Do you think the global fear over swine flu is justified?

Question

The so-called "swine flu" virus, comprised of bird, pig and human components, has caused tremendous concern around the world in recent days, with many wondering if this is the global pandemic scientists and health care professionals have been forecasting for quite some time. SARS and avian/bird flu were also thought to be pandemics when first discovered, but while both caused deaths and serious illnesses, neither developed into the catastrophe some were warning of.

What do you think? Are we right to be seriously concerned about this outbreak, or is it being blown out of proportion?

Some countries issue advisories over travel to Canada over swine flu
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/swine…

Global alarm as killer swine flu spreads
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/090426/he…

Swine flu virus may cause global pandemic: UN chief
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/090427/he…

Mexico City considers complete shutdown to control swine flu
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/09042…

Flu toll rises as virus hits Europe, stock markets
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/090427/he…

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

There are about 109 million people in Mexico and 33 million in Canada. 150 have died from swine flu. So 150 deaths amounts to less than .00010% of 142 million people. So of course it's being blown out of proportion. Fear is the pandemic here, not the swine flu. I have a sneaking suspicion the PharMafia is behind this. Their sales must be down this month.

Answer 2

Anything Donald (Mr.Tamiflu)Rumsfeld's involved with makes me nervous.
Are we trading in a new kind of fear?

Maybe that's why FEMA are stockpiling coffins?

Personally I think science has it nailed already.Unlike in 1918 the world is ready and better prepared.What's the betting Donald has a huge share in a company that makes masks too?

Answer 3

There are steps each of us can take to prevent getting any kind of flu. One is to get those dust masks they sell at hardware stores and wear them when we go out in public. This prevents us breathing in any of the viral materials in the air. Another is to avoid crowds of people. Don't go to large gatherings like ball games, concerts, etc.We must all work at eliminating germs and bacteria on our hands. Never touch face with hands that haven''t been washed with soap and water.

Yes, we will look funny for a while, but if everyone does it, then it becomes a habit and is a part of being in the civilization we must live in.

Answer 4

I don't want to think it is going to be pandemic as i am scarred to think so, but yes it might happen and about people saying that 'no one has died in US?' how do we know? do we believe everything that the media tells us? and it is recent outbreak, i am worried it will worsen by weeks! so lets see and wait.

Answer 5

I am not a specialist in diseases . However I do think W.H.O.
does seem to become really over ly concerned as when we had the S.A.R.S.scare in Toronto.I rather be frightened somewhat than lax about these things,still enough already!

Answer 6

I think the old saying "BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY" applies to this type of situation. If we are not careful and/or vigilant in tracking and preventing the spread of any type of virus, we could all be in big trouble.

Answer 7

At this point, I think the travel bans are unjustified. The flu itself doesn't seem that fatal - less than 10% of reported numbers, and you can bet that many more people were sick than went to doctors to become reportable cases.

While cause for mindful concern, I don't think it's cause for panic. Provision for good hygeine should always be at the forefront of anyone's mind, considering the contagious nature of influenza, or even norovirus.

My biggest concern is the panic being set forth by the media - referring to the flu as a potentially fatal disease. ALL influenza is potentially fatal. It's unfortunate that this disease seems to be afflicting the young - but that may stem from the original point zero person - who was probably young, etc. Young people hang out, and thus infect, young people. Until the epidemiologists have had a chance to review and interpret the data I think there is really little cause for alarm.

Comparing this to SARS is part of the other problem. SARS was very contagious, and at that junction, the cause/ etiology was not identifiable. They have already identified the virus affecting those with H1N1, which can assist in identifying hotspots of infection, or those who actually are carrying the disease. Once you know what the problem is, it's much easier to deal with and control infection. Early on with SARS, there wasn't that luxury.

At the end of the day there is ALWAYS the potential to become infected with disease when travelling (or, lets be honest - even staying at home has risks!)- be in enterotoxogenic E. Coli, shigella, malaria.. the list is truly endless and there are MANY more fatal diseases than flu. While it's a good thing that WHO is monitoring the situation, and that involved countries are reporting findings, it will be exactly this kind of collaborative approach that helps stem a potential pandemic - and if it doesn't, unfortunately - this is also one of the realities of living on Earth, and living how we do. Every once in a while, Mother Nature will remind us that she is truly the one in control of human fate.

Answer 8

Hardly. This isn't even that severe and only seems to be killing people with very weak immune systems. Things like MMS (miracle mineral supplement), reishi, nucleotides, olive leaf, etc. can knock this kind of virus on it's ***. The only pandemic here is one of fear. The virus is not the threat, it's the people and their insane response to it. The truth is this could only turn into a pandemic in a place like Mexico City, with its poverty and overcrowding it's got a population with weak immune systems.

This is all a New World Order plan to depopulate and convince people to use their contaminated vaccines. BAXTER was already caught with avian flu contaminated vaccines, isn't it a coincidence that they are the ones making the swine flu vaccines???

Answer 9

Its being blown out of proportion. A LOT more people die of regular flue everyday but we never hear of them . The economy is bad enough with out scaring people not to travel .You just have to use some common Sense.

Answer 10

I think the information we are receiving is filtered through so many keyboards, television stations etc...I'm curious if 100 people dying of the flu in a population of 107,449,525 is common or uncommon in Mexico - a land of frequent misinformation. How many people typically die of any type of flu in Mexico? or other countries? how many of these deaths are unrelated or related? Just like the avian flu, the SARS "outbreak" I believe there is far too much hype and fear mongering over this.

Answer 11

Is it right to be concerned about a possible outbreak of flu ? Yes.

If you have to use the word panic for what is currently in Canada, 4 known cases in Winnipeg and 2 in B.C, than of course, its being over-hyped by the media (as usual) for their own ends...

Answer 12

I think it's better to over react to these kinds of situations. The main point is that this virus has killed a lot of people in Mexico already. And spread quickly too. It' much more safe to take vigilent steps to get it under control then be lax and let it spiral out of control.

Answer 13

Yes, there is concern. However, the only protection a person truly has over any virus is a strong immune system. Many do not have strong immune systems in this day and age because of the poor quality of food available. Our soil is severely depleted of minerals, therefore so is our food supply. If our body does not have all the vitamins and minerals it requires to remain healthy, of course our health will suffer. On top of this fact, the water we drink and air we breath is being polluted. This also severely impacts on our health. Therefore, the answer is very complex and yes there will (sooner or later) by a pandemic of disease, not caused simply by the "virus", but by a weak immune system.

Answer 14

No. In fact, the world is not reacting severely or quickly enough. Some travel should be stopped ASAP, for example. If this flu is not THE PANDEMIC, then one that is will come along sooner or later, and we should be taking this opportunity to engage in best practices on personal, local and national levels.

Answer 15

while it might be better to be safe than sorry, making this disease into a pandemic right now is a bit too much of hype. And sometimes Hype is worse than the disease, either some people prone to "finding themselves sicknesses" will go into the hospitals and take the space of real sick people. Or people will just brush it off as being just another news gimmick.

Before we all go running away from Mexico, we should remember that 25 000 people this year will die of influenza, mostly the weak, sickly, old and very young.

Now I am not saying some precautions shouldn't be made, like washing your hands and avoid touching your eyes, mouth and face when dealing in areas where you can't wash your hands.

Right now the people who have it in Canada have a mild response to it. Yes, let's keep ourselves informed but don;t make it so as it becomes so blown out of proportions that people will go ********.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza

Answer 16

NO! I don't think the fear over swine flu is justified. The whole thing is blown way out of proportion.

Answer 17

My answer is yes to it being justified. I think that many people do not realize the potential threat that this could cause. A pandemic situation is nothing to take lightly! Scary stuff!!!

Answer 18

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Answer 19

Anyone who scoffs at the risk of a pandemic is either daft or, in the case of someone at a health authority, totally irresponsible. The warnings already issued are sensible and should be listened to. I have lived through two pandemics, in one of which I was severely ill. Not something I'd easily forget.

Answer 20

I dont think it's overblown. This certainly HAS to be taken seriously. But people should not go ballistic and panic over this.

If anyone is sick, STAY HOME. Lay low and dont go to places where there are huge crowds for a few days or a week.

This is a FLU and if you wash your hands, cover your coughs and sneezes, and avoid travel to areas known to be affected for a week or two, then it will probably be contained and over with within several weeks.

It's people who are irresponsible and feel no responsibility towards others who take these risks and travel internationally spreading this.

Lay low, and take precautions for a while and we're lucky this is not SARS again because that was indeed much more potentially disasterous and I can't say enough about the health care providers and others who contained that catastrophe. Kudos to all those brave Torontonians for their relentless efforts under those hot doubled up masks and gowns. I don't know how they endured that for weeks on end working round the clock too.

In this day and age I think people are in a very depressed state of mind and waiting with baited breath for the world to come to an end.

It's pretty sad when we stop living for fear of dying and shame on all those who condition society to be that way.

I think we're being poisoned by medications which weaken our immune systems and then are expected to take another lot of medication to cure what the first batch messed up.

I think it's time we started backtracking somewhat.

Answer 21

36 000 die every year in the North American of the Regular Flu, but no media seems to care about that. Suddenly 100 die of a "Swine" flu, which sounds like a joke "you swine!!!" Swine flu is an example of how the media sensationalizes anything that can effect the populace, even if it's mildly harmful. Swine flu is as deadly as SARS or H5N1 were proclaimed to be. It's all bullsh*t.

Source(s):

My source is common sense, it doesn't take a reporter to see through the bullsh*t, then again, reporters are paid to bullsh*t as much as they can, shame on you Yahoo for being a puppet.

Answer 22

I think it has the makings for a serious problem but I also believe the health authorities in Canada and USA have matters well in hand.
As to the media's approach,that is another matter,no opportunity lost to come up with sensational news.What else is new?

Answer 23

It is absolutely overblown. Mexico hasn't even labelled it an epidemic and already the media is calling it a pandemic! This is e media coverage. They are just trying to get coverage without telling the whole story. Only 1 of the people in Canada was even hospitalized. On the other had, the USA should be made to pay for black listing Canada due to SARS in Toronto. It would serve them right to have people boycott the States.

Answer 24

Not really.... Judging from the situation i've read, its not a biggie. Well, at least for the time being. :)

Answer 25

I think it is justified. But Mexico should have started faster and taken more precaution against the flu. They are turning away sick patients!!!!

Answer 26

Yes! If we just take it for granted, it might spread and difficult to prevent or stop.

You have mentioned about SARS and Avian/bird flu. If there was no early prevention during that time and if it was only taken for granted, I believe today would have been different, that's why pandemic/catastrophe have been prevented.

What I could say is that, "PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE".

Answer 27

yes it is over blown.

Answer 28

I think this is a complete over reaction... remember the SARS virus a few years ago? more people die each year of the 'regular' flu then ever did from SARS. This is just the new big ticket thing the media needs right now.

Answer 29

Yes, but I also think its a diversion from what's really going on in the world like recession etc. There are flu outbreaks every year and I do not think this one is anymore worrisome than the previous ones.

Answer 30

1 word..
SARS

lololololololololololololooool

u are all the victims of mass media induced hysteria...stop watching the news and live your life.

Source(s):

SARS

Answer 31

I'm not even afraid actually.