Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« Headline of the Day | Washington State's Best Burger »

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Life Why the Swine Flu Won't Get Me

Posted by Megan Seling on Wed, Apr 29, 2009 at 4:30 PM

There haven't been any confirmed cases of the swine flu in Seattle (yet), but in two days I'm going to Chicago, where there have been five confirmed cases. I'll be in airports and on planes—I'll be surrounded by people who have been all over the place and are probably infected. And I was worried about it, and convinced I was going to die, until I read this sentence in CNN.com's current story about "patient-zero":

Meet the child known as "patient zero" by his doctors — 5-year-old Edgar Hernandez, who survived the earliest documented case of swine flu in an outbreak that, officials say, has now spread across four continents.

[...]

Edgar has managed to bounce back from his symptoms and playfully credits ice cream for helping him feel better.

Ice cream! It's the ice cream that saved him! Which is why the swine flu won't get me; I've been to the new Molly Moon's three of the past four days. So, like, I'm totally going to be okay.*

(*I'll probably die of heart disease or diabetes in 15 years, but whatever... that's 15 years from now.)

Comments (12) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Just wear a mask and wash your hands.

Posted by east coaster on April 29, 2009 at 4:36 PM

Ben and Jerry's could come out with a new Swine Flu Vaccine flavor.

Posted by RainMan on April 29, 2009 at 4:47 PM

Do what Lindy's mom told her to do and you should be fine.

Posted by Jessica on April 29, 2009 at 5:09 PM

My bet is we all already have it, WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE

Posted by Chris on April 29, 2009 at 5:13 PM

Ironically, Molly Moon serves swine corpse in their ice cream. They are causing swine flu, not curing it.

Posted by Stop it now on April 29, 2009 at 5:14 PM

It only works if you get the Bacon and Chocolate Ice Cream.

Posted by Mr. Obvious on April 29, 2009 at 5:28 PM

The thing is, viruses like this one are most commonly fatal in the teen to early thirties population because of our strong immune systems.* I know this seems counterintuitive, but younger children and older people are more likely to bounce back from the initial infection. Essentially, it's the strong, healthy immune systems that end up contributing to fatalities. Ironically, I'm currently taking a chronic disease course that is covering this topic right now. Our very informed MD prof has told us that it's a good idea to try to not boost an already strong immune system by taking vitamins or herbal supplements. just do the basics that everyone is saying... wash hands, etc .... Good luck on your trip!
*I'm assuming your not elderly or a child

Posted by nursing student on April 29, 2009 at 5:45 PM

Relax, Meagan. I was in Millenium Park Saturday with the masses and lived to tell. Guess you won't be going to Cinco de Mayo at Navy Pier, though.

Posted by emma's bee on April 29, 2009 at 7:18 PM

Megan: Don't come back. You'll kill us all.

Posted by disintegrator on April 29, 2009 at 7:31 PM

Umm, read the Seattle Times. 6 suspected cases in Washington, with 3 of them in Seattle.

Posted by brad on April 29, 2009 at 9:41 PM

we just got a phone call from Seattle Public Schools that someone at Cornish is confirmed. Unfortunately, my 9 year old daughter answered the phone and gave me her 9-year-old's translation. Does anyone know what the skinny is?

Posted by seanmichaelhurley on April 29, 2009 at 9:56 PM

megan, sometimes even i get confuckexorated on whether i'm posting this to myspace, twitter, livejournal, or the slog. this if fuckin' dan's fuckin' blog, bitch!

Posted by mb on April 30, 2009 at 2:18 AM