Swine Flu

[anotheoldgit]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Sw ine-Flu-Russian-Football-Fans-Told-To-Miss-Wor ld-Cup-Qualifier-In-Cardiff-Due-To-Swine-Flu-F ears/Article/200908115353576?lpos=World_News_S econd_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=AR TICLE_15353576_Swine_Flu%3A_Russian_Football_F ans_Told_To_Miss_World_Cup_Qualifier_In_Cardif f_Due_To_Swine_Flu_Fears

Russia has not been badly affected by the H1N1 virus, with only 55 confirmed cases there.

In contrast, 110,000 people were diagnosed with swine flu in Britain in the past week alone, making it the worst affected country in Europe.

Why are we the worst affected country in Europe?

[Sqad]

AOG...simple, because we are the filthiest and our hygiene is the worst.

Simples.

[Gromit]

The virus was first found in Mexico. Between the first person contacting it and the virus being recognised as Swine flu took a month.

During that month, 35,000 British people visited Mexico and returned with their germs.

The amount of visitors to Mexico from mainland Europe was very low, almost negligible.

But if you prefer to blame the British for being bad at everything as you usually do, by all means carry on.

[poltergeist]

its to do with the heat man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

air bourne viruses die in the heat or not as prevailent in the cold. kapiche mayn?

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

But if you prefer to blame the British for being bad at everything as you usually do, by all means carry on.

I don't blame the British people as a whole, I blame the 'lax, laid back until it becomes a crisis' attitude of people such as you, but you are unimportant, I blame mainly those that are running the country.

[Gromit]

AOG,

It is a virus. It was already in the country before the strain was recognised.

The Government is not to blame in this instance. There are plenty of things they have the power to stop, but a virus isn't one of them.

[anotheoldgit]

Even when the virus was recognised, did the Government step in to restrict or quarantine those coming into the country?

In fact what positive actions did they take? Apart from that booklet containing Swine Flu Information, if this action can be labelled positive.

I wonder how many people have read this booklet, and how many of these waste of paper booklets were destined for the recycle bin from day one?

Just to prove I still have mine, on page 8 the question is,

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM MEXICO OR AN AFFECTED COUNTRY AND I THINK I MIGHT HAVE SWINE FLU?

Answer: Stay at home. mmmm.

[ganesh]

We're quite a 'crowded' country compared with other europeans so maybe the virus would spread more?

[naomi24]

How can anyone can put a figure on the number of swine flu cases in Britain when we're told not to consult a doctor. Diagnosis is carried out over the phone by medically unqualified staff asking questions and filling in a check list, so who's to say that a number of the people ringing in aren't just suffering a cold and sore throat, and calling it flu, as so many people displaying such symptoms do? I think there's too much hype in this country about Swine Flu. One sneeze and it seems you've got it!

[coccinelle]

I'm interested to know who gives that figure 110,000. if it means all the people who have phoned NHS or their doctor with flu like symptoms and attained tiraflu so they'd have a flu free holiday or a few days off work etc it isn't a true figure. It'll be interesting to find out how many people will actually get swine flu twice!!!
Here in France, to be diagnosed with swine flu you have to be seen by a doctor and they take a swab to find out if you're carrying the virus. Quite honestly, I've been sneezing a lot lately, have had a couple of headaches, and feeling rather hot but that's due to the pollen and the heat!

[ganesh]

Exactly,we are told not to bother the doctors unless we are really ill,so a lot of people I know have had heavy cold/flu symptoms and have gone to bed for a couple of days until better. They have not been 'counted' at all.

[Kromovaracun]

Even when the virus was recognised, did the Government step in to restrict or quarantine those coming into the country?

Which at the time the World Health Organisation explicitly advised against. They did however have a good back-supply of antiviral drugs, and as the situation progressed, responded by preparing more.

And it's very easy for you to wave off the info pamphlet sitting at your computer, but it was a hastily-prepared document trying to give the public as much advice as possible about a virus which even now we still don't know that much about. Of course, the British public responded quite apathetically but that's beside the point...

The question you've asked AOG is actually quite an interesting one. But you seem to have asked it with one answer it mind.

[Gromit]

AOG,

UK deaths through 'normal' flu is about 4000. Which is over 330 a month.

I am sure the death toll through Swine Flu will rise in in the Winter (it has peaked for now) but so far we have had 31 deaths.

It was over a month before anyone knew that 35,000 returnees from holiday could have the virus. Even if you immediately restricted them to their homes, what about all the people they had come into contact with in the meantime/

If you guess that each person had come into contact with 100 people in a month (it is probably much greater), would you restrict the resulting 3.5million in quarantine?

If so, who would do their jobs?

[naomi24]

People in this country are over-reacting. Add that to the ridiculous system of telephone diagnosis, and this is what can happen.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/59 73317/Swine-flu-Telephone-line-missed-boys-kid ney-infection.html

I wonder how many more cases of 'Swine Flu' have been wrongly diagnosed? I'd guess quite a significant number.