You're talking about pandemics that occured amongst primitive populations or in centuries before modern medicine.

I think the reason WHO and co. are going bonkers over this is because, like it's been said, the virus is brand new and we have 0 resistance to it compounded by the fact there is no vaccine designed for it. Well, it's not like the current vaccines for the known forms of influenza are 100% effective. I don't know the exact numbers, but every year a huge percentage of vaccinated people still get the flu.

I, myself, have never gotten the vaccine and I do usually get the flu every 2-3 years. Yeah, it's a miserable 3 days, but I see it as something out of our immediate control and just a reality we have to face. I'm sure hundreds of thousands, if not millions, will end up going through this in the US alone and I think the death rate will be comparable to what we experience every year.

Another, different lot of incredibly proficient people are putting a lot of work into scaring the bejesus out of the common person.

The reason the WHO is going bonkers is because 75% of the world's population lives in conditions that could actually make the flu DEADLY. I don't have a problem with the WHO.

I have a problem with the US media and our government acting like this is going to be a huge problem here.

I think that might be in part because it's so near the end of the school year in most districts. At this time of year they're not doing anything important, at least not in the elementary schools. Schools right now are just a baby sitting service.

Understood on both levels...and as she pointed out, the full spectrum of this virus is not yet understood, we may have seen the worst or may not


and yes they got it in Mexico but died in the care of an American Medical facility

ok so this advanced medical technology we have should have been able to treat it right?

:rolleyes::shake: You would be wrong. Especially on private schools.

not if the baby was already beyond help by the time the baby got here.

from the FLU?? I mean we have all these anti-viral drugs and....sheesh...I'm not panicking I just like being well informed some people here are acting as if nothing is wrong at all

Infants in this country will likely die of the swine flu, just like the die of the regular flu. This is because they have underdeveloped immune systems and are less able to tolerate the symptoms, like high fever and dehydration. Infants and the elderly are ALWAYS at risk with the flu, and this strain isn't any worse in that aspect than any other.

Furthermore, it's highly likely that the child was already very, very sick by the time they got here. Our advanced technology can do alot of things, but it can't raise the dead.

He was visiting family in the US and became sick. So he didn't just come up for treatment.

Also, I'd be careful about make assumptions about preexisting conditions or other factors this early, as HIPPA protects a lot of that until the family consents to release.

He was an infant though, so he's a "typical" flu victim.

anti-viral drugs don't CURE a viral infection, they prevent the spread of infection. Once you're infected with a virus, the only course of action is to let it run it's course.

Furthermore, infants and the elderly die from the flu ALL THE TIME. Not from the infection itself but from COMPLICATIONS - mainly dehydration.

I didn't say anything about preexisting conditions. Infants have underdeveloped immune systems when they're healthy.

I read the child was admitted to a Brownsville hospital on April 13th. Obviously I can't testify to the accuracy.