybe avoid interaction with someone exhibiting flu like symptoms, especially with so many gw members in Mexico, is not dumb. saying SARS WASN'T THAT BAD ignores the fact that we reacted to SARS fast and reacting to this is just as important.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Cho on April 29, 2009, 02:36:07 am
That death toll, according to the Mexican government, is since March, not the past week. e: Or not.

Didn't it break out in Mexico City? There's like... 8 million people living there, and not even 2000 cases.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 29, 2009, 03:05:34 am
for what it's worth i dont disagree that this is blown way out of proportion and just wash your hands etc and hope mexico is okay but i just can't get down with also saying HEH ITS NOTHING when folks are dying.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Barack Obama on April 29, 2009, 04:15:29 am
climbtrees puns were the best posts

IDK people die from a lot of shit all over the world, I don't think that this is extremely important. :welp: If you're around some people with the flu be sure to keep your distance and wash your hands and I hope you don't get sick. Also, look both ways before crossing the street and obey traffic laws.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Barack Obama on April 29, 2009, 04:18:42 am
There's gotta be more than 2000 cases if 150 people have died from it, think about all the folks like me who generally stay at home and sleep off a flu instead of going to the doc or hospital(unless it gets really bad).
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Ryan on April 29, 2009, 12:12:54 pm
yeah i had the flu earlier this year. i just sat around at home and slept a lot.

also they confirmed the first death from the swine flu here in the USA this morning
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Warped655 on April 29, 2009, 01:28:34 pm
The virus may have infected more then what it appears. The virus might just be "hidding" (I can't think of the medical term) and waiting for whatever reason to pop out and kill those infected. and then spread like wild fire... or is that not at all how it works?
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: YourHero on April 29, 2009, 04:06:34 pm
The virus may have infected more then what it appears. The virus might just be "hidding" (I can't think of the medical term) and waiting for whatever reason to pop out and kill those infected. and then spread like wild fire... or is that not at all how it works?

uuuh i don't think that's how it has been in the cases they've found so far, or at least they didn't mention it (which they probably would, right?). i suppose it's possible that it would mutate to be like this, but i think the bigger concern is that it spreads to THINGS that people come into contact with and then they get it.

yeah, i watched the alex jones thing the other day. it seems a little far fetched, but still it shouldn't be written off. like there's really no harm in taking vitimins and washing your hands extra...
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: dark_crystalis on April 29, 2009, 05:04:08 pm
From what I've heard the first death of swine flu in the US was a 23 month old baby. No grown human outside of Mexico has died yet. We'll see how this goes I guess. It has the possibility to become a brutal pandemic but at the same time we can possibly help people with certain medication we have. It doesn't cure the disease but it helps.

Is it possible that it's mostly killing Mexicans because that they're Mexicans? Just as other ethnicities can be immune to certain diseases and weak against other.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Dulcinea on April 29, 2009, 05:06:31 pm
I'm not too well-versed in diseases so maybe someone can help. Since they said that there will be a vaccine in 4 months, is it likely that it would take that long for the virus to explode? Or would in 4 months it either already be gone, or already be a pandemic?

BTW, to those getting flu shots. My mom said that there are two flu shots, one for the northern hemisphere, one for the southern hemisphere. So if you're getting vaccinated, make sure you get both. 

Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 29, 2009, 05:06:51 pm
Quote
Is it possible that it's mostly killing Mexicans because that they're Mexicans?

yes in that they're from mexico which doesn't have the best system for dealing with any disease, no in that holy shit no swine flu is not genetically engineered to kill a racial group are you completely stupid.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: big ass skelly on April 29, 2009, 05:09:34 pm
Dark Crystals was just asking a question Artis. No need to jump down his throat
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on April 29, 2009, 06:41:14 pm
The virus may have infected more then what it appears. The virus might just be "hidding" (I can't think of the medical term) and waiting for whatever reason to pop out and kill those infected. and then spread like wild fire... or is that not at all how it works?
This occurs with Lysogenic phage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysogenic_cycle) - viruses that infect bacteria and wait for a key signal like DNA damage to burst out of infected cells and produce numerous copies of itself. I'm pretty sure influenza does not fall under this category.

Is it possible that it's mostly killing Mexicans because that they're Mexicans? Just as other ethnicities can be immune to certain diseases and weak against other.
Well, this is actually a fair question, although the answer is never as simple as you'd like. You can't bundle the people of an entire nation as having a genetic similarity, as the human genome is just as varied within a subpopulation as it is between subpopulations. True, there are a few major "exceptions," most notably the high proportion of Sub-Saharan Africans with a copy of the sickle-cell gene since it provides protection against malaria, but the idea that a group as large as a nation, ethnicity, or race would be genetically different enough to be affected by a disease in a totally different way is a little far-fetched.

Ideas like this are still thrown around, though, especially in the field of Pharmacogenomics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacogenomics). Bidil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidil) is a pretty famous drug that was actually marketed as a race-specific (for African Americans) drug. Later research showed it was pretty much bullshit and all other races could respond to it equally well.

So basically: You can have a different PROPORTION of a population expressing a certain gene, but def. not something that would cause 10% flu mortality rate in Mexicans vs 1% in rest of the world. My guess is the discrepancy is mostly due to quality of heath care + living conditions
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on April 29, 2009, 07:00:26 pm
the news coming down the pipeline is that this was caused by smithfield and their infamous pig shit lagoons (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6182789.ece).

gotta love that smithfield. i think i am going to boycott smithfield products.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Mateui on April 29, 2009, 07:34:39 pm
Here in Nova Scotia all pharmacies are being asked to track prescriptions for Tamiflu and Relenza (antivirals) daily and send them to Public Health for tracking. Getting these two drugs in order is kind of tough at the moment as they are in short supply. As well, many face masks are on backorder, but the goverment isn't recommending their use at this time - simple precautionary measures of watching your hands frequently, and sneezing into a tissue or sleeve are good enough for now.

Here's the public health website of Canada that is updated regularly: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/swine_200904-eng.php

I really should read up on the Canadian Pandemic Guidelines since I'm going to be in the frontline should this escalate... but hopefully that won't happen.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: dark_crystalis on April 29, 2009, 07:40:52 pm
This occurs with Lysogenic phage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysogenic_cycle) - viruses that infect bacteria and wait for a key signal like DNA damage to burst out of infected cells and produce numerous copies of itself. I'm pretty sure influenza does not fall under this category.
Well, this is actually a fair question, although the answer is never as simple as you'd like. You can't bundle the people of an entire nation as having a genetic similarity, as the human genome is just as varied within a subpopulation as it is between subpopulations. True, there are a few major "exceptions," most notably the high proportion of Sub-Saharan Africans with a copy of the sickle-cell gene since it provides protection against malaria, but the idea that a group as large as a nation, ethnicity, or race would be genetically different enough to be affected by a disease in a totally different way is a little far-fetched.

Ideas like this are still thrown around, though, especially in the field of Pharmacogenomics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacogenomics). Bidil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidil) is a pretty famous drug that was actually marketed as a race-specific (for African Americans) drug. Later research showed it was pretty much bullshit and all other races could respond to it equally well.

So basically: You can have a different PROPORTION of a population expressing a certain gene, but def. not something that would cause 10% flu mortality rate in Mexicans vs 1% in rest of the world. My guess is the discrepancy is mostly due to quality of heath care + living conditions
Thanks for the info that was actually really interesting. Although it could still be theoretically possible that a certain genome in humans from a population group more towards the south is weaker to the disease. Their health system is probably the biggest reason but at the same time I find it really bizarre that they're the only ones dying from this (except for on American child). We'll see what the scientists tell us soon I guess.

Wow Artis... I never suggested it was genetically engineered to kill Mexicans. I was asking about their ethnicity and their genomes. I'm not even suggesting it would kill a racial group, I was just asking if it's possible that they're more predisposed to the disease. Just like how Native Americans don't really contract syphilis but the europeans would. Or how certain groups of people have less chances of contracting AIDs (nigerian whores supposedly) or malaria. And you call me retarded, good job!
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 29, 2009, 07:52:51 pm
i'm still right, you're dumb as fuck because you think the flu can target mexicans.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: dark_crystalis on April 29, 2009, 07:58:58 pm
i'm still right, you're dumb as fuck because you think the flu can target mexicans.
Dude, all I'm saying is they might have more chances to die from it because of the different genomes they have from their ethnicity. Simply referring to name calling really doesn't help your point at all by the way. Also, all you're saying is "I'm right", you're not presenting any information or argument.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on April 29, 2009, 08:00:38 pm
Dude, all I'm saying is they might have more chances to die from it because of the different genomes they have from their ethnicity

excellent science 105% A++
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Evangel on April 29, 2009, 08:05:53 pm
i'm still right, you're dumb as fuck because you think the flu can target mexicans.

considering the virus emerged from mexico, it's probably evolved to take on someone of their genetic disposition.  if it really picks up here, it will probably evolve to better take out whities, too.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 29, 2009, 08:06:33 pm
the things i have to read..
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 29, 2009, 08:08:10 pm
hmm icecream sales and wife beatings go up at the same time HAAGEN DAAS!!!

WHAT HAVE YOU WROUGHT???
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 29, 2009, 08:09:39 pm
cannot even get the brain process that thinks mexicans are prone to swine flu because swine flu showed up in mexico first.

just

man the state of science education in this country when you don't understand how a virus works.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 29, 2009, 08:10:34 pm
all of this ignoring the fact that as far as i know there's not even an socialized definition of mexican as a race it's latino but lets go ahead and draw overarching genetic conclusions about it anyways.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: dark_crystalis on April 29, 2009, 08:15:53 pm
all of this ignoring the fact that as far as i know there's not even an socialized definition of mexican as a race it's latino but lets go ahead and draw overarching genetic conclusions about it anyways.
I didn't mean Mexicans as a race although yes that could of been very misleading because I did use the word Mexican. But in the sense of the latino ethnicity although as ASE noted, there are subpopulations etc. And btw, yes I do know how a basic virus works and secondly the state of education has nothing to do with it. We're probably not even in the same country. Whether you accept it or no, certain ethnicities can be more vulnerable to a certain disease. Yes it's a very broad assumption but I was asking if it's possible. Thanks for completely ignoring it as a QUESTION. It's not like I'm saying SWINE FLU KILLS ONLY MEXICANS HAR HAR HAR LETS HAVE A MEXICAN PURGE.

According to a few websites, the swine flu virus can get much more serious and even deadly in around 5 days after contraction. I'm guessing that many people in other countries have had it for more than 5 days but none of them have died yet (except for the child). Yes these other countries might have better health care but that doesn't mean that everyone with the symptoms has gone to the hospital thus it's still rather weird that no one else died. Anyways, this is such a waste of time...
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: SupremeWarrior on April 29, 2009, 08:22:19 pm
This is serious! Countries have changed their alert level to level 5.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Mateui on April 29, 2009, 08:50:42 pm
You know, going to a hospital if you contract this form of influenza is a pretty bad idea - I mean, think about how many sick people you will be bringing yourself into contact to and endangering. Hospitals are pretty terrible with all the nosocomial infections that are localized to them (resistant pathogens to certain antibiotics), and by introducing this flu to such an environment it'll outbreak fairly quickly.

The best course of action if you think you've acquired the virus is to stay home and contact a physician over the phone for instructions. It's far better that you stay isolated yourself to prevent the spread. I've read that they think the virus is still communicable 7 days after infection.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Guana on April 29, 2009, 09:38:46 pm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090429/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_egypt_swine_flu_12

Quote
Egypt orders slaughter of all pigs over swine flu

By MAAMOUN YOUSSEF, Associated Press Writer – 41 mins ago

CAIRO – Egypt began slaughtering the roughly 300,000 pigs in the country Wednesday as a precaution against swine flu even though no cases have been reported here, infuriating farmers who blocked streets and stoned vehicles of Health Ministry workers who came to carry out the government's order.

The measure was a stark expression of the panic the deadly outbreak is spreading around the world, especially in poor countries with weak public health systems. Egypt responded similarly a few years ago to an outbreak of bird flu, which is endemic to the country and has killed two dozen people.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 29, 2009, 09:45:38 pm
listen to egypt, america (the continent you assholes)
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 29, 2009, 09:46:27 pm
nah, seems like Egypt is missing the point here
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Sludgelord on April 29, 2009, 09:47:51 pm
i think egypt is using it more as an excuse to lash out at infidels than to seriously prevent swine flu. this is human to human transmission that's going around.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Boulvae on April 29, 2009, 09:52:40 pm
Yeah but, it's like how you deal with any other flu. PREVENTION!!! Wash your hands, don't go panicking and being all AH AIR!!!
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Guana on April 29, 2009, 09:55:33 pm
Yeah but, it's like how you deal with any other flu. PREVENTION!!! Wash your hands, panicking and being all AH AIR!!!

and kill anyone who could infect you
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: dom on April 29, 2009, 09:59:39 pm
since this is now a pandemic should this topic still be about the mexico earthquake as well
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 30, 2009, 12:17:08 am
your trolling isn't even funny. and if you're serious you're an even bigger idiot

hi i don't know if you're doing the BEAT HIM AT HIS OWN GAME thing but uhhh

This will probably be another "media scare" that we see every year basically.

the common flu kills 36,000 people in the US a year, so ~750 a week on average (less cases in the summer). it spreads every year and it much more dangerous, the prevention is exactly the same. if this is a panic you should already be panicked.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 30, 2009, 02:12:05 am
no the swine flu is more dangerous.

like whatever else it is still a more deadly strain of the flu, saying THE NORMAL FLU KILLS MORE doesn't change this. that's just a matter of numbers.

this is admittedly spreading faster than I thought it would though! it's still media panic most of it but damn.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Mateui on April 30, 2009, 02:17:44 am
Well, the WHO has raised its pandemic alert level to 5...

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/702130?sssdmh=dm1.464966&src=ddd
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 30, 2009, 02:27:55 am
oh wow that's actually a little scary. aaaaa should we be taking real precautions at this point? i'm gonna tell my sister to wash her hands more, i've got a lowered immune system to watch out for.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 30, 2009, 02:31:43 am
no the swine flu is more dangerous.

like whatever else it is still a more deadly strain of the flu, saying THE NORMAL FLU KILLS MORE doesn't change this. that's just a matter of numbers.

this is admittedly spreading faster than I thought it would though! it's still media panic most of it but damn.

i'm pretty sure at most it's equal to normal flu in terms of lethality at most and yeah numbers do matter because the common flu is already pandemic
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: dark_crystalis on April 30, 2009, 02:34:49 am
That is actually pretty scary. I go to the biggest cegep in the province and I work in the public sector... I need to go buy some hand wash wth alcohol in it pronto!
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Evangel on April 30, 2009, 02:55:50 am
I had some guy come up to my register today and say, "Yep, just getting ready for this swine flu pandemic."  And he had like 50 cans of black beans, and I was like, "Alright, bub."  Like he was going to shut himself out from the rest of the world for a couple months.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on April 30, 2009, 02:56:42 am
i'm pretty sure at most it's equal to normal flu in terms of lethality at most and yeah numbers do matter because the common flu is already pandemic
no its not. i dont think you understand the cycle of influenza variants:

Quote from: Wikipedia
As influenza is caused by a variety of species and strains of viruses, in any given year some strains can die out while others create epidemics, while yet another strain can cause a pandemic. Typically, in a year's normal two flu seasons (one per hemisphere), there are between three and five million cases of severe illness and up to 500,000 deaths worldwide, which by some definitions is a yearly influenza epidemic.[82] Although the incidence of influenza can vary widely between years, approximately 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations are directly associated with influenza every year in America.[83][84] Roughly three times per century, a pandemic occurs, which infects a large proportion of the world's population and can kill tens of millions of people (see history section). Indeed, if a strain with similar virulence to the 1918 influenza emerged today, it could kill between 50 and 80 million people.[85]

I'll admit that the WHO's definition of a pandemic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic#Definition) sounds like it encompasses normal influenza too, but you have to understand there is a difference between

A seasonal influenza strain only slightly different from last year's strain for which scientists can predict, mass-manufacture, and distribute a vaccine BEFORE the season begins, which kills hundreds of thousands annually (mostly immuno-compromised individuals)

vs.

A completely different influenza strain combing strains from three different organisms that is eerily similar in structure to the 1918 Spanish flu that killed upwards of 100 million around the world (this is because scientists have sequenced the genome of the virus (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/FLU/SwineFlu.html)), a strain which caught scientists totally off-guard and we have to wait 4+ months for a vaccine. Oh also a possible ~10% mortality rate in Mexico doesn't bode well either (hint: Mexico's regular influenza mortality rate isn't that high)
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: headphonics on April 30, 2009, 03:01:15 am
sounds like a cold to me :fogetshrug:
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on April 30, 2009, 03:03:17 am
 thanks to global warming the cold's gonna die out
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on April 30, 2009, 03:17:59 am
Well, it's true that certain races have a certain predisposition to catch certain diseases...
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on April 30, 2009, 03:19:43 am
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 30, 2009, 03:23:57 am
genetic predisposition towards usually genetic disease trends among a real group of people that have some small biological differences (ie a predisposition to sickle cell anemia, or how whites tend to get testicular cancer more than other races) vs saying MEXICANS MAYBE GOT THE VIRUS ON ACCOUNT OF BEING MEXICAN no, one of these is definitely stupid as hell.

as shep said: the things i have to read...

i'm also not sure i understand what climbtree is trying to prove by saying the flu kills people. this HOPEFULLY will die out before it becomes an issue. this also is clearly media exaggeration going to town. but you are just straight up being stupid when you are like HEH ITS JUST THE FLU. do you realize there are flu pandemics? and they are big deals? the swine flu is one of these and ase said we're substantially less prepared to deal with this strain! whoops.

the WHO does not increase their warnings like the US government throws around terror alerts. this is probably going to be an issue. i dont know about widespread vaccination or panics or anything but this sucks and being like HEH STUPID TOPIC NOT NEWS is probably a worse attitude than panic.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on April 30, 2009, 03:26:01 am
Well, it's true that certain races have a certain predisposition to catch certain diseases...
Yeah but do you think, for example, American Indians having up to a 30% rate of diabetes vs. 10% non-Hispanic whites is because INJIN BLOOD or maybe idk..... bad diet, horrible access to healthcare, being shunned onto reservations away from the rest of society, lack of preventative education???
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on April 30, 2009, 03:28:00 am
heh blacks get AIDS more cuz it came from monkeys......
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 30, 2009, 03:33:37 am
yeah we don't have to go purely sociological here but its like saying HMM A LOT OF SOUTHS IN THE BLACK ARE FAT MAYBE THEY ARE GENETICALLY FAT instead of looking at the historical context of SOUL FOOD and how bad it is.

it's dumb to totally deny genetic factors in regards to anything I think but if you didn't read SWINE FLU-MEXICANS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE? and your jaw didn't drop open, the state of science education must be dire. viruses do not work this way christ.

there was actually a drug developed called Bidil that spurred a LOT of controversy over this but that's all beside the point. look it up tho ase you'd probably find it interesting.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on April 30, 2009, 03:45:51 am
dude

i'm writing an essay about bidil right now. no fucking way

(actually this is probably why i am getting so fired up about this atm)
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 30, 2009, 03:50:35 am
time for jack bauer to kick that virus ass
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on April 30, 2009, 03:51:41 am
that's not even a funny post, people stop doing bauer/norris jokes
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 30, 2009, 03:57:48 am
genetic predisposition towards usually genetic disease trends among a real group of people that have some small biological differences (ie a predisposition to sickle cell anemia, or how whites tend to get testicular cancer more than other races) vs saying MEXICANS MAYBE GOT THE VIRUS ON ACCOUNT OF BEING MEXICAN no, one of these is definitely stupid as hell.

as shep said: the things i have to read...

i'm also not sure i understand what climbtree is trying to prove by saying the flu kills people. this HOPEFULLY will die out before it becomes an issue. this also is clearly media exaggeration going to town. but you are just straight up being stupid when you are like HEH ITS JUST THE FLU. do you realize there are flu pandemics? and they are big deals? the swine flu is one of these and ase said we're substantially less prepared to deal with this strain! whoops.

the WHO does not increase their warnings like the US government throws around terror alerts. this is probably going to be an issue. i dont know about widespread vaccination or panics or anything but this sucks and being like HEH STUPID TOPIC NOT NEWS is probably a worse attitude than panic.

catching this flu is no more dangerous than catching the other varients of the flu but as of yet it's a lot less likely you'll come in contact with it. the chances of you catching this flu from someone who has it is... the same as catching a common strain unless you've been vaccinated or had it already
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 30, 2009, 04:08:58 am
dude

i'm writing an essay about bidil right now. no fucking way

(actually this is probably why i am getting so fired up about this atm)

hahah man this is one of the weirdest things about cancer. why do i know about bidil? who knows. peo just sits around reading all day and now no one says anything that surprises me. my friend and i had a conversation about nutria the other day and the entire time he was clearly like WHY DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.

but yeah the Bidil controversy reignited this a bit as I recall; those of you too lazy too google it was a heart drug that seemed to work BEST FOR BLACKS which led to being marketed as FIRST RACE DRUG? which obviously made everyone go a little nuts.

catching this flu is no more dangerous than catching the other varients of the flu but as of yet it's a lot less likely you'll come in contact with it. the chances of you catching this flu from someone who has it is... the same as catching a common strain unless you've been vaccinated or had it already

as of YET? dude we're one step below a pandemic according to pretty much the world's authorities. stop saying ITS THE FLU. at least say ITS A FLU PANDEMIC which is fyi what you are sort of trying to argue except you are playing down the negatives of a flu pandemic that if it actually gets BAD could be one of the worst and acting like it's summer colds instead.

it's not the Stand we don't have to quarantine ourselves (well maybe Mexico since 10% mortality holy shit and I should wash my hands of course but I have a compromised immune system anyways) but you're ignoring the fact you've been constantly saying YAAAWN not news when hey this is like a definition case of what a news topic is.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: hobo2 on April 30, 2009, 04:18:13 am
I wonder what sort of effects this could have on the economy.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on April 30, 2009, 04:21:11 am
FUCK SMITHFIELD

seriously i hope this shit gets them permanently closed.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on April 30, 2009, 04:23:33 am
i mean fuck smithfield yes but wait where are you getting this man?
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on April 30, 2009, 04:26:05 am
They ran a CAFO in the town where the swine flu started and they had one of their notorious pig shit lagoons in the area, which was causing all kinds of horribly rare diseases to pop up in the townsfolk (some of them had FLESH EATING BACTERIA in their LUNGS , etc.). so i don't believe their official line that smithfield pork had.. had nothing to do with the swine flu at all!! one bit.

I don't know I just have an irrational hatred of Smithfield Foods dating well back before this swine flu thing

seriously they are one of the few things i get genuinely angry about when i hear about basically anything they do because it's like uggghh i can't believe anyone with a modicum of a soul could work for this fucking company.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 30, 2009, 04:26:16 am
as of yet more people are infected with the other strains than swine flu. i didn't say BORING i said DUMB AS HELL, DUMBER THAN SARS, ABOUT AS DUMB AS THE Y2k BUG. SARS wasn't as dumb because it was going to be really lethal. this is a strain of the flu with... flu like symptoms, which is why they don't know why it's killed so many in mexico. if you catch this flu you will get the flu, the WHOA THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS is a lot of people catching the flu at the same time.
if you haven't had the main varients of the flu or been vaccinated against them you should be more worried about them because the chances of you comming into contact with it are a lot higher
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Standard Toaster on April 30, 2009, 05:54:40 am
as of yet more people are infected with the other strains than swine flu. i didn't say BORING i said DUMB AS HELL, DUMBER THAN SARS, ABOUT AS DUMB AS THE Y2k BUG. SARS wasn't as dumb because it was going to be really lethal. this is a strain of the flu with... flu like symptoms, which is why they don't know why it's killed so many in mexico. if you catch this flu you will get the flu, the WHOA THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS is a lot of people catching the flu at the same time.
if you haven't had the main varients of the flu or been vaccinated against them you should be more worried about them because the chances of you comming into contact with it are a lot higher
yep all flu strains are exactly the same and have the exact same lethality.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: something bizarre and impractical on April 30, 2009, 06:05:05 am
//gorges himself on a large pig; its shrill crying as he consumes it for sustenance
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on April 30, 2009, 06:24:09 am
yep all flu strains are exactly the same and have the exact same lethality.

despite the fact i'm pretty sure they don't vary all that much with regards to lethality (strains of influenza A), that's not what i said at all. symptoms of this new killer strain are mild flu like symptoms, with most recovering within a few days. symptoms of the most common strain ("the flu") are mild flu like symptoms, with most recovering within a few days

Thanks,
Climbtree.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Mateui on April 30, 2009, 12:55:33 pm
In regards the differences between races, to be fair, there do exist certain pathophysiological differences between certain ethnic groups. For instance, the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) in blacks has less activity, making treatment with ACE Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers less effect for blood pressure control. In the case of Bidil I find that pretty stupid since it's just a long acting vasodilator in combination with an alpha blocker, and from studying those drug classes there's no differences between how certain races respond to these medications... I can't believe that this controversy occurred in 2005.. because this isn't exactly new knowledge.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: datamanc3r on May 02, 2009, 06:33:25 pm
A couple cases of swine flu were found in my city. This must be payback for all the times I was bragging about SoCal temperatures.

EDIT: Also, I use public transportation + both my parents work in the hospital (mom does housekeeping, and she already got TB once). So according to Biden, I'm fucked!
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on May 02, 2009, 08:22:16 pm
hahaha joe biden.

if you dont know what juris is talking about look it up or something because he's said some pretty stupid things lately.

i was at the hospital today for a seizure related matter and they not only had little pieces of paper saying IF YOU HAVE FLU SYMPTOMS ASK FOR A MASK but kind of were putting the emergency patients in one area and people waiting in the other, which was new.

i mean i've called out climbtree for saying ITS JUST THE FLU but man some people are being dumbasses about this. not the hospital, that was just an example that's actually prudent and good but my aunt in India is finding it very difficult to come over here because the government is thinking of shutting down the airports. also egypt killed a bunch of pigs.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on May 03, 2009, 03:49:43 am
Oh yeah, you're right bro. Just because you have a predisposition it doesn't means in any way you're going to catch a certain disease.

Anyways, this is driving me nuts. Since last Tuesday everything is closed: cinemas, theaters, museums, bars, gyms, restaurants, etc. There's nothing to do... I think I may return to booze just because of this. :(
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on May 03, 2009, 04:17:58 am
ugh you dope you can't have a genetic predisposition to catching a virus, it's like a genetic disposition to getting shot.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on May 03, 2009, 04:45:19 am
ugh you dope you can't have a genetic predisposition to catching a virus, it's like a genetic disposition to getting shot.

I've never really understood if your replies are for serious or for joke. Like, you're a mystery yo.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on May 03, 2009, 05:05:40 am
if i was going to joke i'd have said the dumbest thing ever like "maybe this virus has a genetic component and that's why mexicans are getting it, like how getting shot is genetic and that's why black people get shot more"

oh except that's what you said. are you joking? i can never really tell.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: ase on May 03, 2009, 05:26:39 am
ugh you dope you can't have a genetic predisposition to catching a virus, it's like a genetic disposition to getting shot.
this is bullshit btw

anyone born with a mutated gene for a receptor protein on a cell being attacked by a virus can have genetic immunity to a certain type of virus

ex. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCR5
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on May 03, 2009, 05:30:48 am
if i was going to joke i'd have said the dumbest thing ever like "maybe this virus has a genetic component and that's why mexicans are getting it, like how getting shot is genetic and that's why black people get shot more"

oh except that's what you said. are you joking? i can never really tell.

Hey bro relax. Why so angry? Relax. ^__^

Anyways, infectious diseases have long influenced population genetics, and the subsequent evolution of the structure of the human genome - in part by selection for host susceptibility alleles that modify pathogenesis.

Take for example this study about the norovirus, which shows a certain resistance to the virus, including genetic, within a part of the study group that don't have the necessary bonds the virus needs to multiply.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12692541

Taking this scenario into consideration and the recent outbreak of the swine flu, only time will tell if there is a genetic predisposition and/or protection. Just consider that people from hispanic origin so far have been the typical hosts of the virus. Again, this can mean everything or nothing.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Farren on May 03, 2009, 05:40:09 am
you better be more worried about not dying from the flu son

Quote
Anyways, this is driving me nuts. Since last Tuesday everything is closed: cinemas, theaters, museums, bars, gyms, restaurants, etc. There's nothing to do... I think I may return to booze just because of this. :(​
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on May 03, 2009, 05:45:23 am
you better be more worried about not dying from the flu son

I'm worried about other things. The government took advantage of the situation and approved weird laws and regulations regarding  the war against narcotics. That's fucking scary. :S

 
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: datamanc3r on May 03, 2009, 05:52:13 am
You've taken a bullet or two. You'll be alright. :D

5 or so schools in San Diego county have been closed, but they're marginally far away so I'm not really worried. Someone at SDSU got it, too, which sucks nuts because my debate coaches are all from SDSU. I'm sure the guy's taken care of though. I don't know if I should scare myself shitless or just not care.

EDIT: Wait, what laws?
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on May 03, 2009, 06:22:38 am
this is bullshit btw

anyone born with a mutated gene for a receptor protein on a cell being attacked by a virus can have genetic immunity to a certain type of virus

ex. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCR5

technically this is a disposition to not catching it but yeah i'm still a viral dumby evidently

e. oh maybe it's not, it'd be like hairy people have a predisposition to getting food stuck in their hair, completely bald people can't get food stuck in their hair, but that doesn't change the hairy people's disposition. the more you learn.

e.e. honestly thought all virri just dissolved through cells and messed with dna, do if you have dna you can get any virus.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on May 03, 2009, 06:37:23 am
You've taken a bullet or two. You'll be alright. :D

5 or so schools in San Diego county have been closed, but they're marginally far away so I'm not really worried. Someone at SDSU got it, too, which sucks nuts because my debate coaches are all from SDSU. I'm sure the guy's taken care of though. I don't know if I should scare myself shitless or just not care.

EDIT: Wait, what laws?

Just one bullet. :)

Anyways. The laws that were just approved would have normally triggered polemic within the society; riots, whatever. Thing is, people are scared no one did shit.

The laws that were approved are: legalization of drugs (marihuana, opium, cocaine and crystal, it's legal to hold minimum quantities now), policemen can now be armed and be dressed as civilians, private corporations can legally share information of their employees with certain 'clients', the government can legally now intervene any phone call or e-mail and lastly, corporations can monitor virtually anything about their employees (phone calls, email and internet activity, etc etc).


Anyways. Don't get scared, just take care of yourself as you would with any flu. Eat your fruits and veggies, really. ;)



EDIT (just saw this, sorry ace):
Yeah but do you think, for example, American Indians having up to a 30% rate of diabetes vs. 10% non-Hispanic whites is because INJIN BLOOD or maybe idk..... bad diet, horrible access to healthcare, being shunned onto reservations away from the rest of society, lack of preventative education???

I agree. After all a predisposition means just that. Not because you're predisposed to something means you'll get it. After all, we're given certain genes and it's up to us and our lifestyles to decide what to do with them. Access to health care and the quality of itself also plays an important role of course, I couldn't agree more.. :)
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Farren on May 03, 2009, 05:16:43 pm
wait why are you worried about drugs being legal?

Isn't the drug war a huge deal over there and legalizing it might help somewhat and regardless of that. what harm would it even possibly cause to be worth rioting about? OH NO I CAN GET WEED NOW, FUCK YOU GOVERNMENT!

the other shit is incredibly stupid though

and if you think about it why do cops usually dress in plain clothes anyways? I mean I guess to be more inconspicuous but I usually relate a cop going undercover to drug busting but now that drugs are legal there do you really think cops wearing plain clothes to hand out traffic tickets would really be that much of a problem?
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Warped655 on May 03, 2009, 09:50:00 pm
Wait a minute... where do you live Pulits? in the US?


http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/ << new map of the flu... I dunno if it is an error or something but jesus there is a single spot that has 857 DEATHS in mexico.

linking to the CDC report again: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
still only 1 death in the US... which probably means that people are dying in Mexico because of inadequate medical faculties.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Boulvae on May 03, 2009, 11:02:01 pm
Most likely.

Climbtree, i'll bite.

Theres two kinds of white blood cells in certain parts of our bodies (I think it is the bone marrow for B-cells) connected to the blood stream called T-cells and B-cells. These guys are the immune system's big guns, however theres only 1 of each made specifically to fight a specific type and strain of virus/becteria. After you get infected with a virus or bacteria another kind of white blood cell takes one of them and drags it to the place where the T/B-cells are. If there is a match then they multiply in the millions go out in the blood stream in a seek and destroy fashion for the threat that they respond too. After they're job is done they shrivel and die except some which remain and live forever in your body searching and outright killing the same threat should it ever come again. This is the sole reason why you only get small pox once.

However heres the thing, your only born with them already geared to fight and respond to a specific type and strain of virus/bacteria, inherited from your parents obviously. If these cells once activated come across the same type but different strain, or different type of infection they outright ignore it, no exceptions. If you don't have a B/T-cell that is made to fight said different infection then your body has been severely crippled with dealing with it, if able to at all.

The reason why the Swine Flu is so bad is because it is new to humans and has never been encountered before, just because it is similar doesn't mean it isn't different enough for your body not to recognise it.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: The Dude on May 04, 2009, 01:54:00 am
this just in, the swine flu is a diversion tactic to avert public eye from the war, and economy. That is all.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: `~congresman Ron paul~~ on May 04, 2009, 03:41:48 am
hot damn there's some dumb things up in this thread
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on May 04, 2009, 03:42:45 am
nope, it isn't.

@thedude
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on May 04, 2009, 03:44:30 am
ugh we got one in NC. I know I just said DAMN PANICKING FOOLS but unlike you guys I actually do have to be concerned with ANY flu epidemic as my immune system is slowly flushing down the crapper so this sucks as I am around very sick people at least once a week.

also no this topic does have some stupid shit and you even said so!!!

also also man I hope India stops panicking, my aunt is supposed to come over and they've shut the airport for like four days.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: the_bub_from_the_pit on May 04, 2009, 04:33:51 am
man i saw several people with masks on today. they were all old asian ladies though
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Doktormartini on May 04, 2009, 04:34:15 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk

lol
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Frisky SKeleton on May 04, 2009, 05:53:27 am
However heres the thing, your only born with them already geared to fight and respond to a specific type and strain of virus/bacteria, inherited from your parents obviously. If these cells once activated come across the same type but different strain, or different type of infection they outright ignore it, no exceptions. If you don't have a B/T-cell that is made to fight said different infection then your body has been severely crippled with dealing with it, if able to at all.

The reason why the Swine Flu is so bad is because it is new to humans and has never been encountered before, just because it is similar doesn't mean it isn't different enough for your body not to recognise it.

gonna be cautious this time, even though you're Boulvae, but i'm pretty sure inherited immunity only lasts about 3 months and then you're back on square one. as to the rest:

Quote
if you catch this flu you will get the flu, the WHOA THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS is a lot of people catching the flu at the same time.
usually the spread of the flu is mediated by people who have already had it. since no-one has had this strain there's nothing stopping it's spread, and if everyone catches the flu at once, even though the chances of it killing you are slim, multiplied by the earths population that's a lot of dead people and a lot of sick days off work at the least.

i thought i already beat that into the ground so here's a new idea: overall effect on the economy: good or bad??
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on May 04, 2009, 06:48:08 am
Wait a minute... where do you live Pulits? in the US?

wait why are you worried about drugs being legal?


I live in Mexico City.

And the whole deal about the new approved laws goes more or less like this: since ever, Mexico has had a huge war against narcotraffic. Picture this: there are parts in the country when the government has no power, and the military is actually controlled by drug dealers, possible against flawed and corrupt police agents and military commanders and such.

Kind of weird, but Mexico being the 11th economy in the world, is really fucked in some parts.

Back to the drugs and influenza: Legalizing drugs would solve the problem against narcotraffic to some degree. Personally, I'm in favor of the legalization of drugs, that way at least you have a perfect control of who is using it and how much. Thing is, society, being so surreal and sometimes hypocrite, would never accept this. The military (the "good part" that is still there) have been strongly against the legalization of drugs, mainly because soldiers die every day fighting drug cartels and whatever.

Back to policemen being dressed as civilians. In other countries, that works perfectly. Here, tough, I doubt it. Police are many times related to crime, in the way that it's public police or sometimes private the ones doing the crimes, or the ones handing information to criminals. So, if you now give them the chance to we armed and dressed up as civilians, it's the perfect measure to produce more crime, not stop it.

I don't know how much the government is involved in this whole influenza thing, after all the people behind it are just people, sometimes corrupt. After halting the economy, a debt-free country (which took 20 years) is now again in debt with the IMF (again, something the society would have never approved). Why so many deaths in Mexico? After all, it's a flu and deaths have been reported just here. Maybe it's fault of the public health care, or any other reason. It's kind of fishy, I know the public health care here isn't the best one around, but it's not bad at all, it just sucks in some rural parts of the country.

Thing is, the government took this as a their perfect opportunity to approved laws people otherwise would have rioted against. 
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: dark_crystalis on May 06, 2009, 03:13:15 am
Canada now has its first very serious case of swine flu. I only heard this on the news briefly but what I got was that it's a young girl and I believe she's in Edmonton but I might have misheard.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Mongoloid on May 06, 2009, 09:00:17 am
This is wild cause Berkshire Hathaway had it's annual shareholder's meeting in my city this past weekend, and everyone was real nervous about swine flu since we had people coming from all over the country.

I've been real sick for the last week or so, but I don't think it's swine flu, so I'm probably in the clear.


I get the impression that we're over the hump on this thing though, I don't even hear about it everyday anymore.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: benos on May 24, 2009, 12:16:20 pm
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/29/Swine-Flu.aspx

Anything you need to know.
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: hero_bash on May 24, 2009, 02:48:01 pm
They said it might mutate
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Pulits on May 24, 2009, 05:37:36 pm
Well, things are back to normal here. :-)
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on May 25, 2009, 01:26:51 am
it is starting to reach Argentina now
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on May 25, 2009, 01:27:35 am
yeah and we've had a few more cases here. and someone else died in new york.

i thought...it was over...
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Shepperd on May 29, 2009, 12:23:55 am
so swine flu was found at my old school where my mum works now, it is closed for 2 weeks to clean it up.

same at a school 15 blocks from home.

this is because I live in an area WHERE PEOPLE TRAVEL TO PLACES, like disney world
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on May 31, 2009, 11:14:14 pm
definitely got tested for this yesterday. you stick a long ass qtip in your nose and spin it around.

it sucks!
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: jamie on June 01, 2009, 01:38:59 am
Mr. Brain Drill can't handle a little q-tip?
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Wicalami on June 01, 2009, 03:26:06 am
so swine flu was found at my old school where my mum works now, it is closed for 2 weeks to clean it up.

same at a school 15 blocks from home.

this is because I live in an area WHERE PEOPLE TRAVEL TO PLACES, like disney world

You know, until I read this post I never really worried about it. There's only been like 7 or so cases in Ohio. But I'm going back to Disney World in October and now I'm like thinking about it more seriously.  Ugh. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm kind of dreading the vacation now. >_<
Title: Earthquake and Swine Flu strike Mexico 8)
Post by: Farren on June 01, 2009, 06:38:28 pm
what the fuck is that thing in your sig

that thing is frightening