Thursday, June 11, 2009
Snoutbreak It's Pandemic Time, Baby!
Posted by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 8:37 AM
The World Health Organization has (finally) declared swine flu to be a full on pandemic, raising the global pandemic alert to its highest level.
The World Health Organization has told its member nations it is declaring a swine flu pandemic — the first global flu epidemic in 41 years, news services reported.The move came after an emergency meeting with flu experts here that was convened after a sharp rise in cases in Australia, which reported 1,224 cases on Wednesday, and rising numbers in Britain, Japan and elsewhere.
In a statement sent to member countries, the W.H.O. said it decided to raise the pandemic alert level from phase 5 to 6, indicating a global pandemic outbreak, The Associated Press said, attributing the information to health officials from Scotland, Indonesia and Thailand. An official announcement of the change was due at 6 p.m. Geneva time on Thursday (noon in New York).
I'll be in my bunker if anyone needs me.
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3
Yet social conservatives keep eating pork and chicken, ensuring it won't be 41 years until the next pandemic. Sigh.
Why don't we have taxes on meat to pay for the billions of dollars of public health and environmental problems they cause? Maybe to pay for anti-meat education too, like we have for cigarettes (which are a much smaller public health and environmental problem). I'm sick of paying for and dealing with the problems meat eaters cause.
Why don't we have taxes on meat to pay for the billions of dollars of public health and environmental problems they cause? Maybe to pay for anti-meat education too, like we have for cigarettes (which are a much smaller public health and environmental problem). I'm sick of paying for and dealing with the problems meat eaters cause.
4
So, it's been a month and a half. Where are the 5,000 dead Americans one would expect every year from NORMAL flu? Presumably this pandemic is worse than that, so there must be many more dead than that. Where are they?
5
Why do you say "finally" Jonah?
There is no agreed-upon definition of the term "pandemic." Some officials still don't think it is a pandemic.....
There is no agreed-upon definition of the term "pandemic." Some officials still don't think it is a pandemic.....
7
Pandemic = widespread disease, not severe disease.
I think the WHO should revise its definition of "pandemic" so that the severity of the strain in question is taken into account as well.
I think the WHO should revise its definition of "pandemic" so that the severity of the strain in question is taken into account as well.
8
Who is this fucking "lizzie" dingbat anyway?
I guess Westboro Church doesn't have a monopoly on kooks. Sheesh.
I guess Westboro Church doesn't have a monopoly on kooks. Sheesh.
9
Man the Swine Flu thing is tired. What's the point in being alive, Jonah, if you're going to waste all this time worrying about dying?
Live a little. Just don't lick any sneezy babies and you'll be fine. Jeeze.
Live a little. Just don't lick any sneezy babies and you'll be fine. Jeeze.
10
I like the headline on MSNBC: "WHO raises swine flu alert to highest level" Didn't Abbott and Costello do this bit?
11
Oh Lizzy, you're gonna put yourself into an early grave with all your self righteous worrying over what other people are eating. People like you make us meat eaters want to eat more meat, not less. In fact, I'm going to have a grilled chicken sandwich for lunch in your honor.
12
I literally overheard some medical doctors discussing whether or not they should go to a scientific research conference in Mexico due to this.
But, as one pointed out, the number of deaths is very very small compared to the total number of deaths from all flu this year.
Pandemic? Yes, in a clinical sense.
Worth freaking out over? No, just wash your hands in hot water and soap (NOT anti-bacterial or anti-biotic) and cover your nose/mouth when you sneeze.
But, as one pointed out, the number of deaths is very very small compared to the total number of deaths from all flu this year.
Pandemic? Yes, in a clinical sense.
Worth freaking out over? No, just wash your hands in hot water and soap (NOT anti-bacterial or anti-biotic) and cover your nose/mouth when you sneeze.
13
How is eating meat socially conserveative. I am a bleeding-heart lefty fatso and have an extremely liberal policy as to what goes in my gob. That includes both pork chops and tabouleh wraps.
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