Whatever happened to Swine flu?

[jake-the-peg]

Oh yes - it's here and it's killing people.

17 flu deaths this year so far - 14 from swine flu

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12011712

Given all the fuss last year - why is this startling statistic getting so little attention in the media?

[redcrx]

maybe its because, after last years panic, people have realised that the deaths are from complications or underlyying conditions rather than just a dose of flu.

[sandyRoe]

As it's swine flu it's unlikely to have any Islamic connection. So the Mail can't find a link to connect the two?

[Sqad]

Because last year the "professionals" got it badly wrong in their prognostication.......so this time, they are playing their cards close to their chest.

I bet, but do not know for sure, but there is not enough Tamiflu or vaccine to protect likely clients.

You big worry should be,JTP that the H1N1 virus hasnt mutuated, in which case the present vaccine would be "bu99er all use"

[jd_1984]

2 died from Swine Flu in my area last week.
Both had underlying health problems.
However, "regular" flu is killing far more at this time of year - perhaps in terms of "flu's" swine flu is not taking as many lives?

[McMouse]

sqad........Being in the vulnerable category I had my flu jab in October and was told it contained H1N1 amongst other things.

[Sqad]

McMouse.....it does.

My point is, that if the H1N1 mutated ( there is no evidence that it has) then the vaccine against H1N1 would be useless.

[jake-the-peg]

Well I'm not particularly worried sqad because the fatalities per infection are still low compared to say bird flu.

Flu's mutate faster than any other virus except AIDS so I'd be surprised if it hadn't. However that mutation doesn't necessarilly make the vaccine useless it depends on the nature of that mutation.

If bird flu mutates to be transmissible human-human then I'll worry.

I just think it's remarkable that >80% of the fatalities have been from this strain and the press have been totally disinterested

[McMouse]

thanks sqad.......should have put my specs on and read your post properly.

[Sqad]

JTP.......bird flu, although being highly pathogenic, is rare in adults.....so dont worry about that. Bird flu is already transmissible to humans without any mutation.

<<<<However that mutation doesn't necessarilly make the vaccine useless it depends on the nature of that mutation. <<<<

mmmmm! I hope that you are correct!

[rov1200]

I'm glad the schools have broken up for their Xmas break. Don't they say the usual way of transmission is during term time? So come re-assembly maybe the really cold snap should be a lot warmer.

[DTCwordfan]

what a pig of a story

[Count-A-Strong]

The countess told me yesterday that there have been cases at the hospital she works at.

[DTCwordfan]

where's that, Count, in Swin(e)don?

[Count-A-Strong]

North Porkshire actually

[Whickerman]

I had swine flu about 4 months back. I don't think I've ever been as ill. (I didn't die.)

[puternut]

From last weekends Mail

http://www.dailymail....sweeping-Britain.html

[New Judge]

I imagine the lack of coverage stems from the fact that the story, whilst tragic for the victims and their families, is singularly unremarkable.

Upwards of half a million deaths occur in England and Wales each year and of these around 25,000 are attributed to influenza type diseases. So the numbers of cases of so-called swine flu are insignificant.

Of course what would be somewhat more remarkable and perhaps worth a headline or two would be if the number of deaths from swine flu reached anything like the numbers forecast by the usual incompetent doom mongering “experts” last year (65,000 in July, revised downwards to 20,000 just two months later).

[boxtops]

Part of the reason is that many people have not bothered this year (for whatever reasons) to take advantage of their seasonal flu vaccine, and this year the vaccine combined seasonal and swine flu. The number of people with flu who I know is far more than usual, and I can only suggest that this is why. Swine flu hasn't gone away, but the scares last year which came to very little in the end have (IMO) made people a little blasé about it all this year.

[New Judge]

And that’s the problem, boxtops.

For as long as I can remember almost annually a new threat to humanity is announced, the experts creep out of the cellars they inhabit and produce all manner of forecasts which exaggerate the threat many fold. Very often their inane rantings are harmless but just occasionally their expert views (which are, for some strange reason, always taken at face value and without question by politicians) cost the country (i.e. the taxpayer) dearly.

Last year’s swine flu panic cost millions of pounds in useless and unwanted vaccine. Meanwhile let’s not forget the ongoing greatest scandal of all, that of so-called “Climate Change” (aka “Global Warming”). This episode in global scaremongering will cost the country billions annually for years to come, to address a problem which is far from certain to exist, and in any case will not be cured by building useless windmills or by companies buying and selling “carbon credits” to each other.