Swine Flu, Smine Flu
Posted on April 29, 2009 - Filed Under Personal | 13 Comments
Ok, this is probably going to sound really mean to those of you buying into the horrors of swine flu, but it`s just stupid. There are all these reports that it might become a pandemic . . . yet less than 100 deaths have been confirmed. People, that`s not a pandemic.
To put things in perspective, let`s look at malaria. This nasty disease is in around 190 countries worldwide. And it`s killed more than 100 people. In fact, it kills someone every THIRTY SECONDS! If you want to talk about a serious health threat, let`s look at something that kills more than 2,500 people a day. Now that`s a real problem.
I`m not saying no one is dying of the swine flu, but it`s soooo out of proportion. Most people have no idea what is out there . . . the flu is NOT the worst thing, trust me. Did you know, for example, that Ebola is alive and well and there are frequent breakouts even to this day? Or that the black plague still kills people every year in the UNITED STATES? Polio is making a comeback in some areas, too. Yet, we never hear those diseases hyped up on the news, though they are potentially far more deadly than anything the swine flu throws at us.
Anyway. Just my rant of the week. 
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13 Responses to “Swine Flu, Smine Flu”
Talk to Me, People!
sometimes i feel just like you do but then i see the news and start freaking out again!!! not for myself at all, just my daughter. and i am also worried they will close the borders of japan so my husband can’t come (since his flight happens to be stopping in mexico city, ugh).
i just need to tune out the news. i just wonder what it is they are trying to distract us from…
Aloha!
I agree with you. And Kathleen got it: Distraction is the key. The economy is doing bad, so why not bring up a “pandemic” with a hint: buy all the stuff you can, it might be over soon… a smooth way to force it to recover…
I refuse to watch some news right now because all they want is to keep us small and scared, helpless for mighty advice *puke* from “above” (aka telly).
They say it is just like a regular flu and you may not know you have it or need treatment. I mean, sure, be careful to wash hands, take vitamins, etc, but the normal flu that goes around is just as dangerous! We worry more about bird flu out here, and don’t let kids handle bird bits they see laying around (sorry, no feather collecting). But really, the traffic is much more deadly.
Yeah, watching the news is NOT very helpful in these cases.
Down here, we don`t get the same hype as in the US, but the papers have a section on international news and that is always about the big scares elsewhere.
Last night I heard that pig farmers in America are protesting it being called swine flu…cos it’s insulting to them! Hahahaha! How’s THAT for distraction? Bless the laid back Aussies and their sense of humour, the farmers here gave a report back to say they don’t mind it being called swine flu because the pigs are not easily insulted around this side of the world. Hahahaha! I reckon them pigs and pig farmers should be honoured something ‘big’ is name after them. LOL.
Ok, sorry. Out of topic. Sorta.
Wait, actually it could be pig farmers in Mexico. Can’t remember now. I’m mixing the amigos and the dudes because these are the two countries hit bad with it.
The media loves the opportunity to hype anything to keep people “tuning in”. Unfortunately, it works. Unfortunately, it’s usually mis-information.
My mother-in-law called from Guatemala to warn us (here in the USA) NOT to eat pork and to tell us about all the Guatemalans that have died recently from swine flu. Go figure.
All true, but epidemics start somewhere. Swift action is what prevent these things from getting worse. I rode a chicken bus the other day and noticed someone coughing and thought, “I wonder if I can get one of those silly blue masks in Antigua?”
I’m sure there is a problem, however, i think the media is riding this one to the full extreme.they seem to life for this stuff: blood, core, pandemics, you name it!
my girlfriends in costa rica are freaking out and running to hide out in some isolated spots with their kids.
maybe i’m underreacting?
I’m saddened that they’re slaughtering all the pigs here in Egypt. I don’t eat local pork simply because I’ve been told that many/most pigs are used to dispose of the cities organic waste. ew. A Christian group (traditional; not a modern coop or anything) collects the garbage… and are very effective gleaners/recyclers from what little I understand, they’ve done this forever… pigs get the organic stuff, the sell the pork to others (non-Muslim).
Maybe I am totally ignorant and influenced by rumors myself, but without pigs eating the organic waste, what will happen to it? Cairo is huge, I mean HUGE! That’s a lot of slop. I’m sure it will be of benefit to the birds (avian flu), rats and other rodents (rabies, plague, everything fleas carry)… insects galore… especially disturbing to contemplate is that the pig owners might stop collecting organic wastes because their pigs were taken and killed. That’s an unpleasant thought… there’s enough garbage blowing around, even in the upscale neighborhoods, already.
That sounds rather disgusting, Connie! I don`t eat much pork just because it kind of grosses me out . . . it was (and is!) considered an unclean animal for a reason.
Still, I can`t resist a little bacon or ham now and then.
Yea.. it is.. but gotta admit, it is a natural and ‘green’ way to recycle and keep the area clean! All of nature isn’t pretty, but it serves its purpose, which is why ‘being green’ is so important. I like snakes and spiders and other creepy crawly predators too… not as pets… but snakes eat rats and mice, spiders eat bugs… I prefer the predators over their prey!
I agree with you on this being blown way out of proportion. I recently blogged about the hysteria myself, it’s driving me nuts.. lol