For the curious - Swine Flu Thread

[Risky]

I'm curious why there isn't more being done to find these apparent swine-avian hybrids, or "flying pigs" for the layman. They obviously need our help (since they are apparently sick?). If they aren't, why not? Perhaps they have some immunity we should research. Though not if it means to gain the immunity you have to become part flying pig. Or maybe the disease comes from human-avian-swine hybrids? There is that human element of the viral makeup.

I'm sick in Oregon but given my lack of contact with Mexico recently I suspect it is Not swine flu, swavian flu, nor asinine flu.

[Rkolter]

The Pork industry is up in arms about calling this Swine Flu.

Along with the Israeli Deputy Minister of Health (because pigs aren't kosher and it would be insulting to Jews and Muslims to call it that). It's probably going to be renamed "New Flu" over here, with voices calling for "North American Flu" or "Mexican Flu" in the tradition of "Spanish Flu".

You know, I'm generally against offending people but sometimes this kind of thing really does go too far. when it becomes a word game, it just gets silly. I understand pigs aren't kosher, but I see little reason why naming a disease after its origin species should cause offense. were this traditional swine flu, it would be accurate. However, I could see an argument for changing its name based on the fact that it is a hybrid strain with material from avian, swine, and human flus. That would be perfectly valid.

It's actually not valid. The standard naming convention names it Swine Flu because without a doubt, the flu originated from a Swine Flu. That's how you name a bug that tends to hybrid with other similar bugs really, really easily. Half our flus would be "Flying Pig" or "Pig Man" flus otherwise.

If we really had to name things differently, some hybrid of the genetic influenza type, the year, and the fact it infected humans might be ok - H1N1-2009-H for example (H1N1 Swine Flu, 2009 outbreak, Human)

But that doesn't really roll off the tongue.

I'm pretty sure if and when it becomes a full blown pandemic, they'll name it. Swine Flu doesn't cut it at that point - 2009 Swine Flu, or Veracruz flu of 2009, or something.

Or, we could name it "Ted".

[Rkolter]

Swine Flu is now technically a pandemic - Alert level raised to 5.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/sta ... index.html

[MixedMyth]

It's actually not valid. The standard naming convention names it Swine Flu because without a doubt, the flu originated from a Swine Flu. That's how you name a bug that tends to hybrid with other similar bugs really, really easily. Half our flus would be "Flying Pig" or "Pig Man" flus otherwise.

That's fair. I wasn't quite sure what the naming convention for hybrid diseases was, if there was one... since they tend to be tricky little things that jump around all the time anyhow.

What I really wish I could find are morbidity statistics for this thing. Obviously it's not the same everywhere, but I think it might give us some idea of what we're dealing with if we could see some statistics for people who died of the more standard flus in Mexico and compare it to those who have died of this flu. That might be a little hard to do, since the swine flu is ongoing but you still might be able to get some kind of ratio as a rule of thumb.

[Netpoet]

Tamiflu has been approved for children under 1.

I am VERY relieved now.

[Ekolter]

Tamiflu has been approved for children under 1.

I am VERY relieved now.

Ditto here.

[MixedMyth]

I think I read somewhere that this flu is actually generally worse for adults than it is for children, so that should be somewhat comforting as well.

[CJBurgandy]

I think I read somewhere that this flu is actually generally worse for adults than it is for children, so that should be somewhat comforting as well.

I read that too and it seemed so odd it was more deadly for our age group than for the elderly and children because that's how it usually is.

[KWill]

You know, I'm generally against offending people but sometimes this kind of thing really does go too far. when it becomes a word game, it just gets silly. I understand pigs aren't kosher, but I see little reason why naming a disease after its origin species should cause offense. were this traditional swine flu, it would be accurate. However, I could see an argument for changing its name based on the fact that it is a hybrid strain with material from avian, swine, and human flus. That would be perfectly valid. Not sure I care much for calling it "new flu" though. It's awfully generic and will become outdated fairly quickly when the next flu season rolls around and new strains pop up. I mean, can you imagine people talking 10 years from now about this flu?

"Hey, do you remember that new flu scare?"
"Which new flu?"
"You know, the new flu!"
"There's a new one? I don't get it"

Looked up the English term: It's officially being referred to as Novel Flu by the EU now. I can actually imagine "New Flu" working in German, English less so.

[Mr.Bob]

Has Madagascar closed its ports yet?

[Netpoet]

Has Madagascar closed its ports yet?

Someone's played Pandemic II.

[MixedMyth]

it's funny because I was thinking the exact same thing. in fact, I was thinking "wow, if this were pandemic II the whole world would be locked down at the merest hint of a sneeze."

[Prettysenshi]

I wish we would adopt these same measures towards the STILL PRESENT AIDS virus.

[Tim]

I wish we would adopt these same measures towards the STILL PRESENT AIDS virus.

To be fair, though, HIV is a little less contagious than the flu.

[Netpoet]

God, could you imagine if HIV was airborne?

[KWill]

I wish we would adopt these same measures towards the STILL PRESENT AIDS virus.

To be fair, though, HIV is a little less contagious than the flu.

I'll admit, I'm a bit skeptical about quarantining the HIV positive as well...

[Prettysenshi]

God, could you imagine if HIV was airborne?

i know right? how effin crazy?

[Tellurider]

I wish we would adopt these same measures towards the STILL PRESENT AIDS virus.

To be fair, though, HIV is a little less contagious than the flu.

I'll admit, I'm a bit skeptical about quarantining the HIV positive as well...

Yeah but certain groups are not embracing the whole "USE A CONDOM IT COULD SAVE YOUR FUCKING LIFE (no pun intended)" movement, which is a crucial part of curbing the spread of the AIDS virus as well as other sexually transmitted diseases/infections. Especially in the boonies of Africa, where they have some odd ideas about HIV, kind of like how in the American old west people thought having sex with a virgin would cure you of syphilis.

The whole AIDS thing really hinges on people getting the proper education and getting regularly tested for STD's, which anyone who is sexually active should do yearly, even if they always use condoms.

[KWill]

Yeah but certain groups are not embracing the whole "USE A CONDOM IT COULD SAVE YOUR FUCKING LIFE (no pun intended)" movement, which is a crucial part of curbing the spread of the AIDS virus as well as other sexually transmitted diseases/infections. Especially in the boonies of Africa, where they have some odd ideas about HIV, kind of like how in the American old west people thought having sex with a virgin would cure you of syphilis.

The whole AIDS thing really hinges on people getting the proper education and getting regularly tested for STD's, which anyone who is sexually active should do yearly, even if they always use condoms.

Sure, but a life sentence for getting infected is an unacceptable infringement on human rights. Sad thing is, shit like that has been seriously considered, along with marking people in places easily noticeable during sex.

[MixedMyth]

Given that the Pope recently appeared in Africa and told everyone that condoms do not prevent HIV and, in fact, further it... It's hard to get the word out when people keep sabotaging it.

Interesting fact though, in countries where precautions like condoms are taken HIV does not burn nearly as quickly. See, all the HIV strains that quickly kill their hosts die off before they can be transmitted leaving only those strains that linger for years in the body before eventually killing the victim. The latter form has a greater chance of spreading, and therefore lives on. This is not the case in places where relatively few measures are taken, like Africa.