Article

2006-12-17 Science & Technology

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-12-17 13:17|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 nothing to sneeze at

*rimshot*

I'm here all week. Take my wife..

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-12-17 14:06|| 2006-12-17 14:06|| Front Page Top

#2 If the flu mutates to a "killer" strain again, I just don't think it will be as bad as in 1918. (Not that it will be good, just not that bad.)

Public sanitation - and communications - are so much better now than back then, at least in this country. And we do have some antivirals that will help.

Second and third world countries, on the other hand....

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2006-12-17 14:29|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html] 2006-12-17 14:29|| Front Page Top

#3 Our office has had a flu/cold going around (asholes keep coming in when sick - I prohibit my staff from doing that), I've been in heavy hand-washing and Purel mode. So far, so good *knocks on wood*.

In the big flu to come (and it will, some day) - we should be OK, but it will be a huge depopulator in those areas that are densely populated, poor sanitation, and lack of personal hygiene. Oh well, Insh'allah!

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-12-17 14:47|| 2006-12-17 14:47|| Front Page Top

#4 Barbara: all indications are that avian flu could be much worse than Spanish flu. To start with, as a disease it has a 20% higher mortality rate.

Second, even if it only wipes out vast numbers of animals, it could plunge much of the world into starvation or malnutrition.

Third, there are vastly more people now than there were then. 1.8b compared to 6.1b. And with modern transportation, the disease travels much faster than the response.

That is, when an outbreak happens, it is followed by quiet period while the disease is incubating. Then the next outbreak is in a larger area. But this is deceptive. In reality, the disease is already two cycles ahead in its progress, invisibly passing through barrier after barrier.

The first big wave will be infecting large numbers of people before anyone comes down with the disease in the US. By the time the first dozens or hundreds of cases show symptoms, tens of thousands of people will be infected.

No matter what the federal government does, it will seem to be too little, too late. Casualty estimates average around 3M Americans killed, and an equal number with severe lung damage.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-12-17 15:40|| 2006-12-17 15:40|| Front Page Top

#5 Frankly, the cure/vaccination will be developed in America or another Western nation. Ima thinking the tranzis will be pushing the "let's innoculate all nations equally" crap. Fuck em. Do it first here at home, then our allies, and somewhere down the line, Pakistan, Iran, et al will get a tiny dribble. Natural selection and cause/effect coincide...

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-12-17 15:44|| 2006-12-17 15:44|| Front Page Top

#6 Barbara: all indications are that avian flu could be much worse than Spanish flu. To start with, as a disease it has a 20% higher mortality rate.

i already gott birdy flu this year and survivied inntact excepting speeling.

Posted by RD 2006-12-17 16:20|| 2006-12-17 16:20|| Front Page Top

#7 We're all doomed, doomed, none will get out alive... Now what?

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2006-12-17 19:28|| 2006-12-17 19:28|| Front Page Top

#8 Frank G.: Agreed. Except I would add that a Middle East undergoing a killer flu pandemic is a Middle East ready to be bombed back (?) into the Stone Age. Let's make it a twofer.

Posted by Excalibur 2006-12-17 21:42|| 2006-12-17 21:42|| Front Page Top

#9 It was a killer becuz few knew the cause nor the correct treatment. This was WW1 era - many Euro doctors were still amputating limbs for minor mwounds, and many so-called "physicians" or doctors would be called paramedics or medical-nursing assistants today.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2006-12-17 22:37|| 2006-12-17 22:37|| Front Page Top

#10 If it wasn't for the Spanish influenza, I might not be here, guys. My dad was a "replacement baby" for the daughter my grandparents lost. Albina was only two, and there was no one who could help them when she got sick (not that there was any real treatment for it at that time anyway, but a desperate parent will try anything and go anywhere if it might save a precious child).

I can't help but think of her every time I hear about how we are overdue for another killer flu epidemic.

Posted by Swamp Blondie 2006-12-17 23:26|| http://azjetsetchick.blogspot.com]">[ http://azjetsetchick.blogspot.com] 2006-12-17 23:26|| Front Page Top

23:26 Swamp Blondie
23:16 JosephMendiola
23:12 JosephMendiola
23:10 Pappy
23:07 Zenster
23:05 JosephMendiola
23:00 Zenster
22:58 Pappy
22:56 Old Patriot
22:45 Sneaze Shaiting3550
22:37 JosephMendiola
22:32 Zenster
22:32 Barbara Skolaut
22:28 JosephMendiola
22:24 trailing wife
22:16 JosephMendiola
22:10 SpecOp35
22:09 Anguper Hupomosing9418
22:07 JosephMendiola
22:01 JosephMendiola
22:01 Zenster
22:00 SpecOp35
21:57 Verlaine
21:49 JosephMendiola