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{NOTE – This story contains out-of-date info about the number of cases in our area. For updated Sacramento-specific information, see the County’s DPH website.}
The first case of Swine Flu has been confirmed in the Sacramento area, so get ready for the en-sooey-ing panic.
Sorry.
To avoid unnecessary panic and worry, it is important to understand the facts behind the 2009 Swine bug. The strain(s) of the virus that have been popping up in the United States appears to be a milder version of the more lethal strains that have been found in other countries. Only one patient has required hospitalization, an elderly woman. Everyone else has gotten a nasty flu and recovered. This is the only the 8th case in California and the 40th in the US, so the chances of getting it appear to be quite slim. (Update: 3 positive cases in Fair Oaks, making a total of 10 CA cases as of 4/28)
This is not a deadly superbug. Let’s hope it stays that way.
It is also not spread by eating pigs. Please maintain your normal bacon consumption level.
If you are sick, however, it is IMPERATIVE that you avoid contact with others and contact your doctor to see if they advise you to get tested. There is a chance that this virus could mutate into a more lethal form, so vigilance and caution should be our watchwords until this passes.
If you are concerned about prevention, it is spread like any other seasonal flu. Everyone should act as if it is “cold and flu season” again and be extra-vigilant about hand washing. Feel free to pop whatever pills, vitamins or herbal remedy you like. Think of it as your part in the economic stimulus of the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op tincture section.
If you want daily updates, see the CDC Swine Flu Page. For super-cool geeky information, Science Magazine has a great Swine Insider Swine Flu Blog.
13 Comments | Leave a comment
http://shouldibeworriedaboutswineflu.com/
April 27th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Everyone needs to chill the hell out, but they won’t. I live in Carmichael and am wondering if half of Sacramento will be running around with those rather futile little face masks when I get home from school.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:22 am
I heard that the lead singer from Cake died from swine flu…
April 28th, 2009 at 8:46 am
I heard that deflowering a virgin protects you from the swine flu…
April 28th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Agreed there is no need for panic or fear. However, please do not down play the potential seriousness of this pandemic. All reasonable precautions need to be taken to prevent a further spread.
It takes 1 to 3 days to show symptoms and individuals are infectious 7 to 9 days. There is no confirmation the US cases are “milder.” Seek medical attention if displaying signs of flu like symptoms. Follow the linked CDC procedures.
It is the casualness that will help spread this flu and a casual approach should not be encourtaged or endorsed.
Please consider revising this post to provide valuable and accurate information.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Yeah- or just find a virgin. And stock up on plastic and duct tape.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Tim – Thanks, I was going to say pretty much the same thing. Sure, the media overhype is annoying, but we don’t want to spread the message that we should NOT worry. The regular flu causes thousands of death every year; a pandemic, even if the strain is “milder,” would be much worse. I don’t think Stickie’s post crosses that line. As he points out, people should take the usual precautions.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Appreciate the response. I will leave everyone with this quote:
“Richard Besser, acting director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noted that although ordinary human flu accounts for 36,000 deaths every year, he was concerned by this strain.
“I fully expect we will see deaths from this infection,” Besser said at an Atlanta news conference.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_on_re_us/us_swine_flu_us
April 28th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Thanks, Tim. I added a little more “caution” into the story, as it is completely warranted. My main intention was to encourage people to seek facts before panicking and to not do anything stupid.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
There is nothing to worry about, there never was. Join others and stand up for sanity.
(uh-oh, someone removed your link! don’t worry, readers, it wasn’t all that cool)
It’s sad how the media can fool Americans so quickly.. Think on your own people. This is less of a threat than the seasonal flu and yet you would think people are dying all over the place.
May 3rd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
With 119 members, I see that your Facebook group is becoming the new David After Dentist. Well done!
May 4th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
i think that in asian countries the Swine Flu did not spread rapidly compared to those countries that are located in colder climates. we should still be very thankful that the swine flu did not cause massive infections.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:33 am
2 of my cousins in mexico got infected with the swine flu virus. thank God, they recovered well. it is a great news that the pandemic on swine flu is gone now.
February 18th, 2010 at 12:43 am
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