And now for something completely different - SWINE FLU

Fri, 19 June 2009, 10:15 am

Labrug18 posts in thread

This was posted on a departmental intra-net. Its something I've suspected for a while...

18 June 2009

IN LIGHT of growing evidence that the H1N1 Influenza virus is not as severe as originally thought, the Federal Department of Heath and Ageing has developed a new response phase – protect.

The protect phase recognises that the effects of the virus are mild in most cases, severe in only some cases and moderate overall.

The focus of the protect phase is to treat and care for those who experience a severe case of the disease.

Head of the Department’s Influenza Pandemic team ... says it’s a matter of common sense.

“Our advice to staff who experience mild flu-like symptoms, is to stay at home and rest until they’ve recovered.”

“This should see them recovered within a few days,” he says.

The key elements of the protect phase are:

early detection and treatment of people who may be vulnerable to severe outcomes
identification and early treatment of those experiencing moderate or severe symptoms, especially in people with respiratory difficulty
normal operations will resume at international airports
schools will not be closed if students are found to have influenza H1N1, but unwell children are urged to stay home
voluntary home isolation is recommended for those who have mild illness, but contacts will no longer be quarantined.

Just goes to show what sensationalisation can do guys. So many people I know have been running for their life at the first sign of a sniffle or cough, or fearing the sudden appearance of little curly tails and snouts! The whole thing has been blown out of proportion. It's no more dangerous than a common, garden variety flu. Still not pleasant and potentially harmful to those with weakened immune systems, but nothing new.

Thread (18 posts)

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LabrugFri, 19 June 2009, 10:15 am

This was posted on a departmental intra-net. Its something I've suspected for a while...

18 June 2009

early detection and treatment of people who may be vulnerable to severe outcomes
identification and early treatment of those experiencing moderate or severe symptoms, especially in people with respiratory difficulty
normal operations will resume at international airports
schools will not be closed if students are found to have influenza H1N1, but unwell children are urged to stay home
voluntary home isolation is recommended for those who have mild illness, but contacts will no longer be quarantined.

LabrugFri, 19 June 2009, 10:24 am

For further details...

Official Health Statement...

http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
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NaFri, 19 June 2009, 11:11 am

"It's no more dangerous

"It's no more dangerous than a common, garden variety flu. Still not pleasant and potentially harmful to those with weakened immune systems, but nothing new." You might want to rethink that statement. Common, garden variety flu can and does KILL people. Hence the vaccinations in the first place. (Not trying to worry or sensationalise, just trying to point out that making people complacent about it does more damage than overreactions) The government/s may have overreacted slightly, but with good reason. They're concerned that a stronger strain will turn up in the future and cause more damage. I will also add that if anyone is considering overseas travel, it's a good idea to chat with your GP about getting vaccinated or other precautions. (I've had mine) Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

LogosFri, 19 June 2009, 12:28 pm

Welle

I'm a diabetic and therefore had a flu jab as a matter of course as I am "a person at risk". However my GP advised me at the time that as H1N1 is a variation of Type A influenza the simple expedient of having the normal flue jab should be sufficient. Seriously folks outside of Mexico the deaths all seem to have been people with other quite severe health problems. So sensible precautions should be enough. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Hannah369Sat, 20 June 2009, 07:55 am

quarantine

i'm glad the quarantine stuff has stopped because it was really stupid, i got quarantined and i hadn't even come in contact with the person, i was just in his class.

JoeMcSat, 20 June 2009, 08:47 am

Simple stop eating bacon 'n

Simple stop eating bacon 'n pork products - for a while!

KimberleySat, 20 June 2009, 10:09 am

Swine Flu

Except that the LAST H1N1 started as a nasty bug killing quite a few people in the Southern US. Mutated for a while into a relatively mild bug, and in this way travelled the world (using WW1 as a travelling companion). Started to kill soldiers - yes battle weary and under immune, then mutated again into a HORRIBLE bug which killed around 100 million people. So caution is worthwhile...Or get it NOW while it is mild before it mutates into something yucky. (A note from your friendly neighbourhood historian :) )

jessmessSat, 20 June 2009, 10:54 am

Last time I checked...

Last time I checked there was no natural immunity against swine flu, so getting it now before it turns nasty won't really help. We're probably all better off getting lots of sleep, and taking vitamin c. :)

KimberleySat, 20 June 2009, 03:16 pm

No there isn't

but if you get it now you would be immune to most of the next mutated version. So there is no existing immunity but if you get it then you get immunity. (Of course, if you are diabetic or immune deficient this would be a bad thing to try.)

NaSat, 20 June 2009, 03:42 pm

Kimberley touches on a

Kimberley touches on a point not yet discussed; and that is that getting the flu or any other disease that we vaccinate for isn't about YOU getting sick necessarily. Children, the elderly, those allergic or unable (ie. people with cancer, AIDs, or others with low immune systems) to receive vaccinations are at greater risks. So those who can get the vaccination aren't just taking a precaution for themselves, but for other people too - the less people who get sick, the less likely those that are at risk get sick too. This is why many vaccinations are compulsorily given before you can enter schools. Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

KimberleySat, 20 June 2009, 09:19 pm

Very true Na

One of my daughters when little, did not produce antibodies to pneumoccocal (pneumonia, ear infections etc) diseases, even when immunised, so was reliant on the general population's immunity. Thankfully she has grown a "bit" of an immune system now.

Walter PlingeMon, 22 June 2009, 03:34 pm

Oh, I thought it was a new

Oh, I thought it was a new musical :)

Walter PlingeMon, 22 June 2009, 11:57 pm

Totally agree with the

Totally agree with the sentiment behind this post. I can't stand when ill and contagious people selfishly decide to turn up to an event despite knowing they will infect others. If you have gastro/flu/whatever, it won't kill you to miss the party/work shift/rehearsal. Stay home!

Walter PlingeWed, 16 Sept 2009, 01:41 pm

Actually, eating pig

Actually, eating pig products will not give you the disease; it doesn't infect people by absorption through the stomach or intestinal tract.

LabrugWed, 16 Sept 2009, 01:46 pm

Kid-flu

Very true Shade, and BTW, gaffa was having a joke. ;-)

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
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mike raineThu, 17 Sept 2009, 07:24 am

It might already be too late

Even were they to stay home, the damage may already have been done. People can be carting around and distributing their barrows of bacteria some time before symptoms become apparent.

LabrugThu, 17 Sept 2009, 09:07 am

Accordingly

According to most medical texts and professionals, you are most contagious prior to the onset of symptoms. The symptoms are a result of your body fighting the infection/virus and thus a reduction in contagion. This means you are less likely to spread flu when you are sneezing and coughing everywhere then compared to the very first niggling signs. Even by then, you have been breathing all over everything and everyone.

Pleasant thoughts...

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
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"ÆƒuÄ±Ê‡sÇÉ¹ÇÊ‡uÄ± ÇÉŸÄ±×Ÿ ÆƒuÄ±ÊžÉÉ¯"

JoeMcThu, 17 Sept 2009, 10:13 am

Sorry Shade 184 while it

Sorry Shade 184 while it was a pethetic atempt of a joke, the proof, as they say, 'is in the eating'! Which proves the piont as I have not yet had the Swine or Chook flu, so it could be because I refrained from munching on those products, during this period? Further as I don't follow or bet on horses, I'm thus a sure cert to aviod the Nag flu as well!

Although I get the annual jab, to help & assist me to enjoy the smokers flu. While I await the out break of the Coffee Flu - I must try & remember to find a jab to reduce those caffeine shakes - although they do help when doing the milk for froffy coffee.

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