by Damozel | Panic...or don't? Panic...or don't? The New York Times reports:
Top global flu experts struggled to predict how dangerous the new A (H1N1) swine flu strain would be as it became clear that they had too little information about Mexico’s outbreak — in particular how many cases had occurred in what is thought to be a month before the outbreak was detected, and whether the virus was mutating to be more lethal, or less.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano soothingly says that the emergency declaration is "“standard operating procedure""....more of a "“declaration of emergency preparedness.”"
“It’s like declaring one for a hurricane,” she said. “It means we can release funds and take other measures. The hurricane may not actually hit.”....American investigators said they expected more cases here, but noted that virtually all so far had been mild and urged Americans not to panic. (NYT)
Why us, you ask? And specifically, why now? Don't we have enough problems already? As the Rapture Ready prepare to roll out the [disinfected] carpet for their long-awaited pal Pestilence, Andrew C. Revkin at Dot Earth, in more rational vein, explains (for those who need to cheer down again):
Disaster experts have been warning that the world, because of the fast-rising density of human populations, needs to work now to avoid high death tolls in inevitable natural disasters. Public health experts similarly warn that vigilance and speed in tracking and responding to disease outbreaks will be vital to limit the chances of a pandemic. (Monitoring for human illness alone is too far down the chain, given the animal source of the new strains of such viruses.)....
And the pandemic threat remains a “when,” not an “if,” many international health experts say. (Read Henry Miller’s sobering critique of calls to improve public and animal health surveillance in poor regions.) As a recent Food and Agriculture Organization paper put it, global mobility and trade, expanding and intensifying livestock production and the ongoing disruption of ecosystems have created “a global commons of disease risk” spanning not only human populations but also our interface with the animal kingdom, both domesticated and wild.
Meanwhile, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes at TMV has some excellent advice -- a true public service announcement -- for those worried about the current threat. It starts out with this: "Don't panic." Phew.
…follow prudent procedures: see a doctor if you think you have symptoms. The symptoms of Swine Flu are similar to regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu may also have runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea....
ANOTHER THING TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON
If one comes down with this flu (any flu, really) one may have to force
drinking of fluids to ward against the ill effects of diarrhea — which
causes the body to lose much water, and thereby disturbs the body’s
most critical systems. This can be deadly. Adequate hydration will keep
this from occuring. Even though we most often dont feel like eating and
drinking fluids when we are ill, ingestion of adequate water is
absolutely essential.
Everyone is at risk who contracts this flu, she says. And: there are no vaccines, though there are medicines used in treating swine flu.
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Nice article. Here's my latest web comic about the whole thing:
http://bit.ly/t9R4D
Posted by: Wayne | April 27, 2009 at 04:04 AM
Try to avoid Mexican food and imports
Posted by: Moody | April 28, 2009 at 01:48 AM
Great article, it's so true that the world, with better transportation and higher population, might become an easier target for this kind of disease. We're always hungry for more technology, i just hope it will keep helping us though. Great food for though to think about all this. I think there is a lot on the table with everything that changed in the last century.
Posted by: Pasta recipes | November 23, 2009 at 09:38 PM
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