NY awaits confirmation of probable swine flu cases. The break out in Mexico is scary, with the flu affecting--and killing--group considered not as vulnerable (which also happened with the 1918 influenza epidemic). But the spread of the disease via modern transportation makes it even more frightening. Especially after my friend Jim sent me the following article: New Zealand students in swine flue scare.
So I'm thinking that I don't need to run out today and ride the subway to 57th street to grab a new pair of sneakers. It can wait. Because everyone is out and about since we have beautiful weather and some of them don't know enough to cover their mouths when they sneeze, that's why.
No sweat. Obamco's on it:
http://www.superlaugh.com/1/behappy.htm
Posted by: JDM | April 26, 2009 at 04:04 PM
Oh, and this:
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003103365
Posted by: JDM | April 26, 2009 at 04:18 PM
JDM: You know I not an Obama fluffer, but I am so much happier that this sort of thing is coming up while he is in the White House than when W was. If a potential pandemic broke out during W's term? Hate to even to think about it. GMB
Posted by: gmb | April 26, 2009 at 05:18 PM
it would be nice if we had an HHS secy to help organize the reaction/decisions = but no -- the GOP is holding up her nomination because she is pro choice
i am pro choice too
my choice is to give every GOP Senator swine flu and no tamiflu. or any liquids
Posted by: distributorcap | April 26, 2009 at 07:26 PM
DCap: I like the way you think. Fortunately, the CDC is working on this. That's one agency that W didn't completely fuck up. GMB
Posted by: gmb | April 26, 2009 at 08:19 PM
I did think of you when I heard this story... I know that this kind of disease spread is of concern to you. Not that it is not of concern to others, I just know that you pay attention.
Posted by: FranIAm | April 26, 2009 at 08:47 PM
Fran: After I read The Great Influenza (or whatever it was called) I kept my eyes open. I have always been convinced that tearing down forest/jungles would mean that there would be more unintended human-animal contact that could give rise to problems. Couple it with air travel, and things can get bad quickly. I've always thought we were lucky that no one left Africa with a contagious case of, say, ebola. That would really suck. My first concern is prevention. And yes, first thing I do when I get into the office is wash my hands. Just because. Hope you are doing well. GMB
Posted by: gmb | April 26, 2009 at 10:48 PM
I'm quite concerned about this outbreak. gmb. I was in Mexico City earlier this month and a few of my colleagues are still there now and have been told to come home. Thankfully, I have no symptoms, but I did travel to the countryside while I was there, which is where I believe the virus originated. Twenty million people live in Mexico City, but many people come in from the surrounding countryside every day for a many number of reasons; mostly to eek out a living.
Posted by: Spartacus | April 27, 2009 at 09:16 AM
It is pretty scary when you think that most of us are in the risk group. Whatever happened to those nice little viruses that just hit the olds and the babies?
Posted by: dguzman | April 27, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Spartacus: Glad you aren't there now. And those poor people just had a 6.0 earthquake too. Let's hope that the world response stymies this virus. We may worry, but at least we have a health care system--such as it is--in this country. If the virus spread to, say, Iraq or Sudan....too horrible to contemplate.
dguzman: The 1918 flu hit the 20-45 year olds, because they had a healthy immune system that "over reacts" to the virus and most died of pneumonia, I believe. That said, at least now we have drugs to treat pneumonia and there is Tamiflu, etc. Let's hope this is just a wake up call and coordinated action keeps the virus in check. GMB
Posted by: gmb | April 27, 2009 at 10:38 PM