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Monday, May 4, 2009

Snoutbreak Today's Viral Wisdom

Posted by Eli Sanders on Mon, May 4, 2009 at 10:50 AM

On Friday the most common swine flu reaction among the Slog mob was "Stay away, schoolkids." Thursday it was "Bring it, I got Purell." Wednesday it was "Yawn." But now that we're seeing headlines like this, it's clearly time for another check-in.

What's your swine flu alert level today?

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There was speculation that the annual Bloomsday run in Spokane (12k) would be cancelled because of swine flu. Really? Did they expect people with the flu to go out in 40 degree weather and run 7.46 miles??

Posted by Jenny from the Block on May 4, 2009 at 10:49 AM

Most irrelevant post of the day.

Posted by Mr. Poe on May 4, 2009 at 10:53 AM

I'd rather a big deal had been made about what turned out to be nothing than having nothing be done about what turned out to be a big deal.

So I'm not going to mock anyone on this one. In fact this little scare did a lot to make me feel safer overall.

Posted by monkey on May 4, 2009 at 10:56 AM

I just wanted to try our fancy new commenter registration system. Hooray! Maybe it will protect me from swine flu?

Posted by Eli Sanders

on May 4, 2009 at 10:56 AM

Shouldn't we be quarantining everybody anyways?

Posted by TheMisanthrope on May 4, 2009 at 11:02 AM

Where's "fuck you for asking?"

Posted by heywhatsit!? on May 4, 2009 at 11:05 AM

@3: I concur. I'd much rather have fuss made out of something minor, than not being prepared for something major.

Plus, now I have earthquake food & water.

Posted by Abby on May 4, 2009 at 11:06 AM

i'm alright, don't nobody worry 'bout me.

Posted by Sammy Loggins on May 4, 2009 at 11:06 AM

So far, all I've gotten out of this panic is better handwashing habits and a cupboard full of canned food and water that I should've already had for an earthquake preparedness kit. I'm fine with that.

Posted by Hernandez on May 4, 2009 at 11:09 AM

@8 You bastard! Now I have to get that song out of my head.

Posted by Renton Mike on May 4, 2009 at 11:10 AM

At Greenlake on Sunday there was a little girl selling lemonade for 25 cents and hand sanitizer for 10 cents. I wish I had taken a photo.

Posted by stinkbug on May 4, 2009 at 11:42 AM

Now there's only 26 fatalities in Mexico? What happened to all the other dead people?

Posted by Erica T. on May 4, 2009 at 11:46 AM

The flu kills tens of thousands each year just in our country.

Washing your hands with hot water (not scalding) and non-antibiotic soap (Ivory,Dove) is the best response since it cuts your risk factor for both flu and cold in half.

Most other measures are just common courtesy (covering your sneeze with either tissue or shirt sleeve), so one would hope you do this already.

Put me in the: Over it - category.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on May 4, 2009 at 11:46 AM

Well, I stocked up on brown rice, canned goods, and water, plus my work gave me and everybody else in the office free bottles of hand sanitizer, so I'd say the experience was a net positive.

Posted by Greg on May 4, 2009 at 11:53 AM

@14 - Sweet avatar, Greg.

Posted by kid icarus

on May 4, 2009 at 12:22 PM

I'd say "keep away from children" is still good advice. And the whole thing was a good dry run for when the flu roars back this fall. Although if it's made everyone blase about potential flu pandemics, then it's done us a disservice. Not every flu is this mild, and not every wave of this particular flu is guaranteed to be mild.

Posted by Geni on May 4, 2009 at 12:41 PM

@7 and @14 tied for the win.

You should already be prepared for an earthquake, precautions are the same, other than the hand washing.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on May 4, 2009 at 12:50 PM

i still hate antibacterial hand sanitizer. soap and water for 20 secs while i sing 'the ABC song' is alright with me.

Posted by Josh Bomb

on May 4, 2009 at 12:53 PM

Every new bit of news seems to indicate this isn't nearly as dangerous as first speculated. It doesn't seem any worse than a "normal" flu.

Time to move on.

Posted by Reverse Polarity on May 4, 2009 at 1:09 PM

@12,

Maybe autopsies showed they died of something else?

Posted by keshmeshi on May 4, 2009 at 1:18 PM

I'm with 3. However, I wanted to point out that the number of people who have voted in this poll is almost double the amount of people who have swine flu worldwide.

Posted by Georgia Guy on May 4, 2009 at 1:43 PM

Well, if it's true that flu epidemics come in three waves, with the second wave being most deadly, then I think we've still got a lot to worry about. Just because cases are "ebbing", doesn't meant that a highly-evolvable corona virus (aka. influenza) isn't currently vetting it's weaker forms for a more virulent & deadly one.

Basic precautions still apply. It ain't over yet.

Can a Stranger staffer check on the "three waves" theory? Is that what happened in 1918?

Also, you can purchase 151-proof vodka for your emergency stash. 75% alcohol, great for antibacterial cleaning, as well as high-test drinking if things get too depressing. Yay!

Posted by treacle on May 4, 2009 at 2:02 PM

This from www.WHO.int:

"Influenza A(H1N1) - update 14

4 May 2009 -- As of 18:00 GMT, 4 May 2009, 21 countries have officially reported 1085 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths. The United States has reported 286 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death."

more...

Posted by treacle on May 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM

@22 - you mean reported cases of people who have swine flu.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on May 4, 2009 at 2:35 PM

I'm over it, but that doesn't stop me from using my kids little sniffle as an excuse to take a sick day. Because, technically, it could be swine flu.

Posted by amjj on May 4, 2009 at 4:04 PM

The lesson: get your flu shots next year, Sloggers--not that it'll likely help you with any resurgent A1N1. Contribute to the herd immunity (great t-shirt slogan).

Posted by emma's bee on May 4, 2009 at 5:46 PM