Showing posts with label flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flu. Show all posts

Interesting Video to Watch: The Truth about Pandemics

To follow up on my last post about the swine flu, here are some other interesting findings about current outbreak of swine flu or H1N1 flu.

Video: The Truth about Pandemics from Livescience.com where Dr. Siegel explains why we sometimes panic too much about pandemics, and how media and the government escalates these issues.

On the other hand here is a very interesting claim about the H1N1 flu or swine flu of which I am not surprised about, Claim: Swine Flu Possibly Created in the Lab, Submitted by Robert Roy Britt posted: 13 May 2009 12:58 pm ET, Livescience.com.

In addition, I found this article Pandemics and Pandemic Threats since 1900, an article outlining major pandemics that occurred since 1900 and some major pandemic threats. This article is from PandemicFlu.gov site, another great site to explore and educate yourself:

‘PandemicFlu.gov provides comprehensive government-wide information on pandemic influenza and avian influenza for the general public, health and emergency preparedness professionals, policy makers, government and business leaders, school systems, and local communities.’; Source: About Us, PandemicFlu.gov site.

To conclude this post I want to add one more link, a link to the Canadian site where you can find very useful information about fighting flu, protecting yourself, and the most recent status of the flu in your area or province – FightFlu.ca. Yes, protect yourself, and protect others.

What’s in the News: Swine Flu is Not Pig Related Flu

Misconception or not, the swine flue most likely originated from pigs, but the strain infecting people now is now strain that spreads among humans. You cannot get this virus from eating pork. However do not eat under cooked pork. Always cook well to destroy harmful bacteria and parasites like Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spiralis. Recommended temperature for pork is 170-175 F.

Here is one of the best explanations I found on the Internet which is worth reading.
Swine flu: Questions and Answers from GlobeandMail
This Really Has Nothing to Do With Pigs Any More; this is a human flu that has mutated from the host species. You can't get it from eating pork. Influenza viruses are not food-borne; by ANDRÉ PICARD, Tuesday's Globe and Mail, April 28, 2009 at 4:29 AM EDT

So now you know, but this news scares me a bit, Flu May Be Echo of 1918 Pandemic written by Sharon Kirkey, Canwest News Service, April 27, 2009. If you know anything about the Spanish flu from 1918 that killed millions and millions of people, this is not funny. Or other reading about this can be found here: A history of virus: Swine Flu Outbreak is No Plague Yet; Posted April 27, 2009, 2:08 PM by Shane Dingman, National Post.

Document Release: 0; Document Last Modified: April 28, 2009