No doubt everyone has heard about the outbreak of swine influenza A (H1N1).
I am sanguine about this one for a number of reason. The virus was identified a threat early in the outbreak. The virus seems to be transmitted by droplet. While this is worse than if it was bloodborne its better than if it was airborne. In the past the morbidity rate for these viruses are around 4% and so far seem to be responsive to the antivirals oseltamivir (prescribed under the trade name Tramiflu in Australia) and zanamivir. Medical authorities have raise the alarm, The World Health Organisation has set the ‘global Influenza Prepardness Plan at Phase 4 which is characterized by
“…verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.” Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion…”
In Australia we have 8 million viable stocks of Tramiflu for our popualtion. Our medical professionals have been briefed on the clinical signs and able to send samples to type the virus to confirm if it is swine influenza A (H1N1). The public is aware that if the display flu like symptoms to have them checked. Also the Government on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jim Bishop included swine influenza to be a quarantinable disease in humans under the Quarantine Act 1908.
Under the Quarantine Act, people who, in the opinion of the Chief Medical Officer, are likely to have been exposed with swine flu, can be placed under surveillance until it can be established that they should either be ordered into quarantine, or it is established that they are not affected by the disease.
For myself
I am following the news, still no confirmed cases in Australia though still awaiting results on some. I am carrying out good hygiene practices and have advise co-workers if they cough anywhere near me is shall ‘kill them where they sit’. So I am fairly confident.
How about you?
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...an era of prominent madmen 
In todays tech society, I hardly ever meet real people so the coughing is less of an issue.
If you take one of Melbourne’s crowded trams or trains you might as well start taking the Tramiflu.
I’m confident at this stage but it could be a real bugger if people don’t take the basic precautions. My fear is that people who prefer to “soldier on” won’t go to doctors. I’m one of them, fully believing in the medicinal qualities of OP Rum, whisky and brandy. Oh, and a shitload of those cold tablets where the chemist has to take your licence details.
But I reckon this winter I’ll be seeing the doc as soon as the flu symptoms start. Wonder if Tramiflu is Bundy resistant?
We’re also ready to order people home from work and only to return to work when they’ve been cleared by a doctor and have documents which say so.
In the meantime I saw a robot dinosaur on the loose at KMart on the week-end. Its a fucking disgrace that these future people killers are allowed free reign. I switched the bastard off.
I call it a good excuse to eat pork and beans one reduces the number of available hosts and the other keeps the contagious at bay.
The good thing is that airborne virus’ tend to have lower mortality rates than blood borne. however if someone has piggy flu and gets on the underground/paris metro/NY metro then I’d say that things could get pretty shitty.
I’ve put up with ‘kissing pig’ jokes all frickerty day and I’m sick of it, *cough*
Still I am alert not alarmed and whilst this aerosolled transmission is a concern, it simply hasn’t mutated. Perhaps we’ve dodged the bullet tho a hundred odd in Mexico wouldn’t agree.
My concerns are with North American friends … and a son about to go over there. Hopfully it will be burnt out by then.
Nautilus – some times I think all my friends are virtual.
Therbs – good work on the robot dinosaur. I am the same with the sapien model.
chazfh – Very shitty indeed, though I think WHO are running with the droplet rather than truly airborne virus at this stage.
Savo -‘ kissing the pig’ sounds like an obscure British Navy practice from the days of sail.