Pig germs that is.
*****This just in*****
I said you would all know more about this than I do and of course, you did. I've been left a comment by a new blogging friend who is currently under quarantine for the Swine flu. For news from the front lines, please read Crib Notes.
As a member of the medical community, I was bombarded yesterday with emails from hospitals, the health department, etc. regarding the swine flu.
I did a little research because I had visitors all day in my office and while I couldn’t get any real work done, I could entertain them with my opinions on the topic of the day: the swine flu and what I found is that in the US, swine flu symptoms don’t appear to be any worse than the seasonal influenza with which we are all acquainted.
My research which included the Center for Disease Control’s website tells me that an average of 36,000 people die each year in the United States from the flu. (Please pardon my laziness about linking but I’m sure you all know how to google) I was a little shocked by this number.
By contrast, we have 91 confirmed cases of the swine flu as of yesterday in the US. They are raising our Pandemic threat level, closing schools, and pharmacies are selling out of masks and anti-bacterial sanitizer. All this and the endless reports from the talking heads leaves me with one question. (or maybe a few more)
Why are we making such a fuss over the swine flu if it’s really no different than our average seasonal influenza? We don’t track that flu. We don’t panic each year at flu season. Is there something about the swine flu that we’re not being told? (I have a co-worker who has a conspiracy theory but then again, she’s a little over the top about these things) Either there is a missing link here or the CDC is just using this opportunity to practice for a bio-chemical warfare threat and getting the rest of us caught up in a frenzy in the process.
Any thoughts? Do you know something I don’t know? Well, of course you do.
