H1N1 Are things about to get really, really bad?
 

Those that have been around here for any length of time will tell you that I am not an alarmist. But I cant help but say that right now I am a bit freaked out. I have 2 small boys and my sister is pregnant and now the government is saying that the H1N1 virus is about to go viral….

They are saying 30k to 90k dead and as many as 300k in need of intensive care in the next few months. I suspect this is a low ball estimate. I know if I were in charge, I wouldn’t alarm people right out of the shoot. This thing could get really ugly. It could be as bad as the 1919 outbreak that killed God only knows how many.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...rus-spreading/

Re: H1N1 Are things about to get really, really ba
 

This is fear mongering. We have flu epidemics. This one is a distraction and they want to blow it up big time so they have a chance to be heroes. We were much further with the bird flu and Benign spongiform Enchelopathy.

Re: H1N1 Are things about to get really, really ba
 

Jeff and I have discussed this, and have said from the beginning that our kids aren't going to receive this new H1N1 flu shot. However, Jeffrey gets a regular flu shot every year, because he has asthma, and getting a cold or flu usually means pneumonia for him. The year he went to public preschool, he was out of school a total of 6 weeks with three bouts of pneumonia. His doctor said it was directly related to being exposed to so many different bugs at school.

Being homeschooled has greatly reduced his episodes of sickness, but it's still VERY worrisome for his Daddy and me, trying to decide which is more risky--a new vaccine with unknown risks, or risking him catching a flu bug he has no immunity against. :(

Has your doctor recommended that Jack get a shot?

Re: H1N1 Are things about to get really, really ba
 

im not so sure about that Coadie. it may turn out to be a mild round but regular flu kills 30k (mostly elderly) each year. this one by itself is hitting pretty hard and it is killing the young and healthy. I know a 14 year old that died last week.

and I really think the government is going to take it on the chin if things get bad.

Re: H1N1 Are things about to get really, really ba
 

I am right there with you! We go in for Jacks 15 month check up either this week or next so I am sure they will make the call then. But I suspect our Dr. will suggest it.

Re: H1N1 Are things about to get really, really ba
 

30,111 confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza 09 and 112 deaths in Australia.

The straight up mortality rate for 30,000 people would be around 5-600 in a year.

CNN stated on April 28, 2009 that there were at least 800 deaths in the U.S. due to normal influenza in each individual week between January 1 and April 18, which is higher than the combined worldwide death toll for the swine flu.[115]

so if normal flu death rates are 800 per week and swine flu deaths in america are at 400 total, there are some comparisons.

Re: H1N1 Are things about to get really, really ba
 

yea i got that. same thing happened in the early stages of the 1919 out break. then the fall came and poof....

CDC is saying that half the country could actually be infected. some areas could have between 50% and 100% of their ICU beds filled with H1N1 victims.

Re: H1N1 Are things about to get really, really ba
 

I'm thinking you meant something else since it's already a virus.

According to the CDC, 47k people die every year from influenza. That's about 3 people in every state, every day. That doesn't include how many stay home with it or are hospitalized.

In addition, when this first came out, there were lots of 'end of the world' news reports about hundreds of thousand dying and a pandemic. This didn't happen. Not even close.

So, for now, I'm not worrying about it, although I can understand why you would, considering that your children aren't in optimal health. But in their case, even getting the flu that comes from the yearly outbreaks can be detrimental.

Re: H1N1 Are things about to get really, really ba
 

The US alone has reported over 300 deaths from swine flu as of today.

http://www.spacecoastmedicine.com/20...over-3500.html

Re: H1N1 Are things about to get really, really ba
 

What makes the threat worse now than it was when it surfaced several months ago?