H1N1 Virus: Paranoia going too far?

[COLOR="Red"]Something GMSInfighter showed me on MSN.

I think the only real danger from H1N1 comes when you mix it with a different strain of flu. Otherwise it's the same flu with a bit of kick.[/COLOR]

Complete dumbass website. That kid doesn't understand the first thing about pathogenic virology.

Summary of my tl;dr post:

Influenza is one of the most highly volatile viruses in the world, capable of mutating at a rate faster than vaccines can be created. The H1N1 strain is a highly infectious strain with more moderate symptoms than the seasonal flu, in that it's capable of killing healthier people than the seasonal flu. But just because it seems meaningless now doesn't mean it can't [SIZE="5"]mutate[/SIZE] and become worse. If the virus mutates to something just as infectious, but with mortality rates around those of Ebola (one of the deadliest BSL-4 viruses in the world), then we're screwed - especially because it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere (the most populated hemisphere of the planet), and thus people spend more time indoors with one another - increasing the probability of infection.

What does it all mean? Again, if you're smart, you don't mess with influenza.

...Eh? Isn’t H1N1 mutated already?

What does it all mean? Again, if you're smart, you don't mess with influenza.

Show me someone that explicitly said to start spreading around the flu if they ever contracted it.

On that note, we'd mind as well start freaking out over regular bacteria since they reproduce at a great rate (and thus potentially mutate).

they are giving out free vaccines where i live

 Spoiler

Complete dumbass website. That kid doesn't understand the first thing about pathogenic virology.

Summary of my tl;dr post:

Influenza is one of the most highly volatile viruses in the world, capable of mutating at a rate faster than vaccines can be created. The H1N1 strain is a highly infectious strain with more moderate symptoms than the seasonal flu, in that it's capable of killing healthier people than the seasonal flu. But just because it seems meaningless now doesn't mean it can't [SIZE="5"]mutate[/SIZE] and become worse. If the virus mutates to something just as infectious, but with mortality rates around those of Ebola (one of the deadliest BSL-4 viruses in the world), then we're screwed - especially because it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere (the most populated hemisphere of the planet), and thus people spend more time indoors with one another - increasing the probability of infection.

What does it all mean? Again, if you're smart, you don't mess with influenza.

[COLOR="Red"]I didn't say whether I agreed with it or not. Just that some people don't give a pomegranate about H1N1.

If he dies from H1N1, I'll be the first to laugh. If nothing at all happens, then he'll be the one laughing at the people that think he's nuts.[/COLOR]

I hope I catch H1N1 so I can go to school and be like HAHA I HAVE H1N1. YOU HAVE BEEN INFECTED BY MEANS OF MY BIO WARFARE. AHAAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHA and then cough all over them

From that website.

Contest Rules:

One lucky person will get the opportunity to fly me out to where you live* for one night**, and you get to sneeze in my face.
Winner must provide a proof of having swine flu (signed doctor blood test or something along those lines).
Winner must not have any other bullshit diseases. I don't want your herpes, even though I can't get them.
* First class accomodations only.
** Winner must pay for at least one night of hotel accomodations (5 star or higher) unless you are a hot chick and want me to crash at your place. I will sleep in your bed and you will sleep on the couch. Winner must also agree to let me try on all their clothes and eat their food.


Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha that guy is funny.

...Eh? Isn’t H1N1 mutated already?

Viruses and all pathogenic particles/organisms can all mutate again...

Show me someone that explicitly said to start spreading around the flu if they ever contracted it.

On that note, we'd mind as well start freaking out over regular bacteria since they reproduce at a great rate (and thus potentially mutate).

In regards to your first comment, the point I'm trying to convey is not trifling with death by being careless about your public and personal health...aka don't dance around taunting H1N1 like you're invincible.

And the big difference between viruses and bacteria is the fact that bacterium can actually be killed once inside the body (in most natural cases at least), due to the fact that they have a peptidoglycan cell wall and not a protein membrane like viruses. The antiviral drugs we have now for any virus simply inhibit the virus from carrying out its mechanisms, usually by blocking some receptor on our own cells. But that doesn't mean the viral particles are incapable and rendered useless; stop taking the drugs and you open yourself up to symptoms all over again.

Now yes, the probability increases for mutation as bacterium reproduce, but again they can be killed...it's much easier since they're living organisms, compared to non-living viruses.

And don't give me the GM superbacterium story or the .01% drug resistance, as, while they are true areas of concern in bacteriology, they don't justify a lax attitude towards virology.

In regards to your first comment, the point I'm trying to convey is not trifling with death by being careless about your public and personal health...aka don't dance around taunting H1N1 like you're invincible.

And the big difference between viruses and bacteria is the fact that bacterium can actually be killed once inside the body (in most natural cases at least), due to the fact that they have a peptidoglycan cell wall and not a protein membrane like viruses. The antiviral drugs we have now for any virus simply inhibit the virus from carrying out its mechanisms, usually by blocking some receptor on our own cells. But that doesn't mean the viral particles are incapable and rendered useless; stop taking the drugs and you open yourself up to symptoms all over again.

Now yes, the probability increases for mutation as bacterium reproduce, but again they can be killed...it's much easier since they're living organisms, compared to non-living viruses.

And don't give me the GM superbacterium story or the .01% drug resistance, as, while they are true areas of concern in bacteriology, they don't justify a lax attitude towards virology.

Always one extreme or the other with you eh? I'm well aware of reality (and I don't need a biology lesson because I already know all of this, plus my parents AND cousins are all nurses). Of course I'm not immune to H1N1, and it's the same way how I'm not immune to food poisoning or diabetes. Who knows! Maybe the next puddle of water can be my undoing! Let's face it though: the chances of me dying from H1N1 are quite very low, and if it somehow were to mutate in the near future to the point where it is even 30% lethal, damn that is one impressive virus.

Bacteria can thrive and multiply in a lot more places than viruses can. Just something to point out. Oh, and the pathogens must have come from some place when humans were around in the stone age.

And wth is the GM superbacterium story? o.O I've heard of Stephen King, but not the GM thing.

Always one extreme or the other with you eh? I'm well aware of reality (and I don't need a biology lesson because I already know all of this, plus my parents AND cousins are all nurses). Of course I'm not immune to H1N1, and it's the same way how I'm not immune to food poisoning or diabetes. Who knows! Maybe the next puddle of water can be my undoing! Let's face it though: the chances of me dying from H1N1 are quite very low, and if it somehow were to mutate in the near future to the point where it is even 30% lethal, damn that is one impressive virus.

Bacteria can thrive and multiply in a lot more places than viruses can. Just something to point out. Oh, and the pathogens must have come from some place when humans were around in the stone age.

And wth is the GM superbacterium story? o.O I've heard of Stephen King, but not the GM thing.

Genetically-modified superbacteria are capable of surviving antibiotic assault and have higher infectability and mortality rates than their natural relatives.

Several GM superbacteria were created by the ton secretly in Russia during the end of the Cold War, including GM plague. I'd say more, but there's a lot of research/reading you can do if you're interested...really scary stuff, to be honest.

I had it... for about 2 1/2 days. (Seems to range from 2 to 4 days here at SP ) It's not that bad, it's nothing new.. except the name. "Swine" ... "H1N1"

I'll make the reverse swine flu... "N1H1" or... "1N1H".

Genetically-modified superbacteria are capable of surviving antibiotic assault and have higher infectability and mortality rates than their natural relatives.

Several GM superbacteria were created by the ton secretly in Russia during the end of the Cold War, including GM plague. I'd say more, but there's a lot of research/reading you can do if you're interested...really scary stuff, to be honest.

Ah. I'm reminded of War of the Worlds or w/e. I'm probably going to read that book again just for the heck of it xD

Ah. I'm reminded of War of the Worlds or w/e. I'm probably going to read that book again just for the heck of it xD

I'm talking about non-fictional history, though, not Wellsian sci-fi. Good story though .

From what I can tell so far, the paranoia is because of the fear that it could mutate into something like the 1918 Spanish influenza. The fear all started because like the 1918 influenza, it came in the spring and was relatively mild but it came back in the fall/winter as something deadly.
Fear of history repeating itself + Misinformation + Overreaction = present day mess.

From what I've read from news over here (south america) most of the people that have died thanks to the H1N1, is because they ALREADY had something before, be it morbid obescity, heart problems, lung problems, etc.

No one has died simply because they had H1N1...

From what I've read from news over here (south america) most of the people that have died thanks to the H1N1, is because they ALREADY had something before, be it morbid obescity, heart problems, lung problems, etc.

No one has died simply because they had H1N1...

Well...........

Sadly its not true anymore.

Just heard yesterday on the radio that in San Diego County, California, there was one (likely) confirmed case where the H1N1 virus actually attacked a child's heart, leading to her death. And that was when she was waiting in the ER waiting to be treated for a "high fever"

Your point is true though, nothing against that. Just wanna say that despite the fact that most H1N1-related deaths come from medical complications, anything can really happen. Kinda reveals how the H1N1 virus is very unpredictable in its effects. =\

The way the media handled the whole thing really bothered me. They began by creating an irrational sense of paranoia over something flu-like (sure, there's the possibility of a mutation, but this - the real cause for any paranoia - was rarely addressed), and when people actually believed them about it and killed pigs, or refused to send their kids to school, the same media that created the paranoia stepped in to try and stop it, telling the public that it was not a serious issue. Now, what bothers me about this is the way they went about doing this. They never even acknowledged the fact that they fueled the paranoia, and they did not even try to act remorseful. In a nutshell, they got to look like the heroes for solving a problem that they created.

And occasionally, when news is slow, they'll run a story about someone who died from the virus, and only at the end of the story will they admit that the victim had other health complications, but hardly anyone hears that part because they're too busy freaking out, and then the very same news corporation steps in again, a week later, to play hero, and it's just sickening.

So yes, I think it's gone too far, and I wish major news stations would stop reporting every death* caused by it.
edit: Cases like the one mentioned in the above post are the Achilles' heel to my way of thinking. Once it starts killing healthy people, then yeah, all bets are off.

The way the media handled the whole thing really bothered me. They began by creating an irrational sense of paranoia over something flu-like (sure, there's the possibility of a mutation, but this - the real cause for any paranoia - was rarely addressed), and when people actually believed them about it and killed pigs, or refused to send their kids to school, the same media that created the paranoia stepped in to try and stop it, telling the public that it was not a serious issue. Now, what bothers me about this is the way they went about doing this. They never even acknowledged the fact that they fueled the paranoia, and they did not even try to act remorseful. In a nutshell, they got to look like the heroes for solving a problem that they created.

And occasionally, when news is slow, they'll run a story about someone who died from the virus, and only at the end of the story will they admit that the victim had other health complications, but hardly anyone hears that part because they're too busy freaking out, and then the very same news corporation steps in again, a week later, to play hero, and it's just sickening.

So yes, I think it's gone too far, and I wish major news stations would stop reporting every death* caused by it.
edit: Cases like the one mentioned in the above post are the Achilles' heel to my way of thinking. Once it starts killing healthy people, then yeah, all bets are off.

This, 1000 times, they all where like "OH pomegranate SWINE FLU OH pomegranate SWINE FLU SAVE YOURSELVES" instead of telling people that this disease isn't really different from normal flu, but you should take care of it right away.

Instead they went around in a paranoid rampage scaring people and crap...

here, after 2-3 days of the news going live, you would go around seeing people with masks and crap, and they would look you like a demented idiot for not wearing one...

Casualties? 5, casualties from the actual flu? 1

Oh pomegranate we're so screwed </sarcasm>

I dunno, here in Australia we had a few reported cases in our own backyards, but I am not too panicked about it. When the vaccine becomes avaliable, sure, I'll go get it for precautions. I know people who are paranoid about it and shuffle away from coughing people, including me... who coughs when I have a dry throat... = =

In my opinion, TV news just ran out of stuff to report, and decides they want to stir up a public panic.

I still see a kid or two on campus with a mask on still. Honestly, I was quite disgusted at how out of proportion it was blown. I mean, there were like 20 or so cases of it in my dorm building. 4 of which were in the 4 dorms around mine. I didn't get sick, and none of the people died. The news was acting like swine flu was a death sentence. They even offered vaccines starting a few weeks ago. I didn't even consider getting one as I've never had to get a regular flu shot.