Swine Flu has been declared a national emergency

[AlDaja]

I call bullshit on this. Deaths from anthrax are very rare in the developed world, there is a vaccine for it, and it is very easily treatable with antibiotics. Deaths from inhalantional anthrax are very rare, maybe five or six per year throughout the whole developed world. Even if the incidence of death from anthrax is significantly greater, I doubt it occurs on a yearly basis within the community of people you knew/associated with.

You make assumptions. If you are going to quote do it correctly or not at all. Never said, in my community...re-read what I wrote, but yes people do die on a yearly basis from anthrax if left untreated. According to the CDC 20% of contagious anthrax infected patients die if symptoms are misdiagnosed or if infected individuals do not seek immediate medical attention. Of these most are (and this is my opinion) stubborn old koots who don't know when to get themselves checked, passing it off as a some other kind of ailment. My dad was an MD from 1973 to 1992 he treated over 34 people with anthrax, most from accidental exposure who responded well to antibiotics. Of those 4 died, three of which were beyond hope of antibiotic treatment because they had not sought medical attention soon enough and/or had complications. Anthrax in rural farming communities often is transmitted by getting spores in open wounds or cuts on hands or from eating non-commercial meats (home grown for family consumption) that do not go through standard mandated FDA inspection.

Also, the reason behind that anthrax is such a big deal as a biological agent is that in agricultural areas, population density is very low. Whereas urban areas often hold over 1000 people/km^2, where the possibility of someone having contact with anthrax, and then spread it during its incubation period to the thousands of people they contact every day, and so on, develops into a much greater risk.

Well, no sh't...that wasn't my point, and given my knowledge of anthrax I didn't need to post the obvious. I grew up knowing the risks and ins/outs of anthrax.

[Zamamee]

I call shenanigans on swine flu. I know two people personally who have gotten it this year (as in, diagnosed by a doctor) and came out at the other end of two weeks just fine. In the meantime, the "regular" seasonal flu is rampaging the city of Columbus.

[Mr. Pedantic]

Well, no sh't...that wasn't my point, and given my knowledge of anthrax I didn't need to post the obvious. I grew up knowing the risks and ins/outs of anthrax.

Just because you know, doesn't mean everyone else knows, and just because your argument makes sense in your mind doesn't mean it does in other people's. Honestly, that must be one of the most stupid excuses I've ever heard for neglecting to elaborate on what you say.

You make assumptions.

Of course I make assumptions. I have to, don't I, given the amount of stuff you 'don't need' to write...

Never said, in my community

I'm sorry, that was one of the things I had to assume, seeing as you left out so much other information in your post. However, it seems that you are a bit of a hypocrite; you didn't correctly quote all of what I said about that matter, either:

I doubt it occurs on a yearly basis within the community of people you knew/associated with.

Let's play Spot the Difference!

My dad was an MD from 1973 to 1992 he treated over 34 people with anthrax, most from accidental exposure who responded well to antibiotics. Of those 4 died, three of which were beyond hope of antibiotic treatment because they had not sought medical attention soon enough and/or had complications. Anthrax in rural farming communities often is transmitted by getting spores in open wounds or cuts on hands or from eating non-commercial meats (home grown for family consumption) that do not go through standard mandated FDA inspection.

Yes. Yes, I know that subcutaneous anthrax is lethal if left untreated. However, you never said that people would have died if left untreated, you said they died full stop. Need a refresher?

People in that line of profession die on a yearly basis from anthrax

And I still find that completely bizarre. There has been an anthrax vaccine around since the 1880s, and yet the people most at risk of contracting anthrax are not given the vaccine, or more importantly, are not given training on how to identify the disease? Seems like negligence to me...kind of like knowing cot death is very prevalent among families with young children, but keeping them completely in the dark about how to prevent it. Kind of stupid, really.

[AlDaja]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pedantic

And I still find that completely bizarre. There has been an anthrax vaccine around since the 1880s, and yet the people most at risk of contracting anthrax are not given the vaccine, or more importantly, are not given training on how to identify the disease? Seems like negligence to me...kind of like knowing cot death is very prevalent among families with young children, but keeping them completely in the dark about how to prevent it. Kind of stupid, really.

Maybe cause you live on an Island...but look around, stupid people abound - I'll leave it at that.

[Afterburner]

Let's keep this on topic you two. This is about swine flu, not anthrax. I was fine with a short tangent but you guys are going too far off topic.

[Junk angel]

Well it depends - swine flu can easily turn into something like the hong kong flu which really hit Europe pretty hard in 68.

And even though not that many people died from it, infection sections of hospitals were chock full.

Swine flu can easily be worse then that.

[Biiviz]

I stopped reading when people started text walling, but I feel it's worth mentioning that Swine Flu on its own isn't all that bad. It's basically your normal flu, however, it weakens your body enough so that you'll easily catch other diseases (e.g. pneumonia) during or after you are sick. Also, as mentioned, there's the risk of the flu mutating.

[Afterburner]

Originally Posted by Biiviz

I stopped reading when people started text walling, but I feel it's worth mentioning that Swine Flu on its own isn't all that bad. It's basically your normal flu, however, it weakens your body enough so that you'll easily catch other diseases (e.g. pneumonia) during or after you are sick. Also, as mentioned, there's the risk of the flu mutating.

Pneumonia is actually caused by the flu. "Pneumonia" is not a specific virus or bacteria, it is just an effect of many viruses, including influenza. It's also the main way that influenza kills, as far as I know.

Everything aside though swine flu is not something we really need to worry about. The CDC and other medical groups need to worry about it and take precautions, but no one should be thinking they have to run around all day with a mask on or what have you. Just take the normal precautions you would during flu season, as right now it's basically just another strain of what we've been dealing with forever.

[NiteStryker]

I hope this swine flu kills many many many people and the entire country turns into I Am Legend with this flu shot.

[Stratopwn3r]

Originally Posted by NiteStryker

I hope this swine flu kills many many many people and the entire country turns into I Am Legend with this flu shot.

Wanna be survival partners?

I think that it was specified a National Emergency because of the press pushing it.