Oinkchoo Pandemic(?)

[auldhippy]

A new flu virus suspected of killing at least 60 people in Mexico has the potential to become a pandemic, the World Health Organization's chief says.

Margaret Chan said the outbreak was a "serious situation" which needed to be followed closely.

Health experts say tests so far seem to link the illnesses in Mexico with a swine flu virus in the southern US.

A top US health official said the strain of swine flu had spread widely and could not be contained.

Ms Chan cut short a visit to the US and returned to Geneva where the WHO's emergency committee met

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8018356.stm

I work as a resident doctor in one of the biggest hospitals in Mexico City and sadly, the situation is far from 'under control'
Yeny Gregorio Davila, Mexico City

[sushimo]

New York, London & NZ now on alert. Ths could be serious.

[jonren]

A terrifying thought but every hundred years or so, Mother nature decides a cull is necessary. The world is over populated and much more serious starvation is on the horizon. WW 1 and the 1922 flu drastically cut numbers as did WW 2. Frightening possibilities. This planet is finding it more difficult year on year to support seven billion people. There are actually more pressing problems than 'global warming'. Some are actually predicting another ice age. This was the concensus of scientific opinion when I was at school. We simply do not know what the most serious danger to humanity is. Many so called 'experts' have widely diverse ideas.

[mars33]

"Mother nature decides a cull is necessary. "

Mother nature is pretty indifferent. It's a case of sh*t happens (also known as "viruses evolve")

[yord]

"Mother nature decides a cull is necessary"
It mightened be mother deciding this time. Its been predicted that any airbourne virus will spread to every major city within 12 hours, other cities within 24 hours and most towns within 48 hours.

[yord]

"We simply do not know what the most serious danger to humanity is."

yes we do , fecking experts

[tarrant]

The last flu pandemic was Hong Kong flu in 1968.

[mars33]

clunk must go

[yord]

I suspect its an elaborate hoax by lazy mexicans to skive a day off work

brrrrrrr brrrrrrrrrrrr brrrrrrrrr brrrrrrrrrrr
" Olla "
" Olla eet eez emanuel hozasarse cortimiuos gongarlez here, I cant come to zee work today "
" Why eez that gongarlez you eedle pig"
" pig flu "

[lala]

There are actually more pressing problems than 'global warming'.[/i]

Well, yes and know. There are plenty of other problems, but many of them will be affected by global warming. Take the spread of disease, for example. Imagine the impact of large populations on the move, displaced by global warming. Imagine the changing territories og different vectors - it's been suggested that the massive black death pandemics of legend resulted of regional environmental changes in Africa - and so on. So perhaps these crises will become more common as we warm the planet.

Anyway, there are the means to deal with more than one problem at a time.

Some are actually predicting another ice age. This was the concensus of scientific opinion when I was at school.[/i]

I suspect you misremember your school days. The scientific consensus was based around a few best selling books and widely read articles and didn't enjoy any significant support among actual scientists. Pretty much like the deniers of today - noisy, misleading, but generally divorced from science.

Now, back to the topic. SARS. Remember that end of the world' scenario? Bird flu? Lets not start shooting pigs on sight just yet.

Though our Muslim brothers would point out they have always said pigs are vile and we should have no truck with them. Maybe they were on to something.

[auldhippy]

Lets not start shooting pigs on sight just yet.

Something missing there, wait I know:

Lets not start shooting delicous pigs on sight just yet.

[lala]

Maybe I should have specified porcine pigs. The human variety is not exempted from summary revolutionary justice.

[oldmanofthesea]

Two cases in Glasgow are a false alarm. Swine flu usually only affects people who work closely with pigs. It is treatable. The new strain is alarming as it appears to affect humans via other humans. There are no reported cases in Europe. Bet your life the media will have blown it up out of all proportions by tomorrow.

[oldmanofthesea]

Spoke too soon. Now Spain, Canada plus USA Kansas New York, etc.

[puffin]

Anyone who has recently returned from Mexico with a cold is going to be panicing.

[lawrence]

This virus is weird because it contains Swine , Bird and Human virus. Never before seen. Seems artificial to me. Perhaps our devout Islamic friends have concocted this as a biological weapon. Maybe its time to begin the round up of all the Muslims. The world may not survive with them in it , sadly.

[fastkat]

Ok, who has caught this flu from their spouse then? Oink oink!

[lala]

We might have it in New Zealand! Bunch of school kids come back from a trip to Mexico. Choo choo, sniffle sniffle, whole bunch of them quarantined. Right at the start of the school term. Nice.

[fastkat]

lala, is this an addition to having them quarantined before they leave the country?

[puffin]

I heard a bloke on t a radio programme trying to explain how virus changes happen. He said that it wasn't the first time that something like bird flu, that can also be infectious for pigs, has transmuted through the pigs with them acting as the central mutation agent.
It seems that pigs are often the agency whereby animal viruses can become infectious for humans. It doesn't need any human intervention, it's a natural process.