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| "Patient Zero" in the Swine Flu Epidemic Identified" (genghis)The really sad part is that it's a 5-year old kid. "LA GLORIA, Mexico (CNN) -- Tucked away in this small mountain village, off a dusty road flanked by pig farms, is where the earliest case of swine flu -- a virus spreading globally -- was confirmed." "Meet the child known as "patient zero" by his doctors -- 5-year-old Edgar Hernandez, who survived the earliest documented case of swine flu in an outbreak that, officials say, has now spread across four continents." "His family lives in the 3,000-population village of La Gloria in the state of Veracruz, where a flu outbreak was reported on April 2. State officials arrived and took samples from dozens of people."The poor kid is going to have to undeservedly carry around this burden for years, and perhaps the rest of his life as people blame him for the deaths of their family members or friends. Many will lash out at him irrationally (though I hope I'm wrong) when they should instead be asking their so-called leaders why Mexico seems to be such a fucked-up basket case of graft, corruption and drug warlords among other things. Comments1
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Posted by: genghis at April 29, 2009 07:07 AM (1XErj) 2
You really think people are going to blame a 5 year old because he got sick?
I'm going to blame the same people I blame every time we get a new disease panic: the media and politicians, and the gullible people who listen to them when they say the world is coming to an end because some disease is killing people on various continents. That's what diseases do. Posted by: BurtTC at April 29, 2009 07:12 AM (sKauv) 3
This case really brings to light the "Six degree" theory, although I suspect by this point it's even tighter than that.
Posted by: Stitches at April 29, 2009 07:12 AM (KyqYb) 4
It's more likely that he's merely the first survivor than the true "Patient Zero". Those tend to die in a deadly-disease outbreak. As for Mexico, they're more interested in getting California and Texas back. Posted by: steveegg at April 29, 2009 07:13 AM (UGOcx) 5
If I was him, and some demented idiot tried to start crap and blame me, I would simply cough on him.
Posted by: Captain Crunch at April 29, 2009 07:14 AM (RUzMf) 6
I have looked all over the web, but I cannot find info on the symptoms. They list the symptoms but do not say if one symp. stands out, if one is worse in kids, if you have to have the coughing, etc., etc. There should be one or two symptoms that are almost always present, or t least stronger than with a normal flu bug. The Brits are handing out fact sheets to every house. Most countries are closing borders, not allowing Mex. children to go to school, handing out masks, etc. I don't agree with all the panic-related decisions, but O hasn't really done anything except force through the confirmation of a lady that received tons of support from a KKK member and a baby killer. Posted by: outraged at April 29, 2009 07:16 AM (penCf) 7
Patient zero... blah blah... pitty..... blah blah.... sorrow.... 5 year old.... blah blah.... GRAFT!!! CORRUPTION!!! DRUG LORDS!!!!
Wow!... surprise ending. WTF Gen? Posted by: Jahiliyya at April 29, 2009 07:16 AM (3hezO) 8
7Patient zero... blah blah... pitty..... blah blah.... sorrow.... 5 year old.... blah blah.... GRAFT!!! CORRUPTION!!! DRUG LORDS!!!! I don't know what your problem is dickhead, but one more comment like that and your comments start vanishing mysteriously. Posted by: genghis at April 29, 2009 07:24 AM (1XErj) 9
Thank the One that we now have Kathleen Sebelius in there fighting the flu for us. I didn't know if we were going to make it, what with those nasty RINOs like Susan Collins and Chuck Schumer trying to do us in. Posted by: huerfano at April 29, 2009 07:24 AM (knHvu) 10
2You really think people are going to blame a 5 year old because he got sick? Most won't but some will, human nature being what it is. Like I said, I hope I'm wrong about that. Posted by: genghis at April 29, 2009 07:27 AM (1XErj) 11
I don't know, I think it would add insane amounts of street cred. It might put a massive chip on his shoulder and lead him on a path to world domination. I'd have loved to have been "patient zero".
Plus, "Patient Zero" would make a great band name. Posted by: Tokin42 at April 29, 2009 07:28 AM (VK9r3) 12
google has a 'track the swine flu' map, yet it doesn't show where people have died from it. If their speculations are true, and this things "tweaks" itself, I would like to know where the deaths have accured. Just saying.
Posted by: outraged at April 29, 2009 07:29 AM (penCf) 13
Sebelius's prescription? Late-term abortions all around. Good for what ails yah.
Posted by: Techie at April 29, 2009 07:31 AM (QYuCD) Posted by: huerfano at April 29, 2009 07:32 AM (knHvu) 15
I agree with Vilsac, using Swine Flu doesn't really describe the virus correctly. I much prefer Napolitano Flu, or DHS Flu.
Don't forget to remove your belt and shoes. kiddies! Posted by: dr kill at April 29, 2009 07:37 AM (JWAjn) 16
Three Californian surgeons were playing golf together and discussing surgeries they had performed. One of them said, "I'm the best surgeon in California . In my favorite case, a concert pianist lost several fingers in an accident, I reattached them, and 8 months later he performed a private concert for the Queen of England ."
The second surgeon said, "That's nothing. A young man lost an arm and both legs in an accident, I reattached them and two years later he won a gold medal in track and field events at the Olympics."
The third surgeon said, "You guys are amateurs. Several years ago a woman was high on cocaine and marijuana and she rode a horse head-on into a train traveling 80 miles an hour. All I had left to work with was the woman's hair and the horse's ass. I was able to put them together and now she's Speaker of the House." Posted by: maddogg at April 29, 2009 07:38 AM (OlN4e) 17
The first US death from the swine flu was confirmed, a 2 year old kid. Why is it that other countries are closing their borders and/or not allowing flights from Mexico, but we're not doing shit? Is this serious or not? The media is acting like it is, the gubment isn't.
Posted by: yinzer at April 29, 2009 07:38 AM (/Mla1) Posted by: Monty at April 29, 2009 07:40 AM (/0a60) 19
You really think people are going to blame a 5 year old because he got sick? No, but then again, I never thought people would ever elect an America hating, pompus, ignorant, no taste, morally empty, encomiast either. Posted by: outraged at April 29, 2009 07:41 AM (penCf) 20
The poor kid is going to have to undeservedly carry around this burden
for years, and perhaps the rest of his life as people blame him for the
deaths of their family members or friends...
Yeah? Well maybe the little bastard will think next time before he starts a worldwide pandemic! Posted by: Kasper Hauser at April 29, 2009 07:41 AM (ZPwZl) 21
Swine Flu, the latest Obammy fake crisis. Look at that cute pony over there!
Posted by: maddogg at April 29, 2009 07:41 AM (OlN4e) 22
Patient Zero this. Patient Zero that. It's always about your precious fucking Patient Zero. If you like him so much, why don't you marry him? I....I mean, it's not like he knew what he was doing. He five fucking years old alright? Five. Fucking. Years. I mean, c'mon! All the endorsements. The signings and bonuses. They should be mine, man. I worked for it. Rolled around for years in pig shit. Years!!!! Licked pig ass. Pig snout.... It.....it's just not fair..... It shoulda been me, man. I....I coulda been vector. Posted by: Patient Four at April 29, 2009 07:42 AM (oEAm5) 23
Patient Four, you could always spread it to the U.S., allowing the Bammer to push his socialized medicine, then you could probably become a czar.
Posted by: yinzer at April 29, 2009 07:44 AM (/Mla1) 24
More like a Clive Cussler novel, I hope.
Posted by: Techie at April 29, 2009 07:45 AM (QYuCD) 25
Many will lash out at him irrationally (though I hope I'm wrong) when they should instead be asking their so-called leaders why Mexico seems to be such a fucked-up basket case of graft, corruption and drug warlords among other things. Three words: It's Bush's fault. Posted by: Tinian at April 29, 2009 07:45 AM (70sTG) 26
In response to this news, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano promptly sent all Border Patrol Agents to secure the Canadian border.
Posted by: yinzer at April 29, 2009 07:47 AM (/Mla1) 27
Most of the Flu, poverty, drugs, corruption , graft, and clap in Mexico were purchased in the United States.
/Jeeze, don't you morons understand basic truths? Posted by: maddogg at April 29, 2009 07:48 AM (OlN4e) 28
look for msm to find a way this disease spreading can be blamed on us americans, with green propaganda, glob. warming trifecta even, much like taking the drug cartel gun problem onto our shoulders. Posted by: uncle_rico at April 29, 2009 07:50 AM (/quT3) Posted by: Things in Jahiliyya's ass at April 29, 2009 07:50 AM (IHG5s) 30
"why Mexico Washington DC seems to be such a fucked-up basket case of graft, corruption and drug warlords among other things"
Fixed it for ya. Posted by: Sgt. Rock at April 29, 2009 07:57 AM (cWg6W) 31
"Veracruz, where a flu outbreak was reported on April 2."
Posted by: answer please at April 29, 2009 07:58 AM (zplc6) 32
Many will lash out at him irrationally when they should instead be asking their so-called leaders why Mexico America seems to be such a fucked-up basket case of graft, corruption and drug warlords among other things. I wonder if this will happen Chairman Zero in a couple of years. Posted by: Eric at April 29, 2009 07:58 AM (MFvqO) 33
OT Barack needs a Simon Cowell by Nile Gardiner via The Telegraph * As Barack Obama marks his 100th day in office, it's hard to think of anything of real substance the president has achieved. * In terms of national security the Obama administration has already succeeded in demoralizing the intelligence services . . . * It's even worse on the world stage where President Obama has prostrated the greatest power on the face of the earth before France and Germany, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela (to name just a few), and apologized for almost every conceivable policy of the previous administration, as though the United States had just been liberated from a brutal tyranny. * To all intents and purposes President Obama heads an "American Idol"-style White House obsessed with image and spin, and the ultimate goal of winning popularity across the globe . . . It's a shame the president doesn't have a Simon Cowell to tell him he's off the charts, instead of a liberal-dominated and highly deferential U.S. media that unfailingly cheers his every note. Best thing I have read in 100 days.
Posted by: outraged at April 29, 2009 07:58 AM (penCf) 34
I'm just wondering what was going on in the minds of the CNN editors/producers/whoever makes this decision when they named the kid.
Nobody--least of all a 5 year old--plans to get a flu, which if you believe the hype, has the potential to become a pandemic. Its not as if he was some swarthy dude with a vial full of anthrax sneaking into an airplane/a mall/a sporting event to spread his germs. Assuming the public health authorities have got this "Patient Zero" found accurately, he's just the human that the virus first made the jump to. It could have been a 15 year old, a 25 year old or a 55 year old. I don't see any difference. This complaint is for both the public health authorities and the media, but if it could have been anybody, then what's the value of naming the one that it turned out to be? And especially, given that Patient Zero turns out to be a kid, why name him at all? Wouldn't they protect his name if he had been the victim of something else that wasn't his fault, like a rape? Posted by: azlibertarian at April 29, 2009 08:04 AM (jimzX) Posted by: torabora at April 29, 2009 08:05 AM (yPznK) 36
I say we re-name the swine flu virus. Let's see.......how bout undocumented guest micro-organism? Mehh....I'm open to suggestion. Posted by: pendejo grande at April 29, 2009 08:06 AM (PXZI9) Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 29, 2009 08:08 AM (MlEgW) 38
First of all, how do we know that THIS is the epidemic that will finally kill us all? Remember avian flu? West Nile virus? Every year it's some new pandemic that's gonna kill us all. Now, not being even close to a doctor, I can't say it's NOT the big one, because as someone who studies history we are overdue, but I'm skeptical. Secondly, whoever named this kid as "Patient Zero" should be shot for doing something to ruin the entire life of a 5 year old. Posted by: paranoidpyro at April 29, 2009 08:11 AM (3WHpf) 39
At least the AP can stop looking for an American scapegoat. Yesterday, they posted two articles on Yahoo news that all but blamed the USA for the outbreak.
Posted by: Dan F at April 29, 2009 08:12 AM (X69s8) 40
The swine flu epidemic is yet another crisis I inherited from the previous administration. So, like the deficit, I plan to quadruple the number of people who get swine flu. Problem solved. Posted by: Barry Hussein Soetero Dunham Obama at April 29, 2009 08:13 AM (+Rw/9) 41
John Edwards has another Love Child in Mexico?.....And gave him this virus to get out of paying child support?
Posted by: hutch1200 at April 29, 2009 08:14 AM (TYqQt) 42
41 John Edwards has another Love Child in Mexico?.....And gave him this virus to get out of paying child support? I tried to stop him, but sometimes he has a mind of his own. Posted by: John Edwards' hair at April 29, 2009 08:15 AM (/Mla1) 43
We're gonna need at least 10 trillion for DHS/CDC and barrys' chicago BMF's to stop this.
Posted by: hutch1200 at April 29, 2009 08:17 AM (TYqQt) 44
OT but this deserves a flaming skull! Obama is actively supporting the "green" protesters. This video was on BBC NightNews. (last night I think) The reporter goes into a protest convention, and finds most of the speakers are cabinet members ans Interior staff. some are congresscritters. They actually say they are "here on behalf of Pres. Obama." The leader of the EPA even says the EPA is the backstop for the O Admin. They even teach these protesters how to resist arrest. Isn't this illegal? A Pres. actively supporting protesters to push his agenda? There is nothing ethical about this President! Posted by: outraged at April 29, 2009 08:17 AM (penCf) 45
@ 34 I'm just wondering what was going on in the minds of the CNN editors/producers/whoever makes this decision when they named the kid. Nobody--least of all a 5 year old--plans to get a flu, which if you believe the hype, has the potential to become a pandemic. That's right, asshole. Just keep rubbing it in. Just keep it up. See what it gets you. Posted by: Patient Four at April 29, 2009 08:19 AM (oEAm5) 46
Every year it's some new pandemic that's gonna kill us all. Well, sooner or later they'll be right, eventually. And then you'll wish you'd have listened! (Because... it's good to be right about what kills you maybe?) In the mean time, stay away from power lines, eggs, cell phones, microwaves, cigarettes, alchoholic beverages, non-alchoholic beverages... Posted by: Entropy at April 29, 2009 08:19 AM (m6c4H) Posted by: EC at April 29, 2009 08:21 AM (mAhn3) 48
has the potential to become a pandemic. Look, I have the potential to sire children with 8,000 different women and be elected King of Albania. Posted by: Entropy at April 29, 2009 08:21 AM (m6c4H) 49
You can’t invoke the “Six Degrees of Separation” theory in this case without resorting to the gratuitous Kevin Bacon joke.
Posted by: hank you, sir, may I have another at April 29, 2009 08:25 AM (Eozbq) Posted by: eman at April 29, 2009 08:29 AM (yBSws) 51
I was under the impression it was illegal to say a minors name in a story but I heard the boys name on FOX this morning and see that CNN let it out also. What is wrong with these people? We don't need to know the boys name.
Posted by: SkyWatch at April 29, 2009 08:33 AM (0ge2z) 52
Ah YES, another crisis for Rahmbutt to exploit. And get cash. Which is what crisis' are for.
Posted by: hutch1200 at April 29, 2009 08:35 AM (TYqQt) 53
It would seem fair to give the location, but give the germy little jerk a chance at a normal life.
Posted by: Who Knows at April 29, 2009 08:39 AM (7FgWm) 54
So... pigs do fly.
There is a sense of chaos in the hospitals and they do not know what to do. Staff are starting to leave and many are opting to retire or apply for holidays. The truth is that the mortality is even higher than what is being reported by the authorities. It is killing three to four patients daily, and it has been going on for more than three weeks. It is a shame and there is great fear there. Increasingly younger patients aged 20 to 30 years are dying before doctors helpless eyes and there is great sadness among health professionals there. Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 08:41 AM (/i4dU) 55
I say we re-name the swine flu virus.
As it has both avian and swine flu DNA, how 'bout "Flying Pig Flu"? Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at April 29, 2009 08:42 AM (IHG5s) 56
Posted by: outraged at April 29, 2009 08:17 AM (penCf)
Good link, outraged. High level government officials speaking at an activist rally while bashing oil companies, coal companies, utilities, and automakers? It does deserve a flaming skull. Posted by: yinzer at April 29, 2009 08:42 AM (/Mla1) 57
I've been in the medical field for over 20 years. What bothers me is that the Mexican gov. is so slow to release any demographics on the people infected or exposed. Our government isn't any better. Where is the chain of exposure? Where are the ill from? Are they related? Neighbors? Guests? Are they in frequent travel areas? (in the states, areas that have a high illegal population?) Is there any previous medical history? People forget that the flu kills 10's of thousands in the US each year. How many people have already had this or been exposed to it, have survived, and missed screening?
Posted by: katybeth at April 29, 2009 08:47 AM (EjA6p) 58
More and more patients are being admitted to the intensive care units. Despite the heroic efforts of all staff (doctors, nurses, specialists, etc) patients continue to inevitably die. The truth is that anti-viral treatments and vaccines are not expected to have any effect, even at high doses. The infection risk is very high among the doctors and health staff. Friends working in hospitals say that the situation is really bad, they are talking about 19 people dead in Oaxaca, including a doctor and a nurse.
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 08:47 AM (/i4dU) 59
/Jeeze, don't you morons understand basic truths? Yes, maddog. I read in the NYT that 90% of Mexican clap cases are exported from the U.S. I think Olbermann's using his tertiary syphilis to prove the point. Posted by: andycanuck at April 29, 2009 08:48 AM (MGu62) 60
8
I don't know what your problem is dickhead, but one more comment like that and your comments start vanishing mysteriously
LOL... Mr Internet tough guy. I was just trying to point out that your post ended in a little ramble. I don't see the logical connection between people blaming a 5 year old and Mexico being a corrupt place. Do you have issues with Mexico or Mexicans? Posted by: Jahiliyya at April 29, 2009 08:53 AM (D3MNp) 61
Sickinmass, do you have friends in Mexico? I'm seriously asking because we're not hearing that here and I'm in Houston.
Posted by: katybeth at April 29, 2009 08:57 AM (EjA6p) 62
I think there is a real lack of information and sadly, preventative action. In the capital of my friends state, Oaxaca, there is a hospital closed because of a death related to the porcine influenza. In the papers they recognize only two people dead for that cause. The doctors got shots but they were told not to talk about the real situation. The authorities say nothing. Life goes on as usual there.
What's really happening? I know vaccines are good for nothing, and if you take care, maybe you won't die, so, why not acknowledge the real situation? I know that the economic situation is not the best there, and it will worsen with panic. But panic comes from a lack of information. Many people travel for pleasure or without any real need. Stopping those unjustified trips can help a lot to ease the situation. Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 08:57 AM (/i4dU) 63
katybeth,
Yes. Whenever I open my email there's a couple of notes from friends filling me in. Would you like me to shoot them a question? Not.a.problem. Has your governor made good on his promise to send troops to the border yet? Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 09:01 AM (/i4dU) 64
Jahhiliya....obviously, we haven't convinced this one of the rightness of the coming of Azatlan. Obama will help us take care of that. Posted by: La Raza at April 29, 2009 09:01 AM (7FgWm) 65
Jeez, sickinmass...you're a sparkling ray of sunshine this morning!
Posted by: CrankyProf at April 29, 2009 09:01 AM (Ce1ca) 66
Nothing new!
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 09:04 AM (/i4dU) 67
You know, I'm beginning to seriously wonder if we have two different strains of the "swine flu" here. One in Meixco and one elsewhere. I'm just not seeing the same pattern. Yes, I' know we're in the incubation stage, but in areas where we should be seeing an increase in patients with flu (ie Texas Childrens, Ben Taub, etc..) we haven't YET seen a spike. On a side note, what vaccine was being administered to health care folks in Mexico? We're only now working on one stateside incorporating all the "swine, avian, human" strains. Did they just give them the standard we get everyear and hope for the best???
Posted by: katybeth at April 29, 2009 09:04 AM (EjA6p) 68
Wait for the fall, katybeth.
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 09:08 AM (/i4dU) 69
Sickinmass, thanks for the feed back. If you could just keep us posted. This whole thing just stinks, and I don't believe a thing out of Ja'No or BO's mouth, especially when they haven't even appointed a new head to the CDC (which may in fact be a good thing)
Posted by: katybeth at April 29, 2009 09:08 AM (EjA6p) 70
So far, BDS has done a lot more damage in this country than this new flu bug. It's got a lot of catching up to do.
Posted by: Roy at April 29, 2009 09:09 AM (cB77O) 71
Ok, I can understand wanting to find "Patient Zero" from an epidemiological standpoint, but why the hell would you toss him to the newsies?
Posted by: mojo at April 29, 2009 09:09 AM (g1cNf) Posted by: eman at April 29, 2009 09:10 AM (yBSws) 73
Sickinmass. I don't post often and am not sure how (or if) it works, but if you could email me if you get new information, especially from people "on the ground" I'd really appreciate it. "To be forwarned, is to be forarmed" at least that's what my Dad always says. Please tell your friends I'm praying for them, and I'm sure a lot of other people world-wide are as well.
Posted by: katybeth at April 29, 2009 09:13 AM (EjA6p) 74
Right now the situation is quite scary. They've never been living under such circumstances and it's caught them completely off guard. They are a developing country so they're health system isn't very effective, plus the fact that their city is overpopulated doesn't help much. The government is doing what they can but I don't think it's enough. So the future isn't looking too bright. Everyone is very frightened, there are few people on the streets and they are all trying to be as safe as possible. But not knowing exactly how the virus works and how it can be killed off creates a horrible uncertainty. I'm being pessimistic but that's how most people I've talked to feel.
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 09:13 AM (/i4dU) 75
>Please tell your friends I'm praying for them, and I'm sure a lot of other people world-wide are as well.
Done. Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 09:14 AM (/i4dU) 76
Is it too late for containment? Probably. The first death in Texas was supposedly (per Drudge) a Mexican child that came across the border for treatment. Posted by: Roy at April 29, 2009 09:15 AM (cB77O) 77
76
Is it too late for containment? Probably. The first death in Texas was supposedly (per Drudge) a Mexican child that came across the border for treatment. We may not be able to stop it now, but we could still limit it. Leaving the flood gates open surely won't help, and will only increase and speed up the spread. So, is this flu serious or not? The media is acting like it is, but the gubment isn't. At least OUR gubment isn't. Others are closing borders and restricting flights from Mexico, but we haven't done a thing. Posted by: yinzer at April 29, 2009 09:21 AM (/Mla1) 78
I am an American, living and working in Mexico.
No one, here, is blaming this child for the outbreak. There is some anger directed at the corporate (joint US/Mexican) pig farm, nearby, that was accused of dumping waste into the water table, however. While there are drug cartels, graft and corruption in Mexico, the brush you paint with is way too big. I have seen the Mexican government spring to action after hurricanes, earthquakes and, now, influenza. They do a pretty solid job, IMHO. As a conservative, I admire the citizenry of Mexico, as they pick up the slack to allow the government to focus on the important things it can do. You think that the US government could effectively close down all of the schools, movie theaters, bars, food establishments, etc., in order to try to contain the spread? I live in the area that was struck by Hurricane Wilma (a cat 5), a few years back. The US media reported that my town had been destroyed. It wasn't even close to the truth. Help was here, before the clouds had cleared. Electricity was restored within a week. The Army patrolled and there was no looting. Compare and contrast that to the response to Katrina or Ivan. This flu could have started anywhere. Why the need to bash Mexico? The people of this country are hard working, Christians who make this conservative proud to be human. I can't say the same for many of my own countrymen, who love to sit on their ass and point fingers. Posted by: Mark at April 29, 2009 09:21 AM (OCRTL) Posted by: My Ass and Finger at April 29, 2009 09:24 AM (7FgWm) 80
No offense, eman, but to say our borders are porous is an understatement. Actually screening travelers might be a good idea, but remember all the people who squawked over taking off their shoes in the airports? And really, as per Ja'No, our border guards are already supposed to ask people crossing if they're sick. Now who is going to say " yes, I'm hacking and snorting and running a fever, but I still want to come to Houston (or San Antonio, etc.) And more importantly, are the guards going to be authorized and backed up when/if they turn someone away? By the way, not too many people know this, but along our border, we have schoolbuses that run back an forth over the crossing to take kids to school in the States from Mexico. These kids attend school here (ie Pharr, Hidalgo, Brownsville) and don't even legitametely live there. A lovely little open secret. I'd be willing to bet that is part of the reasoning behind not closing the border, or a least attempting to police it more effectively.
Posted by: katybeth at April 29, 2009 09:24 AM (EjA6p) 81
To me, the alarming thing, as someone upthread pointed out, is that this broke out back toward the beginning of April. I saw a news story about a company here in WA state that tracks global events (terrorist, health, weather) and they issued an alert to the CDC on April 6th. They issued another alert on April 16th, and finally they actually called the CDC on April 20th as the noticed the disease was spreading out of control. Also, it is interesting to me that they tracked this to a 5 year old child (and what the heck were they doing naming the kid). How exactly did this child manage to effectively spread the disease? Why didn't the other kids end up with it? Children excell at sharing germs. But, somehow other kids were OK, yet this kids managed to spread it far and wide in Mexico? Does that strike anyone else as weird, or am I overthinking this? Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 29, 2009 09:25 AM (AJ4xq) 82
A friend in Mexico City says they all have talked to their supervisor but no one has done anything, not even sterilize or disinfect the area. We will be sick soon and, well, do the math - 400 can infect at least another two per day. The authorities say there's nothing they can do since it's a private company and I can assure you, the company I work for is not the only one like this in the whole city. Workers don't have much protection from the government and if they want to keep their jobs they have to go in anyway.
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 09:25 AM (/i4dU) 83
Is it too late for containment?
More than likely. Genghis has been threatening anyone who disagrees with him with the banhammer for so long now, even the military containment may not work. Good luck, Godspeed, etc., etc. Posted by: Additional Blond Agent at April 29, 2009 09:30 AM (SHKl9) Posted by: eman at April 29, 2009 09:30 AM (yBSws) 85
Genghis with the banhammer..HA! If he hasn't banned ME he isn't going to ban anybody!!!
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 09:33 AM (/i4dU) 86
I didn't think a child's name could be released in the media. Obviously any thinking person wouldn't. Most of our news outlets are obviously staffed by callous idiots. Or is this more of the "soft racism" of the left? Paranoidgirl - Like I said, I haven't seen any solid chain of infection spread. Did he have family that worked at a pig farm? How was he exposed? Anyone else in his family contract the virus? What's the vector? First I heard the pigdump/water source, but flu (at least I was edumactated so) is basically airborne. I just am very skeptical of our government's response. And what's with the guy obama shook hands with that died the next day?? I want to know if the obama family is on massive doses of Tamiflu or what is really going on? Posted by: katybeth at April 29, 2009 09:36 AM (EjA6p) 87
Can someone explain to me why the WHO is claiming there have only been 7 world-wide deaths and not over 150 as previously reported? What is the truth here? Sickinmass, do you have any info on actual deaths in Mexico, because someone is lying and I trust the WHO about as far as I trust Arlen Specter.
Posted by: BTMinSTL at April 29, 2009 09:38 AM (kGDTD) 88
I live in a state where there have been no cases reported. The damage to the economy, however, has been heavy. Lots of people cancelling vacations, based solely on the fact that their destination had "Mexico" in its name. Irrational fear is putting a lot of people out of work. While I understand this, to some extent, it is the flu, not ebola. Given that Mexico City has close to 23 million inhabitants, 2000 cases isn't a whole hell of a lot. Are people cancelling vacations to Disney, because some high school kids in NYC are sick? Maybe so, but it strikes me as being kind of silly.
You can't close the borders, and it wouldn't do any good, anyway. On the good news front, it seems like the amount of people being admitted to hospitals has significantly decreased. And, the death toll seems to be holding at the same level it was at a couple of days ago. Maybe this thing has played out. In which case, it will have been just another in a long line of "apocalyptic scares" that we are subjected to, these days. How much you wanna bet that Al Gore ties this to global warming, before the week is out? Posted by: Mark at April 29, 2009 09:39 AM (OCRTL) 89
I can only say that the information that the media and my friends has provided doesn't seem to be enough, we do not now how serious it is because they have failed to mention it. There have been two ways of responding to this event, the ones that have entered themselves into quarantine claiming that the government is hiding something much more serious, and those who take this as a joke saying that everyone is overreacting. To put a cherry on top, all kind of crazy rumors are flying around - that they are going to quarantine Mexico City and that some specific branches of offices and jobs are going to be suspended for days to come.
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 09:43 AM (/i4dU) 90
Burden? hell, I smell mini-series.
Posted by: William at April 29, 2009 09:44 AM (9SBja) 91
eman - I apologize for the misunderstanding. I've been at work all night, and we've pretty much been focused on us and our borders. For your question, I honestly don't know how our government, or any other, is really going to contain this, or any other infection. Chances are, the vacationers from Mexico weren't exhibiting symptoms when they left. I haven't gotten any conclusive information on incubation/ transmission. However, some prudent screening of travellers, cautioning people against traveling to certain areas, and actually getting a chain of exposure would be good ideas. So far, the exposures in other countries were from travellers to and from Mexico. That to a certain extent, can and is being contained. Us, not so much.
Posted by: katybeth at April 29, 2009 09:46 AM (EjA6p) 92
Friends say over 300 deaths in Mexico City alone. It seems clear that this illness doesn't appear to be affecting the whole country, just Mexico City, the State of Mexico and San Luis Potosi.
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 09:47 AM (/i4dU) 93
It has to be determined that the deaths have to be caused by this strain of flu to be counted by the WHO. That takes time.
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 09:49 AM (/i4dU) 94
Sickinmass - that's what bothers me. No credible info. Trying to get information from Mexican officials is like pulling hippopotmatus' teeth.
Posted by: katybeth at April 29, 2009 09:51 AM (EjA6p) 95
Maybe, but the WHO story linked from Drudge makes it sound like this is no big deal and that there are only 7 deaths, blah blah, we shouldn't worry because its all hype, blah blah. If in reality there are 300 deaths the WHO shouldn't be minimalizing what is going on, that just stinks of cover up or disinformation.
Posted by: BTMinSTL at April 29, 2009 09:52 AM (kGDTD) 96
I'd like to know who the retard was that released this info to the public.
Some deranged person is going to kill this child. Posted by: Kristopher at April 29, 2009 09:54 AM (EqbaN) 97
Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of V for Vendetta with the way this seems to be manufactured.
Posted by: Francase at April 29, 2009 09:54 AM (nrLPb) 98
ok, I just read my last post, and my spelling is deteriorating(or something like that) I have got to get some sleep. Best Mom advice???? Since I've been harping on all my staff, you can get a shout out too. Wash your hands with an alcohol based solution. Antibacterials don't kill viruses. (Or bleach. Bleach cleans just about anything, but I seriously don't reccommend washing your hands in it
Posted by: katybeth at April 29, 2009 09:59 AM (EjA6p) 99
Why has the WHO gone in a few days from "panic, panic, panic" to "oh not that many deaths, no big deal?" What the heck is the real story behind this flu? Seriously. This is one messed up situation, with disinformation abounding. Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 29, 2009 10:02 AM (AJ4xq) 100
There are not 300 confirmed deaths. There are far fewer. Some died from the regular flu, and some died from other respiratory ailments. In a city of 23 million, that is not all that uncommon.
If there were hundreds of thousands of people sick in Mexico City, I might be a little freaked out. I am in contact with my home office, in DF, every day, and that is just not the case. Rumors are causing panic. People need to STFU, unless they know what they are talking about. 24 hour news channels look for any person they can squeeze an opinion out of, no matter what their credentials. CDC and WHO are the only outlets that should be trusted. The rest are just talking out their collective asses, whether it be for their 15 minutes of fame or just because they like the sound of their own voice. Posted by: Mark at April 29, 2009 10:02 AM (OCRTL) 101
Two little ones in Mass. are sick. They just returned from a family vacation in Mexico. So sad!
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 10:03 AM (/i4dU) 102
Mark, given your assertion that we are supposed to trust WHO, I don't get why they were in a panic over the weekend and on Monday and now, not so much. So, they've finally confirmed that only 7 people have truly died from this. But, there's been confirmation that lots of people worldwide have been sick with this flu. Pandemic doesn't mean people die, it just means an illness that is spread worldwide. This is a pandemic. And, frankly the way this thankfully mild pandemic is being handled by the US and other countries does not give me a lot of confidence in what would happen if a truly large scale pandemic that causes certain death happens. Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 29, 2009 10:14 AM (AJ4xq) 103
You really think people are going to blame a 5 year old because he got sick? No, but then again, I never thought people would ever elect an America hating, pompus, ignorant, no taste, morally empty, encomiast either.
Sure, but when this whole Swine Flu panic is over in a few weeks, we'll forget all about this kid, but Obama will still be President.
Posted by: Quality Control at April 29, 2009 10:15 AM (TOk1P) 104
Kids get the flu, all the time. Is it always sad or just in this case? I mean, seriously, its the flu. The world needs to get a collective grip.
Posted by: Mark at April 29, 2009 10:17 AM (OCRTL) 105
Mark, given your assertion that we are supposed to trust WHO, I don't
get why they were in a panic over the weekend and on Monday and now,
not so much.
Maybe they are seeing the decline I was talking about, above. The world is in such a state of panic, now, that every death that occurs or every kid with a temperature is treated as a headline. I, too, and troubled about what would happen if we ever have a serious outbreak of a deadly disease. Judging by the reaction of the human race to this one, I would say we are all pretty much screwed. Rational thought seems to be the first victim. Posted by: Mark at April 29, 2009 10:22 AM (OCRTL) 106
It is the Mexican government, and some European ones that are going full bore on this. It is Mexico City that has shut schools, theaters, told everyone to stay home and closed stuff down. Tell THEM not to panic, Mark, and give the sanctimonius lectures a break.
Posted by: Who Knows at April 29, 2009 10:28 AM (7FgWm) 107
The kids in Ma. have been tested and they have the strain. It's sad. They went on a vacation and came back sick. Officials won't say their age but the school they go to is an elementary school. The school and busses have been disinfected. Until someone comes out and quells the fears of the public, I am calling it 'sad'.
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 10:28 AM (/i4dU) 108
They are shutting stores in Mexico City not because of the flu, but of robbers and thieves who are using masks to hide from video cameras. Jewelry stores have been most affected.
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 10:33 AM (/i4dU) 109
I just re-read the linked article on Drudge from WHO. I actually am now questioning the validity of it because it claims WHO has only confirmed 40 cases in the Americas (one would assume they are counting the US in that), yet the CDC has confirmed 66 cases in the US as of today. The bottom line for me about this whole thing is there is something strange about this entire incident. Starting with the fact that people have been tracking it since the beginning of April, yet it didn't hit the media until last weekend. Also, the lack of information about how it is spreading. The fact that people the sick people came in contact with aren't getting sick in most cases. The fact that the only deaths are in Mexico (the child in Houston came from there). The tracing of it to a 5 year old, the naming of the 5 year old. The "hog farm is responsible" meme that is starting to be pushed. What is really going on? Yes, that's rhetorical, I know it will never really be answered. Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 29, 2009 10:38 AM (AJ4xq) 110
The Mexican government is attempting to do the responsible thing, IMHO. To do otherwise, would be negligent.
If I come off as "sanctimonious", I apologize. I am just frustrated, watching people who I know, being given their walking papers based on irrational fear. I am voicing an opinion based on observation. Open any US newspaper, today, and its front news. Go on Fox or CNN, it is the top story. Like many things, in a week, it will be overtaken by the latest gaffe or McCain/Coulter exchange. Cruise ships have cancelled stops in Mexico, in states where there have been no reported cases. Where are they going instead? California, where there are cases. Airlines are cancelling flights. Tourist agents are cancelling tours. Based on what? Fear. How many times we going to fall for the same trick? We are, at any given time, subject to imminent disaster, be it economic, environmental or health. Sorry, but I choose not to live in a world where, every five minutes, I have to worry about how I am going to leave it. Posted by: Mark at April 29, 2009 10:40 AM (OCRTL) 111
The problem with this flu bug is simple, there is no vaccine. The vaccine produced every year for the normal flu season which begins in the fall is a educated guess. No one has been vaccinated for this strain because no one saw this coming. Now it has the ability to spread unchecked with no barriers and on it's little journey it can mutate and resort and present a new strain. That should give us all pause...pass the Lysol wipes please.
Morons, wash your hands frequently. Posted by: MrsPaulsFishSticks at April 29, 2009 10:41 AM (iYbLN) 112
This 'panic' stage could have been over sooner if the governments have reported this from the get go. Maybe people would be at ease knowing they had prepared themselves ahead.. like limiting a Mexico vacation, stocking up on supplies when they were available, etc. This will pass like everything else.
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 10:55 AM (/i4dU) 113
Germophobia is a bad thing...unless you happen to sell products aimed at germophobes. Things like sprays and wipes and soaps and masks, etc. I'd tell people to relax, that this is no big deal, and we've seen these types of "pandemics" many, many times before, and they rarely result in any significant uptick in the number of flu cases and deaths in any given year, but people who are proned to panic over things like this will panic. Have fun, people. I'm going to breathe in the sweet, germ-filled air, and do what I always do, which is let my immune system do its job. Posted by: Quality Control at April 29, 2009 10:55 AM (TOk1P) 114
That is all well and good for you Quality Control but for some of us with compromised immune systems (through no fault of our own) do worry. No offense, drop dead.
Posted by: MrsPaulsFishSticks at April 29, 2009 11:00 AM (iYbLN) 115
As McNeill noted in "Plagues and Peoples," the smart diseases are the ones that don't kill you. A new disease takes a while to mutate into a form that preys on but does not destroy its host (yes, there are fine political corollaries to this statement--have at it). It was probably mumps that laid Athens low; all of the childhood-nuisance diseases we know were town-clearing plagues once. Often, epidemic control for a new disease means nothing more than slowing its spread until it moves beyond being fatal. Lucky, since there never has been a way to wall off one continent from another. FWIW, if you want to turn a few pages looking for it, we have the name of the captain of the ship that brought The Plague into Europe. Nobody had to kill him out of spite, though. There's no sign yet that this virus is mutating on the fly (or, on the pig). To be a potential planet-cleanser, it would have to do that. The panic signal will be finding a new version of this flu that had arisen strictly in humans, and not just from the seasonal cross-infections from viruses' animal test-beds. We'd better hope that the Mexican mortality rate turns out to be nothing more than lousy care, pollution and corruption. Otherwise, we've finally found a virus that's r-r-racist. And since "native Mexican" is a blend of DNA from four different continents, the CIA hearings would never end.
Posted by: comatus at April 29, 2009 11:09 AM (zFDqJ) 116
Glad you approve of our actions, Mark. But damn those fat Yanquees, their fat asses and pointing fingers. PS. It's still ok to send use your emergency rooms, right? Posted by: Mexican Government at April 29, 2009 11:13 AM (7FgWm) 117
Did anyone who came in contact with this child test positive for the "swine flu"?
If not, he isn't Patient Zero for this so-called "epidemic." He's just some kid who got "the flu" and survived. The WHO reports overnight that they have only confirmed only 7 deaths, not 152. They should call this the Fish Flu, because a lot about it smells fishy. Jack Posted by: Jack at April 29, 2009 11:21 AM (MP5eG) 118
Oh. Come. On.
Anyone who would blame Patient Zero for a flu/plague is the same kinda person who thinks swine flu comes from ham sammiches. Yanno... ">Egyptians. Posted by: Faye Kinnit at April 29, 2009 11:43 AM (l1oyw) 119
Seems everyone is suffering from the same thing.....lack of honest information and a government you can't trust..And it's enough to make anyone sick!!!
Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 12:03 PM (/i4dU) 120
Why won't the Federal Government close the border to stop the Mexican flu?
Why do some want to call this the North American Flu? I think it is because the Globalists and WHO want to get more data about this flu, and they cannot get good data from incompetent, corrupt Mexicans. They need to know infection rates, transmission factors, medical history of those hospitalized with the flu, treatment effectiveness, etc. Since they cannot get good information from Mexico they are letting Americans be infected to get the data here. That's all we are to the politicians, they see us as guinea pigs. Posted by: sickinmass at April 29, 2009 12:09 PM (/i4dU) 121
Take a large enough group of people (population of the kid's provinve, Mexico, population of Earth etc.) and a small but significant fraction will adopt any attitude, no matter how stupid. Look at the hostility that was directed at kids with hemophilia who got AIDS. Much of it lasted long after HIV was know not to be caught from casual contact.
Humans are stupid and while not all humans hold the same stupid beliefs, you can bet there will always be a market for the dumbest ideas. There are probably a few PhDs living in Western capital cities who will suspect the kid to have been a tool of the devil or that the family offended God or something.
Why did news media like CNN broadcast the kid's name and village? Could they not locate his street address before releasing the story. Maybe a picture or wanted poster? Posted by: Snake Oil Baron at April 29, 2009 12:10 PM (ZhIQq) Posted by: goy at April 29, 2009 12:12 PM (LbGQ5) 123
My mistake, There was a picture thought they let the kid wear a mask. No such luck for the mom though. That ought to make traking them down easier.
Posted by: Snake Oil Baron at April 29, 2009 12:12 PM (ZhIQq) 124
I find that view troubling. Who would blame a five year old for spreading the flu?
Let me review that logic -- he was the 1st to catch the flu and that started the whole thing, right? Wrong. Avian and swine flu have been known to cross over into humans some times by direct contact. It's rare but it does happen. The only reason it does not become a pandemic is because the virus needs a transmission mechanism from human to human and contact with other humans and the strain often lacks either or both. In this case, the flu was a cross-species variant that was easily transmitted to other humans. All it needed then was exposure to other people -- which brings us to those really responsible for the spread of this virus. While little Hernandez suffered at home, others (either villagers or visitors) infected with the virus left the village thereby spreading the virus. Aren't they just as culpable? Why it was important to name the child in this case escapes me. I guess there's nothing wrong with it but identifying human ground zero for a virus pandemic in which the original victim had no control is a bit of a stretch in terms of useful information. Of course, I forget this is a modern world full of HuffPos and David Brooks and Truthers so I guess I can understand your cynicism. Posted by: prairiemain at April 29, 2009 12:21 PM (uDqa7) 125
"117 Did anyone who came in contact with this child test positive for the "swine flu"?
Personally, I think it's great that people play Monday morning quarterback on Sunday afternoon... Posted by: JEA at April 29, 2009 01:27 PM (ZO0u/) 126
Sorry for your condition Mrs. Paul, whatever it is. You won't listen to me, but if I may suggest, these people convincing you that you need to worry about the Swine flu are a bigger threat to your health than the Swine flu is. No offense taken for your drop dead comment. Honestly, it makes me even more angry that people with conditions such as yours are told how much you need to concern yourself with all these scary germs out here. People with healthy immune systems like mine, I figure it's our own damn fault if we decide to run around, acting like the sky is falling all the time. You have legitimate concerns you need to deal with every day, I am sorry for that. What you don't need though is phony panics like this making your life worse. Posted by: Quality Control at April 29, 2009 01:58 PM (TOk1P) 127
"Personally, I think it's great that people play Monday morning quarterback on Sunday afternoon...'
What was it about *my* post that caused you to make that comment??? Jack Posted by: Jack at April 29, 2009 02:32 PM (MP5eG) 128
Wait for it-Yes,he was last seen in El Paso.
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