Swine Flu Pandemic - Declared

The WHO has officially said it, spread of this flu strain is a "pandemic".

The term's meaning has been modified a few times since the last huge ones(1968, 1957). But it generally means what they say it does, significantly measurable rates of infection in x number of countries.

About half of those in the US.

Not quite 30,000 people in 74 countries, and it's killed 140+ people. A lower rate of lethality than other influenza strains, still, it's flu.

The UN claims it wishes to avoid spreading "panic". Words, deeds, etc.

I'm probably out here in left by myself, but I'm interested in seeing the effect of immunization (H1N1) and how that may have lowered lethality in this particular strain. The last bad round of H1N1 was called "Russian Flu", a 1977-78 epidemic. They've included that booger in the brew since then, which may have helped those of us who take the shots every year.

Also don't cough on me.

posted by Dave In Texas at 09:50 PM

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