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Swine flu has been hopping from pigs to humans for decades, sometimes causing disease, sometimes not. According to a study done by the Centers for Disease Control, 76% of swine exhibitors at a 1988 county fair had antibodies in their bloodstream indicating a prior swine flu infection, even though the exhibitors showed no signs of illness.
As of this writing, 80 people in Mexico have succumbed to swine flu. By comparison, the CDC estimates that 36,000 people in the United States die each year of influenza-related illnesses. If you’re not afraid of influenza, then you shouldn’t be afraid of the swine flu. Even in the event that someone gets infected with swine flu, we have medications with demonstrated effectiveness against the strain that’s currently active.
HT: Mike Churchill
4 comments:
Brought to you by the folks at CNBC; yesterday I was unaware of it, today I am in fear, thanks in large part to media projecting fear into living rooms and everywhere else.
Hi Therapist,
Good observation. CNBC sure has its flaws, most notably turning into bubble vision at market tops and transforming to doom tube at bottoms. However, CNN is the king of distorted and exagerated news. CNN spent all day yesterday "covering" the swine flu such that their viewers would realize they had better stay inside and keep watching all day if they hope to survive!
Even better observation Mark, CNN is the gold standard of fear infused news. I think its OK to go out today.....
CNN: the current swine flu virus would have a long way to go to match the 36,000 seasonal flu deaths in the U.S. each year.
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