Showing posts with label swine flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swine flu. Show all posts

Sunday, May 03, 2009

H1N1? Or could it be. . . ?



Whom does the Centers for Disease Control think it's fooling with these newly released "pictures" of the H1N1 "swine flu" virus?

If the gummint scientists want to post pictures of the virus . . . then post some actual photos of the H1N1 virus. But to post baby pictures of Ben Grimm -- a.k.a., The Thing -- and try to pass them off as swine-flu candid shots is just insulting to Americans' intelligence.

Yeah, they told their significant others they were working late at the laboratory. But I think they just went and gorged on hot wings and got plastered on cheap domestic beer.

Anyway, here's a snapshot of the all-grown-up Thing -- ready for "clobberin' time." Just like the flu.


Sunday, April 26, 2009

Remain calm! All is well!


The latest on the swine-flu threat from The Associated Press:

President Barack Obama’s administration sought to look both calm and in command, striking a balance between informing Americans without panicking them. Obama himself was playing golf while U.S. officials used a White House news conference to compare the emergency declaration with preparing for an approaching hurricane. . . .

Earlier, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the outbreak was serious, but that the public should know “it’s not a time to panic.” He told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Obama was getting updates “every few hours” on the situation.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Flu Fest?


You have to wonder whether epidemiologists, amid this Age of Swine Flu suddenly upon us, are looking at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival right now and starting to panic just a little.

After all, hundreds of thousands of partying drunk people -- jamming to the music in close quarters -- don't cover when they cough.

From MSNBC, the latest on the sudden maybe-epidemic:
Worries that the new swine flu strain that has killed as many as 68 people and sickened more than 1,000 across Mexico has “pandemic potential” increased with the announcement that the virus has spread to Kansas and likely to New York City.

On Saturday, two new cases were confirmed in Kansas — the first U.S. cases outside of California or Texas. An additional case was confirmed in California. And New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden said tests showed that eight New York high schoolers had a type A influenza virus that was "probable" swine flu.

Samples have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further testing to see if they are indeed the unusual H1N1 strain of swine flu; results are expected Sunday. The students showed only mild flu symptoms and are feeling better.

"What is concerning about this is that it is likely swine flu and second that it is spreading person to person," Frieden said. He added, "We have seen no increase citywide in flu-like cases."

About 100 students at the private St. Francis Preparatory School in the New York City borough of Queens became sick last week, prompting the tests.

The Kansas cases involved two adults living in the same house; one is still ill and the other is recovering. One of the patients recently traveled to Mexico, flying in and out of Wichita.

NBC News has also learned there are suspected cases in Minnesota and Massachusetts. The total number of U.S. cases stands at 11 confirmed so far.

'Be prepared for uncertainty'
It may be too late to contain the sudden outbreak, warned the CDC, which has stepped up surveillance across the United States. "We are worried," said the CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat.

“We don’t think we can contain the spread of this virus,” said Schuchat, Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program. “We are likely to find it in many other places.”