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Somehow I always knew pigs would kill us all.

TheySlashThemTheySlashThem Registered User regular
edited May 2009 in Social Entropy++
So I haven't been able to find a thread about this swine flu business and I think it's something we should probably be talking about.
Wikipedia wrote:
In March and April 2009, more than 1,000 cases of swine flu in humans were detected in Mexico, and more than 80 deaths are suspected to have a connection with the virus. As of April 25, 2009 19:30 EDT there are 11 laboratory confirmed cases in the southwestern United States and in Kansas,[25] and several suspected cases in the New York City metropolitan area. Following a series of reports of isolated cases of swine flu,[26][27] the first announcement of the outbreak in Mexico was documented on April 23, 2009. Some of the cases have been confirmed by the World Health Organization to be due to a new genetic strain of H1N1.[28][29] The new strain has been confirmed in 16 of the deaths and 44 others are being tested as of April 24, 2009.[30] The Mexican fatalities are said to be mainly young adults, a hallmark of pandemic flu.[31]

At 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, the New Zealand Minister of Health confirmed that 22 students returning from a school trip from Mexico had flu-like symptoms (most likely swine flu). 13 of the students with flu-like symptoms were tested and 10 tested positive for Influenza A, their cases strongly suspected to be the swine flu strain. However there is a possibility that the infected are not infected with the swine flu but other forms of the flu. The government has suggested that citizens of New Zealand with flu-like symptoms should see their physician immediately.

There have been five cases of possible swine flu in Canada, according to the Canadian Press. Two are in British Columbia, and three in Nova Scotia. According to the provincial government, four students in Windsor, Nova Scotia have confirmed cases of swine flu.[32]

The new strain appears to be a recombinant between two older strains. Preliminary genetic characterization found that the hemagglutinin (HA) gene was similar to that of swine flu viruses present in U.S. pigs since 1999, but the neuraminidase (NA) and matrix protein (M) genes resembled versions present in European swine flu isolates. Viruses with this genetic makeup had not previously been found to be circulating in humans or pigs, but there is no formal national surveillance system to determine what viruses are circulating in pigs in the U.S.[12]

On April 26, 2009, some schools in the United States announced closures and cancellations related to possibilities that students may have been exposed to swine flu. [33] [34]

According to University of Virginia virologist Frederick Hayden, the most recent flu season was dominated by H1N1 viruses, and people who had received flu shots in the U.S. may have some protection against swine flu.[35]

Swine flu has health experts worried because it seems like every once in a while some new strain of the flu shows up and kills shitloads of people. (the last few major flu out breaks were in 1918, 1957, and 1968 - a strain also popped up in 1976 that scared a lot of people but ended up not doing much damage)

I know this is yet another "god damn it did TDOT make another thread about some news story" thread but this seems like it might end up being something really important.

Thoughts?

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