Swine Flu: The Facts
- Number of deaths (April 29) - 150+
- Number Infected in U.S. - 91
- Mortality Rate - Approx. 7.5% (150 deaths/2,000 cases in Mexico)
- U.S. Mortality Rate - 0% (1% if you include the Mexican baby that died in Houston)
- Cause of most deaths - complications with pneumonia and other preexisting conditions
Regular Flu: The Facts
- Number of annual deaths in U.S. - 36,000
- Number of annual deaths worldwide - 500,000
- Number of annual cases worldwide - 3 to 5 million
- Mortality rate - 10% (500,000/5 million)
- Cause of most deaths - complications with pneumonia and other preexisting conditions
Why is this being hyped up?
I have a couple of theories why. Number one, the United States hasn’t ever tested its modern pandemic response system, so this is a way of seeing how people respond, how fast resources can be moved, and how things can be improved in the future. I find it quite surprising that the U.S., being as close to Mexico as it is, has not ordered the border to be closed or to all out restrict travel to our neighbor to the south until the crisis passes, while in the meantime EU nations are strongly discouraging travel to the America’s, period and Russia has introduced a pork ban on the United States (mind you the infected pigs are in Mexico).
It’s a test of the system and since the virus, while still frightening in the speed with which it is spreading, isn’t as deadly as say the Bird Flu that still packs a mortality rate of at least 25%, the economy hasn’t shut down and air travel is continuing as normal. Which brings me to an interesting conclusion: if people are taking this seriously enough, it might, just might stimulate the economy with people rushing out to stock pile on foods and other goods. It won’t be a long term solution to our economic woes, but there could be an uptick in sales of food stuffs and other household items. What else do you do when you can’t go to school or work except sit at home and watch some new DVD’s while tapping in to your stockpile of tomato soup?
I do applaud the government’s response and once things settle down a little, we can start evaluating how the response was overall and how things can be improved in the future. I’m still keeping those who are being afflicted with the flu in my prayers and I hope that it’s not as bad as even I’m making it out to be here.
Facts:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/28/regular.flu/index.html
Swine flu facts - Various news sources. Check Drudge - the “tolls” are constantly updated in the headlines.
