Swine Flu

[miss_s_b]

We're not actually going to be able to STOP swine flu, are we? Surely it would be better to LET it spread, get it over with, and then we would have herd immunity? Why are we prolonging the agony? It's not like the world isn't over-populated anyway...

Why yes, I AM feeling particularly grumpy today. I suspect it is something to do with having woken up at half past five in the frigging morning. Still, at least I have heard News Briefing and Farming Today for the first time ever.

Comments

[andrewhickey.info]

There's a very good chance swine flu will burn itself out very quickly - it's only about a 1% chance it'll actually be a devastating 1918-style pandemic. One will happen sooner or later, unfortunately, but we can hope this one won't be it...

And unfortunately things like that *will* get worse, because the world *is* overpopulated. I'd join the Optimum Population Trust if they weren't insane fascist arseholes...

[professoryaffle.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately it appears to be the type of flu which causes immune systems storms and killing the young and healthy which isn't the best demographic to target when reducing the worlds population

Hopefully this will run a similar course to SARS and people will die and that will be terrible but it won't actually turn into anything serious

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

yeah Cytokine Storms are what made people's systems go haywire during the 1918 pandemic. I'm watching this very closely because my parents live near Mexico, and trying very hard not to smack someone on my F List who has started a stupid conspiracy theory about it and said "wouldn't that be fun?"

[innerbrat]

It makes me sad when people talk about culling humans, or letting people die 'for the good of the species.'

Demonic advocation

[miss_s_b]

Surely killing the young and healthy (i.e. people of breeding age) is the best way to combat overpopulation?

[miss_s_b]

I suspect it's not for the good of the species, since the gene pool would be reduced. It'd probably be for the good of lots of other species, though.

Sorry. I are v grumpy today.

[innerbrat]

That's OK, you're allowed to be grumpy. I just wanted to say that.

[miss_s_b]

* hug *

Going back to bed now.

Re: Demonic advocation

[professoryaffle.livejournal.com]

Also the best way to actually send humanity towards extinction.

If the death rate remained about the 5% it currently it might not be too bad. If it increased society would grind to a halt and it would all be too much

That is of course completely ignoring the horror the epidemic would be if it killed 5% of the worlds population

[andrewhickey.info]

Absolutely. We could do with a few fewer people on the planet, but that should be achieved by giving people control over their reproduction, *not* by killing/allowing to die those who are already here...

[djm4]

The people who will survive will be the rich, and those with no scruples about hoarding supplies and resources, and killing others to get them. And the isolationists. And those who would rather sit out the epidemic in a bunker than help those suffering.

We may usher in a brave new world, but it will not have people like us in it. Which is probably just as well; I'd hate it, wouldn't you?

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

Disease is indiscriminate. If it is the type of flu that causes Cytokine storms then it won't matter one iota whether you're rich or poor, because having a healthy immune system means dick in that situation.

[djm4]

If it ends up being just the disease that kills people, I agree. I fear that the numbers the disease will kill may be tiny compared to those killed by a mad scramble to hoard resources. And that will favour the rich, which is unfortunate, because the rich will hoard proportionately more resources than they need, making the shortage all the more acute.

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

No, makes sense.

Admittedly I'll be stocking up after payday to be on the safe side. I'm not panicking yet, but I'd rather be cautious.

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

FWIW I think Jennie was just being darkly hyperbolic.

Other people I've read today though...my god they need a smack.

[andrewhickey.info]

Oh, I know she was - I don't tend to invite people who are in favour of genocide round to my house to watch Doctor Who ;)

[miss_s_b]

I am so very glad I do not work at Morrisons any more. It was a massacre there whenever there was shit like this in the news.

Meanwhile, the media are causing a massive panic over something which has a roughly 1% chance of actually becoming a pandemic, and I'm tired of hyperbole. Hopefully the disease will take the journalists first.

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

The worst one I've seen is in today's Metro. If you value your blood pressure don't read it.

Just out of interest, where does the 1% stat come from?

[miss_s_b]

I read it at about 6.30 this morning and can't remember, but there was a quote from An Eminent Scientist...

[shishmish.livejournal.com]

My mum has had customers in (she works in a pharmacy) demanding that they give them something to save them from this, either it be a mask, anti-virals or flu medicine. She's been repeating the same 'You're fine, we're fine. When the EU says OH FUCK WE'RE DOOMED then stick your head between your legs'

I feel for GPs at the moment with the paranoia setting in - I can't imagine how many 'I'm dying from Swine Flu!' calls and appointments they've had.