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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Compelled to clarify a bit

I am sorry, but I have to just say something on the topic of the day...Swine Flu.  Oh, sorry, H1N1.

It has become just too much! I was so looking forward to a weekend filled with tennis and golf tournaments, but NO! My state has decided to cancel all high school sports and therefore, adult tournaments as well. REALLY?! I had also made plans to go to the state lacrosse championship next weekend, but NO! Cancelled!
Just so you all know…

In the United States, each year 30-40,000 people die from the “regular” flu. There are about 40 million cases reported each year.

According to the US Census, there are roughly 306,319,565 people in the United States. According to MSNBC, there are just over 100 confirmed cases of swine flu in the US right now. That means there is about 1 case of swine flu per 2,759,635 people.  

As for the World Health Organizations Pandemic "Coding"?  Well, the media has failed to effectively mention that levels 1-3 are typically only concerning infection in animals or animal to human.  They do not normally deal with human to human transmission.  So, the fact that we were at a level 4 yesterday simply means that it has mutated and is now capable of transferring from person to person...much like the common cold or "regular" flu.  Currently, we are at a level 5.  That means there have been cases of one disease reported in more than two countries in one region.  Yes, this H1N1 has the potential to be bad...really bad, but the media has failed to put it into perspective.  

The moral of the story?  Wash your hands. If you feel sick, stay home from school/work and go to the doctor.

I do not doubt that it makes you feel like crap and is not an enjoyable 7-10 days if you contract it, but is all the media necessary?

5 comments:

Unknown said...

OH I am totally with you on that. I am so sick of hearing about it!!! It just makes me paranoid and for no reason!

Anonymous said...

Hey Colleen. I know this is random, but I'm Bethany, Seth Carroll's little sister. I sometimes read your blog and I read this one. I couldn't agree more. I feel like they are trying to freak us out on purpose, when only one person has died of it in the US and that was a baby. Children die of normal diseases everyday. Why isn't that on the news?

The Blonde Duck said...

Down here, they've shut down school districts and sporting events. It's crazy. People are running around wearing masks!

Jen said...

Thank you so much for the SITS love on my site today. I totally agree with you about the "pandemic" crisis. Now they are talking about stockpiling food. Let's just create a little more hysteria.

Mary K Brennan said...

I think you're right to some degree. The problem comes about when people don't listen or take precautions. People still send their babies to daycare sick, children to school sick, and they themselves go to work sick. Those of us that take precautions still have to run into these people. It makes me so mad.