Universities are closing down, people are calling into work in epic numbers. So what's the deal with the swine flu? Why are we as a country so paranoid that every time a geezer sneezes, you have a 95% chance of contracting H1N1 or the swine flu as it's notoriously labeled. Almost everyone I've talked to in the past week has mentioned this "pandemic". I'd say half of them are worried they might contract it but let me hit you with some knowledge real quick (some factual knowledge, but mostly just my opinion). I'm going to try to neutralize the pandemonium from my little corner of the blogosphere.
In the 2008-09 flu season (1/6/08-1/3/09), the CDC (Center for Disease Control) had 1,173 positive tests for influenza. This is just samples that were tested. Many people get the seasonal flu and just puke their faces off in the privacy of their own homes. So you have to belive that there are thousands of unreported cases also. Currently, the swine flu has 160 cases nationwide in 2 weeks. I'm not impressed. The bird flu was much more impressive. It killed 60% of the people it infected. We still have a bird flu kit at work. It sits in the stockroom under the eyewash station that nobody uses. It's got mostly gloves and masks in it. Enough for about 50 people. Considering the fact that we have 350 employees, I'm not sure it would be too effective in a massive outbreak.
Telling people to wash their hands and to cover their mouths when they sneeze and cough is upsetting to me. This should be common knowledge! Why don't people know how to do this? If people did these things regularly, we'd all be fine. It wouldn't eliminate influenza completely, but it would cut down on it quite a bit. The CDC website also suggested that you "throw used tissues in the waste basket." Listen up handkerchief users (geezers)! Throw those snot rags out and grab a Kleenex.
So, to recap:
- Don't touch or lick a pig's face and/or lips.
- Don't eat raw pork.
- Wash your hands.
- Stay away from farmers.
- Never use a handkerchief.
The one thing I've noticed about face masks this week is that I don't call them face masks anymore. It's a weird reflex to call them SARS masks. Wheels mentioned something about a SARS Guard. That's a nice sounding term.
Hopefully, as this global disease runs its cycle, the media will stop feeding the masses bowls of worry with sidedishes of fear. Especially the elderly. C'mon, they believe nearly everything they see on TV. Finally, I'll end this post with a wish.
I wish I could laugh in the faces of everybody who has worn a face mask in public in the last two weeks. Except for people who really are sick, doctors and people who work in dusty environments.
