ATLANTA (AP) — America's two swine flu deaths — a toddler and a pregnant…

"It's very important to get the vaccine next fall."

I tweeted it and got a bunch of RTs who'd been (briefly) taken in

There are still folks who trust the BBC, then. How sweet.

I tweeted it and got a bunch of RTs who'd been (briefly) taken in

everything left intact but the main article.

Yep, I'll admit to a 1/2 seconds worth of 'what the fu....?' while reading that.

Symptoms – what to do:
"If you feel yourself passing away, then notice your strength and vigor returning at an alarming rate, please attempt to restrain yourself to prevent infection and harm to others."

Better hope these ones can't run.

New Zealand now has six confirmed cases of swine flu with a further 11 "probable" cases, health officials say.

but then later on quotes verbatim some other story which says :

The following countries have reported laboratory…

bastards

Whooo..that was a bit to bitchy..sorry Gio...

No, it was fine. Of course we know about the prevalence of swine flu among pigs, in fact the company that runs the mega farm in Mexico that some blame for the original outbreak claims to run regular vaccination programs and check among…

From what I recall from The Scientist's coverage, jumping species is what creates the conditions for the virus to mutate.

Sure but eminent people seem to be rather unconcerned.

The pigs in Alberta were thought to be infected by a farm worker who returned from Mexico on April 12 and…

You had just been informed a smidgen upthread that you don't need to worry about that. Apparently. Focus, Brown!

I told you I was sick.

And, you know, I hovered over that one: it was a science story in The Independent after all (and by their science editor as well,…

In NZ one of the Hawke's Bay possibles (school trip that…

Meanwhile: Canadian guy infects pigs after returning from Mexico. That's a little unnerving.

You had just been informed a smidgen upthread that you don't need to worry about that. Apparently. Focus, Brown!

ohh, now that's not going to cause a mild panic, is it?

McCauley was guilty of some extremely dramatic forecasts if bird flu caught on, too:

"There's no reason to say the virus will not continue to evolve so that it can transmit directly from one person to another. There's…

Apparently it's rather common.

Apparently, I give up.

The death toll of the H1N1 virus could reach 50million – as high as the Spanish Flu of 1918, according to John McCauley, of the National Institute For Medical…

Meanwhile, first cases of the virus spreading from humans to pigs, in Canada. Not that the eminent epidemiologists and virologists on this thread should feel any concern, naturally.

it seems the eminent epidemiologists and virologists anywhere seem rather unconcerned about this, so I'm not sure why we should be winding…

The joy of hindsight

It has nothing whatsoever to do with hindsight. There were quite a number of educated voices urging caution from day one, but they were largely ignored. When it was clear within a day or so that the claims coming out of Mexico were suspect and perhaps…

Myself, I'd like to see how it got this far without the evidence to support the conclusions that seemed to have been drawn by people we trust to know better.

Two weeks ago there was no way to know this wasn't deadly serious. And reports from…

Those cuuute little piglets.

Hogwash. Those cuties grow up to resemble some mediaeval concept of the antichrist. Left unsupervised they'll cheerfully devour their arguably cuter nominal cousins, the guinea pigs.

Swine fever at a Japanese petting zoo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o31rT0QilvI

Those cuuute little piglets.

Hogwash. Those cuties grow up to resemble some mediaeval concept of the antichrist. Left unsupervised they'll cheerfully devour their arguably cuter nominal cousins, the guinea pigs.

Swine fever at a Japanese petting zoo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o31rT0QilvI

Poorer countries can have all their diseases, as long as they keep them to themselves.

And they keep sending the pork to us. I'm doing some reading on the food conglomerate behind those mega pig farms and it's... juicy stuff.

Happened with Argentina too, didn't it? The West obsessed about…

Experts warned the virus could mutate and come back with a vengeance.

As a person who gets pissed off the media headlining with uninformed people with no qualifications all the time, it'd be a little hypocritical for me to bitch about them giving lots of space to "people who have…

The 'element of vaudeville' you describe has been centre stage for some time now.

But nowhere more than with Indonesia's Health minister whose statements here are pretty firm evidence that, in this country at least, intellect is not a prerequisite for higher office.

If somebody has been crying wolf it's the WHO, and a bunch of the world's leading virologists, and I doubt they did that either.

If not crying wolf I can't help feeling that they are playing to this as much as anyone. The governmental pressure, coming from public panic must…

And in general I've found the coverage a lot more sane and balanced than the coverage of most other things –

When 'most other things' consists of 'Editor's picks' such as Linsey Lohan's latest tattoo, well naturally. The 'element of vaudeville' you describe has been centre stage for some time…

Yes, except... no. It's not what happened at all.

Ah . . . so, for example, "Nick Smith stricken with suspected Coughing Pig Death" isn't alarmist nonsense. I stand corrected.

Yes, except... no. It's not what happened at all.

Ah . . . so, for example, "Nick Smith stricken with suspected Coughing Pig Death" isn't alarmist nonsense. I stand corrected.

When the media cries wolf – which is pretty much what's been happening of late

Yes, except... no. It's not what happened at all. If somebody has been crying wolf it's the WHO, and a bunch of the world's leading virologists, and I doubt they did that either. I think…

But a pandemic will come, and it will hit disproportionately the people who are now dying of forgotten diseases like malaria and the measles. So it doesn't actually do those people any service at all to dismiss this event like a media beat-up.

When the media cries wolf – which…

Experts warned the virus could mutate and come back with a vengeance.

Because it could.

"with a vengeance". That's a little more personification than I can take with my morning coffee.

And billions spent on preparedness and prevention of bird flu and swine flu are most emphatically *not* wasted even from a second and third world perspective. They are everybody's insurance policy

I'm not necessarily taking issue with much of what you say but panics like bird flu and this current…

Unless of course someone can point me in the direction of an NZ Herald front page story about the 200,000 kids in South Asia who died of waterborn diseases in 2007. No, I thought not.

No, of course not. But isn't that a deeply rooted problem that goes far beyond…

So it doesn't actually do those people any service at all to dismiss this event like a media beat-up.

Not quite true. It takes the focus one step further away from the real problems facing people day to day in the developing and still to be developing world. Dengue (which…

As usual, the Opinionated Diner does a great job of putting things in proportion.

And again, I'm going to have to question those proportions.

Swine flu may be fizzing out, although I'd hesitate to say that we're out of the woods yet. But a pandemic will come, and it will…

Alternative viewpoints are useful to filter and question the received wisdom and official party lines, and sure, the mainstream media are crap at so much of what they do. But reflexive disbelief a-la Poneke is just as bad, if not in fact worse.

Nicely nailed. Projecting one's own credulity onto…

Experts warned the virus could mutate and come back with a vengeance.

Because it could. Frankly, when the media get the blame for reporting on the concern of the experts, I get very worried. And I was frankly aghast at the smarmy, kneejerk, uninformed scepticism of a fair few voices…

Michael Laws is to particapatory democracy what Adolf Hitler was to representative democracy.
They both use fundamentaly good systems for the worst possible outcomes. This isn't…

As someone who has made a career of pedalling hysterical rubbish

You mistook this for the cycleway thread?

So all I'll say is what a complete and utter person he is.

Heh!

And now swine flu this concoction of public health officials and hysterical news media, both looking to justify their drawing of a salary from someone else's pocket. Indeed, it is not simply hysterical rubbish. It is a…

Parmageddon.

Roflnui

The trouble with drugs that make you feel better but don't stop you being infectious should be obvious: you get up from your sick bed and go out spreading the flu to everyone else.

Although in a true pandemic situation, it might be a bit like trying to run through the rain and not get wet – some of the drops are going to miss, but even with an umbrella it's inevitable you'll get hit in the end.

Heh, that's a good way of…

WRT oseltamivir and zanamivir (Tamiflu and Relenza)

The reviewers asked two questions: do these drugs treat flu? And do they prevent it?
.
.
The group treated with zanamivir were 24% more likely to have their flu symptoms alleviated than the placebo group, at a given…

it is best to maintain the English tradition of avoiding people to whom you have not been introduced, especially when they are children, or black.

Or white and weedy, like the guy in the ad.

But actually, avoiding children is not a bad idea. Three years ago I went to…

It was highly unlikely he had it anyway as He'd been travelling Asia, not Mexico or North America.

Still it did have a…

Hats, scarves and gloves come back into fashion.
On warmer days these could be white silk, add top hat and tails to suit, take too martines and call me in the morning.

Goodness Emma, that's a bit callous. But I suppose if they're going to die, then down at the doctor's is as a good a place as any.

Just so long as they don't take any medical professionals with them. And actually, if all the fatalities could be programmers with well-paid…

Meh. I've been wondering how long it'll take the 'I have a sniffle' panic crowd to die down at the doctor's.

I tried phoning the emergency number, but all I got was crackling on the line.

But it's alright, because I've heard that Lemsip will shortly be available in apple…

But I suppose if they're going to die, then down at the doctor's is as a good a place as any.

Probably not very good advertising for the doctor though. I mean, you think at least they'd call an ambulance so they can die in hospital.

Meh. I've been wondering how long it'll take the 'I have a sniffle' panic crowd to die down at the doctor's.

Goodness Emma, that's a bit callous. But I suppose if they're going to die, then down at the doctor's is as a good a place as any.

he has urged family members to avoid airplanes and subways.

The Brits reckon you riding the elevator will kill you. (The page is in Italian but the video is in English).

No, that would be Joe Biden:

Ouch

he has urged family members to avoid airplanes and subways.

Meh. I've been wondering how long it'll take the 'I have a sniffle' panic crowd to die down at the doctor's. I need to take my daughter for her gardasil vaccinations.

More like surgical removal of foot from mouth

No, that would be Joe Biden:

The day after President Barack Obama urged the flu-worried masses to stay calm, Vice President Joe Biden went off the rails, saying he has urged family members to avoid airplanes and subways.

I'm yet to be convinced that has anything to do with the flu.

I really value Poneke's presenece, but his take on scepticism is often all attitude and not much reason.

He's very enlightened on some topics, unreconstructed on others. the only consistent thing about him is his inconsistency..

That flu had only a less than 2 per cent case fatality rate, which is to say more than 98 per cent of the people who…

The World Health Organisation has increased their alert level to 5, indicating that a pandemic is now almost inevitable. Bear in mind, however, that we essentially get a pandemic of influenza every year. Although this virus is likely to be significantly more dangerous…

There is officially nothing that irritates me more than the idea that this is a media beat up. It isn't. The WHO for one is not in the business of spreading panic in order to help newspaper sales.

It's often said that it's only a matter of time before a…

True, and I think that Poneke's take on this is ridiculous to the point of being dangerous.

I really value Poneke's presenece, but his take on scepticism is often all attitude and not much reason.

Like, don't get him started on Y2K.

Having actually been an IT reporter through the…

I dunno if that was Sebastien Chabal, but if anyone's playing for Team Evil it's him.

Clearly he is. My nine year old, everytime he sees a picture of Chabal chants (in perfect pitch)... Captain Caaaveman!

And I swear he has never seen the damn show. Clearly it is yet…

The WHO for one is not in the business of spreading panic in order to help newspaper sales.

Probably not, but the tin-foil hatters out there will probably suspect it's a false flag concocted by Viadoxin.

That tends to happen to people who get flu, however much it may disappoint editors.

Well put. It reminds me of Editing The Herald, where it was suggested that one story could have had the headline "Boy coughs. Gets better".

There is officially nothing that irritates me more than the…

Bloody hell.

A couple from Airdrie who caught the flu on holiday in Cancun are getting better. That tends to happen to people who get flu, however much it may disappoint editors.

Who was the French player who scored the winning try against the ABs in the 2007 WC? He must be a contender for the Devil Incarnate, badness through and through.

I dunno if that was Sebastien Chabal, but if anyone's playing for Team Evil it's him.

I'm sure there's a reality TV show in this swine flu. I'm picturing a tropical island, two teams of Z-list celebrities, and a lethal virus. The teams battle it out to infect each other, and each week the person with the most points gets the Tamiflu.

Two words: Ratings. Winner.

…

Which I think is something that needs to be fully tested on some really stupid TV show.

Call Paul Henry!

But I found this:
Shock horror: £2 for a Rugby World Cup match in Invercargill

Snerk! Who's that big Aussie rugby player? Mortlock? He can be part of The Evil Scrum of this Earth.

Mortlock is the Evil Wizard Gargamel, Jed Thian says so.

To be fair to Anne, she specified that you don't need to to join a church or religious group

She's clearly deluded. Everyone knows you won't get to heaven unless you have a pastor/bishop who has a boat and drives a late model car.

And if you do live a good life, ask the Lord for His Protection. Not God. The Lord.

Is there some power struggle going on Up Above that we need to be made aware of?

Who's that big Aussie rugby player?

Matt Dunning? The one with no neck?

Also, Mortlock is a centre, he most certainly doesn't scrum down.

I was going with 'scariest-looking Australian rugby player' though. Because it's an Eeeeeevil Scrum, you know?

It's a pity that it doesn?t seem to affect those ones that live bad lives.

Who knew that being evil would stop you from getting the flu?

Please excuse me while I find some old ladies to mug.

That depends on which church you belong to.

To be fair to Anne, she specified that you don't need to to join a church or religious group.

Also, Mortlock is a centre, he most certainly doesn't scrum down.

How easy is that, and it costs you absolutely nothing.

That depends on which church you belong to.

the evil scrum of this earth

Snerk! Who's that big Aussie rugby player? Mortlock? He can be part of The Evil Scrum of this Earth.

Just you, asking the Lord for his help. How easy is that, and it costs you absolutely nothing.

This sounds fair. Anne relies on prayer for protection, and I get to go through her house and take all the labels off everything.

No I am not concerned at all. It's just gives more money to the pharmaceutial companies. Now how would a face mask stop a flu virus, it's not passed by sneezing or sitting next to…

Which I think is something that needs to be fully tested on some really stupid TV show

I'm sure there's a reality TV show in this swine flu. I'm picturing a tropical island, two teams of Z-list celebrities, and a lethal virus. The teams battle it out to infect each…

I think Anderton should be told of this new way in which Drugs Are Bad Mmk.

There is also a non-zero chance that you can win lotto three weeks in a row (if you buy a ticket each week).

Actually, there's a non zero chance that you could win if you don't buy a ticket. Someone might gift you one.

That's my justification for not paying…

Which I think is something that needs to be fully tested on some really stupid TV show.

I found it interesting that the virologist on Morning Report the other day said that catching the virus from eating pork was unlikely. He didn't say it was impossible, or that it's not the way it works.

That was because he was speaking in the media as a virologist. There…

but being an ambience chaser from way back
this is great stuff – haunting, oddly oriental,

I keep thinking it should have some chance-based dance choreography to go with it.

if one indulged in eating live pigs that had flu symptoms, well, there might be some risk involved...

More importantly, you'd also have a very pissed off pig!

There's an interesting column by Ben Goldacre

Great column from him, as usual.

Loving the 'The Aporkalypse'. My new favourite word.

"Look at me I am Peter Dunne leader of a Minnow Party that wants media attention"…

would prefer "North American influenza"

That's certainly a nicely generic title. Doesn't attribute to any particular ethnicity or country, and would shut up that silly Israeli cabinet minister. I suspect that it's too late, though.

I found it interesting that the virologist on Morning Report the other day said that catching the virus from eating pork was unlikely. He didn't say it was impossible, or that it's not the way it works.

Doctors are like that. There's always room for error, or for unexpected consequences.…

World Health Organization has gone from alert 4 to 5 (out of 6),…

some countries, led by Russia and China, have banned US pork imports.

I found it interesting that the virologist on Morning Report the other day said that catching the virus from eating pork was unlikely. He didn't say it was impossible, or that it's not the way it works.

Egypt, hit hard by bird flu, has ordered the slaughter of every pig herd in the country as a precaution against swine flu, a step the United Nations said was a mistake.

The H1N1 swine flu virus is spread by people and is not…

By Tuesday, pundit-seekers from the media were suddenly contacting me, a massive nobody, to say that swine flu is all nonsense and hype, like some kind of blind, automated naysaying device....

I'm not showing off. I know I'm a…

Kathleen Sebelius wins Senate confirmation Tuesday as US Health and Human Services secretary.

Wednesday: she's responsible for the swine flu response.

having sent a fragile (but lightningproof) infant* upstairs, I can confirm
that it is the Penguin Classics version of Boccaccio, trans. G. H. McWilliam. My Montaigne, "Complete Essays" is trans. M. A. Screech-

*technically (nextdoor's infants…

Montaigne? For nightstand reading?

I love…

Symptoms of swine flu include looking pale, weak and delirious and having a runny nose.

Well, he must have it then. Because those are clearly Swine Flu symptoms, and definitely not the symptoms of being a talentless crackhead.

*notable among other things for using (sic) a lot even though they clearly don't know what it means.

No, don't be daft! Lets just verbatim quote the UTTERLY UNINFORMED OPINION OF SOME RANDOM MOUTH WHO HAPPENED TO BE ON THE PLANE!

You would have enjoyed the Daily Show tonight. Jason Jones reporting from the "Center for stuff I heard from some guy".

What really got my goat about…

Ahhhh... so that's what a douchebag is!

Despite having read The World According to Garp I still only have a vague idea about what a DB is in real life.

the character notation looks like
"12 Monkeys'" typing
(and not a sonnet in sight!)

but being an ambience chaser from way back
this is great stuff – haunting, oddly oriental,
sinister perhaps (is DNA "handed"?)
disquieting? nothing ENO can't quell...

have you tried the Ramone…

Ah, the internet.

Ahhhh... so that's what a douchebag is!

Slightly off-topic, but he does have 'local' competiton

"owning commuter ferry operator Fullers Ferries, the bus company Howick & Eastern, both operating in Auckland, and 25% of Wellington bus operator Mana Coach Services"

Isn't public transport meant to be the attractive alternative?

enjoyed the Daily Show tonight

And wasn't the French Finance Minister great? Even slipped a joke by the host.

And, if only everything was reported in French we wouldn't worry so much. Hell, even their Finance Minister is sexy with that sexy accent,as my man commented just as I…

On the other hand, seeing as this strain seems to be so mild, it might be better to get it now than a later, possibly more virulent strain.

Let's have swine flu parties.

The good news, is that they are all still alive.

Not just alive, but mostly fully recovered.

I'm actually slightly more worried about being in Christchurch, seeing as it took so long for the passengers from that plane who came here to be tracked down. The UC students and professors…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhlhE32SoXs

Just in. All 10 swine flu tests back from Australia. All positive.

Ahh, now I get your tweet, I thought you were talking about Australia tests of Australians, but you mean of Kiwis. I'm not less sympathetic, but I'll confess my sensitivities are about family, some of whom work in…

enjoyed the Daily Show tonight

And wasn't the French Finance Minister great? Even slipped a joke by the host.

No, don't be daft! Lets just verbatim quote the UTTERLY UNINFORMED OPINION OF SOME RANDOM MOUTH WHO HAPPENED TO BE ON THE PLANE! WHAT A FUCKING GREAT IDEA! HOLD THE FRONT PAGE!

You would have enjoyed the Daily Show tonight. Jason Jones reporting from the "Center for stuff I heard…

Three of 11 tests back, all positive, authorities therefore assume entire group is positive.

Why isn't the first immediate public health step in this epidemic the use of surgical masks? When my sister lived in Japan whenever anyone had a simple head cold they would wear a surgical mask out…

That comparison is grossly unfair to all the unfortunate sufferers from phallocranial syndrome.

Kronfeld – verb 1. To turn the tables on an egotistic celebrity presenter.

Update: Darnn 3 News teasers. Three of 11 tests back, all positive, authorities therefore assume entire group is positive.

And wouldn't Mexican influenza be offensive to, you know, Mexicans?

Oh I dunno.Could beat being called drug traffickers,wetbacks,Spics (all my life ;) We're invading, you know! Where is Knowledge Bro when ya need him?

That comparison is grossly unfair to all the unfortunate sufferers from phallocranial syndrome.

Tee hee.

We're at terror alert orange! Which means something might go down somewhere in some way at some point in time.
So look sharp!

lol,Now I'm thinking of the Sat Night live skit with Jim Carey and friends out for an evening.:)

It already has. I'd say "picture or it never happened", but it's you...

As the dude said: there is history. Gotta love that Wikipedia.

It's all a plot by the abortionists!

Let's not be having any more crazy theories and conspiracies.

If Lincoln had just listened to his Secretary of State in 1861 and annexed Mexico, this pandemic wouldn't have happened. Can't have a Mexican flu without a Mexico, can you?

So Abraham Lincoln's…

Let's give a friendly wave to the coming apocalypse & call it Pirate Flu.

The ninjas might object.

but I can't see Israel being so keen on "Yankee flu", somehow.

Let's give a friendly wave to the coming apocalypse & call it Pirate Flu.

(Also, who knew Ryall was a Douglas Adams fan?)

(no doubt it will be removed soon)

It already has. I'd say "picture or it never happened", but it's you...

Same for planes, which filter the air pretty well.

Is that true. This may be UL but I did hear that one side effect of banning smoking on planes was that the airlines now hardly do any filtering and that this in turn makes it easier for infections to spread…

Swine flu is nothing to worry about the media is over-covering it and making people panic when its not neccesary.

The internet makes diseases so much more entertaining.

I'd have thought that, based upon the logic of Israel's Rodney Hide, it would be offensive to those who have a religious abolition against eating Mexicans.

Well, if somebody suggested it's not okay to eat Mexican, OTOH, I would be very offended.

And wouldn't Mexican influenza be offensive to, you know, Mexicans?

I'd have thought that, based upon the logic of Israel's Rodney Hide, it would be offensive to those who have a religious abolition against eating Mexicans.

I suspect that former, since the 3News graphics crew has until now never screwed up an image ;)

The lack of skill of whoever does their photoshopping does tend to boggle the mind, it is true.

“If there’s even a hint that... well, it almost defies imagination that they’d be willing to that.”

Brilliant.
So IF there WAS a hint of something then it would be bad. What a scoop.

And Israel is demanding that the name be changed to "Mexican Influenza" because "Swine flu" is offensive to Jews and Muslims.

And wouldn't Mexican influenza be offensive to, you know, Mexicans?

I was just talking to Wendy Wright, the president of the conservative group Concerned Women for America, about the nomination of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kans.) to run the Department of Health and Human Services. The group opposes the nomination, and Wright is raising some questions about the timing…