It's been maybe 2 months? Seems like people are getting more seriously ill now, shifting away from the 'mild' cases we were seeing before. I'm not going to worry just yet though.

Yeah... unless the virus explodes *pray that it doesn't* I don't think it'll even reach the death rate of the normal flu... but I do have to say, flu in the summer? o.O

I don't think anything will really happen until October when people start staying indoors and relying on re-processed air...

But still, the numbers aren't huge. And most of the deaths are either from those who are immuno-compromised or lacking the same standards of healthcare as Canada.

Lorend is right; the media has really blown this virus vastly out of proportion. The only fatalities have really come form those with compromised immune system - its nothing to worry about if you're healthy.

Basically, how I look at it, is that this thing has barely killed the amount of people the regular influenza strains kill every year -- I just look at this stuff so critically now.

Just to reiterate the WHO, they have to call it a pandemic because of how far it has spread and NOT how severe it is.

Originally Posted by PilotMal

Lorend is right; the media has really blown this virus vastly out of proportion. The only fatalities have really come form those with compromised immune system - its nothing to worry about if you're healthy.

Basically, how I look at it, is that this thing has barely killed the amount of people the regular influenza strains kill every year -- I just look at this stuff so critically now.

I completely agree.

A lot of things can be prevented by common sense:

1) wash your hands thoroughly (soap + hot water and scrub) and often. Many girls have disgusting hygienic habits from what I've seen in the washroom.

2) If you're coughing -- COVER YOUR MOUTH. Also, cough into your ELBOW not your hands.

As you can see, I'm far more concerned about people's habits than the swine flu.

Originally Posted by DannyV

Just to reiterate the WHO, they have to call it a pandemic because of how far it has spread and NOT how severe it is.

"Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way." (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian.../en/index.html)

Exactly, all it takes is 2 human-human outbreaks in different who regions. You think they would revise this system though. I mean, theoretically all you need is two transmissions and it's a pandemic. That means a total of 4 people can be infected and they would have to call it a pandemic...

the university also has one of the best hospitals in the world