There are two main types of influenza (flu) virus: Types A and B. Influenza A and B viruses are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year. Influenza A viruses can be broken down into sub-types. Over the course of a flu season, different types (A & B) and subtypes of influenza A viruses can circulate and cause illness. In addition, influenza viruses are constantly changing through a process called “antigenic drift.”
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses has been documented. See General Information about Swine Flu.
From December 2005 through February 2009, a total of 12 human infections with swine influenza were reported from 10 states in the United States. Since March 2009, a number of confirmed human cases of a new strain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in California, Texas, and Mexico have been identified. An investigation into these cases is ongoing. For more information see Human Swine Flu Investigation.
How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.
So the swine flu is not “new”, in 1976 in New Jersey there was 200 known cases with 1 death.
In the last 4 years 2005-2009 we have 12 cases in 10 states. I don’t see anything close to a pandemic or even something to be worried about. Compare those numbers to the estimated 36,000 people that die each year from regular flu related causes and they pale in comparison.
Now Charles Darwin Johnson at 1.0 chimes in with typical 1.0 fear mongering:
We’ve been overdue for a global flu pandemic for years. These viruses have been breeding and mutating and evolving at a rate that’s hard for human beings to comprehend.
If anyone reading LGF still doubts evolution, this is your proof that it exists.
Well I don’t know about us being “overdue” for a flu pandemic unless 12 cases in 4 years are cause for concern while 36,000 plus cases per year are not. But I do know this, the flu is still the flu it didn’t evolve into anything other then the flu.
Unless maybe Charles Darwin Johnson has a picture where he photoshopped in a new background but it doesn’t matter because it that shows the Influenza A virus and the West Nile virus shaking hands?
Updated at 1:30 pst
US declares public health emergency for swine flu
20 people total in the US have this swine flu, I think this is more “crisis” manufacturing by our government then real crisis.
Come on, more people die from stubbing their toes in one day, yet toe stubbing is not a crisis!
Is this the prelude to “government health care” because we really cant help ourselves?
