I for one am not sure what to think at this point with regard to swine flu – but it is of concern on a number of levels.

I for one am not sure what to think at this point with regard to swine flu – but it is of concern on a number of levels.

By Thomas H. Maugh II
July 25, 2009
Hundreds of thousands of Americans could die over the next two years if the vaccine and other control measures for the new H1N1 influenza are not effective, and, at the pandemic’s peak, as much as 40% of the workforce could be affected, according to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That is admittedly a worst-case scenario that the federal agency says it doesn’t expect to occur.

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-flu25-2009jul25,0,3387335.story

That should take care of the unemployment and overpopulation problems.

By Thomas H. Maugh II
July 25, 2009
Hundreds of thousands of Americans could die over the next two years if the vaccine and other control measures for the new H1N1 influenza are not effective, and, at the pandemic’s peak, as much as 40% of the workforce could be affected, according to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That is admittedly a worst-case scenario that the federal agency says it doesn’t expect to occur.

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-flu25-2009jul25,0,3387335.story

That should take care of the unemployment and overpopulation problems.

By Thomas H. Maugh II
July 25, 2009
Hundreds of thousands of Americans could die over the next two years if the vaccine and other control measures for the new H1N1 influenza are not effective, and, at the pandemic’s peak, as much as 40% of the workforce could be affected, according to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That is admittedly a worst-case scenario that the federal agency says it doesn’t expect to occur.

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-flu25-2009jul25,0,3387335.story

That should take care of the unemployment and overpopulation problems.

FWIW, I think the number of swine flu cases is grossly under-stated.

In late March/early April, all of my kids, and most of their friends came down with an illness that we’ve never seen before: very high temperature (104+) sustained over 5-10 days, total lethargy (where they could barely get off the couch to use the restroom), ZERO appetite, and it was highly contagious, as evidenced by the fact almost everyone got it.

We took our first sick kid to multiple doctors, urgent care, and the ER, but the standard flu test (the official swine flu scare hadn’t happened yet) came back negative. They gave her antibiotics because she later came down with strep throat (which I think was a secondary infection), and she eventually recovered about 10 days later. Same with the other two, which overlapped with one another (about 4-6 weeks of severe sickness around here — yuk!).

A couple of months later, I called their doctor just to ask if she thought it might have been the swine flu. She said is was a distinct possibility, and that she was **very worried** about the coming flu season this fall.

Seriously, hunker down this fall and wash, wash, wash your hands. Might not be a bad idea to keep your kids home if any of them or their classmates show even a hint of sickness (though the school districts would have fit).

FWIW, I think the number of swine flu cases is grossly under-stated.

In late March/early April, all of my kids, and most of their friends came down with an illness that we’ve never seen before: very high temperature (104+) sustained over 5-10 days, total lethargy (where they could barely get off the couch to use the restroom), ZERO appetite, and it was highly contagious, as evidenced by the fact almost everyone got it.

We took our first sick kid to multiple doctors, urgent care, and the ER, but the standard flu test (the official swine flu scare hadn’t happened yet) came back negative. They gave her antibiotics because she later came down with strep throat (which I think was a secondary infection), and she eventually recovered about 10 days later. Same with the other two, which overlapped with one another (about 4-6 weeks of severe sickness around here — yuk!).

A couple of months later, I called their doctor just to ask if she thought it might have been the swine flu. She said is was a distinct possibility, and that she was **very worried** about the coming flu season this fall.

Seriously, hunker down this fall and wash, wash, wash your hands. Might not be a bad idea to keep your kids home if any of them or their classmates show even a hint of sickness (though the school districts would have fit).