# How worried should we be about Swine Flu? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 25, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359 "2009-04-25T23:07:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/21 "2009-04-26T02:48:28Z")
Yeah, well, concerned as I may be, that’s probably a bit much, especially since the literature does not address the efficacy of the adhesive used in duct tape to glom onto swine flu viruses. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/22 "2009-04-26T03:46:35Z")
Of course this joke will have a resurge in popularity Q) How did the pig get to the top of the Empire State Building A) The Swine Flu Then standback and await the laughs ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/23 "2009-04-26T03:51:36Z")
So the economy’s bad, everybody’s worried about gas prices, there’s a swine flu epidemic, and they’re making a Star Trek movie. It’s the 70s again, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/24 "2009-04-26T04:17:29Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Well I have been having dreams about an annoying, preachy, African American, geriatric who dispenses folk wisdom and won’t shut up. REally? Because I’ve been having dreams of this dude in a denim jacket. He seems to be walking somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/25 "2009-04-26T04:18:40Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > So the economy’s bad, everybody’s worried about gas prices, there’s a swine flu epidemic, and they’re making a Star Trek movie. It’s the 70s again, isn’t it? Oh NO!!! The clothes, the shoes, the HORROR!!! ---
**Author:** ![purple\_haze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@purple\_haze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_haze)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/26 "2009-04-26T04:47:40Z")
I just posted a question about this - I guess I should have looked here first. My daughter is travelling from California back home tonight, and my fingers are crossed that she hasn’t been exposed to this mess. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/27 "2009-04-26T05:41:54Z")
CNN is now reporting that Madagascar has shut down all air and seaports. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/28 "2009-04-26T05:45:50Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > So the economy’s bad, everybody’s worried about gas prices, there’s a swine flu epidemic, and they’re making a Star Trek movie. It’s the 70s again, isn’t it? Have you seen kids’ haircuts lately? And the beards? I swear, I will not wear platform shoes again. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/29 "2009-04-26T05:52:32Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > CNN is now reporting that Madagascar has shut down all air and seaports. I ask in all seriousness, what does that mean exactly? Is it just a minor thing or should I expect to be up to armpits in corpses? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/30 "2009-04-26T07:14:21Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I ask in all seriousness, what does that mean exactly? Is it just a minor thing or should I expect to be up to armpits in corpses? It’s a joke based on a flash game called Pandemic (or maybe the sequel). In the game, you design a pathogen and try to get it to spread over the earth and kill the entire population. If you fail to do so, it’s usually because Madagascar has shut itself off from the outside world very quickly, and thus survives the infection unscathed. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/31 "2009-04-26T07:24:22Z")
It’s funny; just a couple of nights ago, Jon Stewart had on a guest who’s written a book about epidemics/pandemics and how fear plays a role in their spread. Anyone see the whole thing and can connect this more firmly to the OP’s question? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/32 "2009-04-26T07:50:14Z")
From what I understand, several cases of swine flu have been reported, and a small percentage of these cases have resulted in death. In fact I can’t find a confirmed American death or even serious inconvenience resulting from the cases we see here, which means the quality of health care you receive is probably the only real factor in determining the eventual damage done by infection. This is very likely a “don’t even worry about it” scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/33 "2009-04-26T08:11:45Z")
Soon, only 98% of us will be left. ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/34 "2009-04-26T09:44:22Z")
> [@j666](#): > > They not only shut down the schools in Mexico, they are not allowing spectators at the soccer match. This is serious. They do this for norovirus outbreaks, and, while infection is unpleasant, it’s not something I see as capable of ravaging the world’s human population. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/35 "2009-04-26T11:06:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Pffft. We’ve got bird flu over here. Bring on the pigs! We’ll take 'em on. It’s the flying pig flu that you really need to worry about. That one hardly ever comes along, but when it does… watch out!\* \*But for Og’s sake, DON’T LOOK UP! ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/36 "2009-04-26T12:21:22Z")
Wolf! WOOOOLLLLFFF!!! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/37 "2009-04-26T13:05:24Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > It’s the flying pig flu that you really need to worry about. That one hardly ever comes along, but when it does… watch out!\* > \*But for Og’s sake, DON’T LOOK UP! Umbrellas here! $199.95! Umbrellas here! ---
**Author:** ![longPath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@longPath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longPath)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/38 "2009-04-26T13:06:35Z")
Here is the latest [CDC Health Adivisory](http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/pdf/HAN_042509.pdf) on the matter. I just heard a news item saying a group of students here in Nova Scotia are being tested for the virus. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/39 "2009-04-26T14:11:14Z")
Remember folks, the typical US flu season results in over 40,000 deaths in the US _every year_. Those numbers aren’t chickens\*\*t. The CDC is wise to be concerned about new flu strains. Especially since all our vaunted anti-flu meds have been failing as the flu develops resistance. I’m not worried. But as a physician I am paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359/40 "2009-04-26T14:47:38Z")
> [@BMax](#): > > Have you seen kids’ haircuts lately? And the beards? I swear, I will not wear platform shoes again. I’m going out today to get my avocado green appliances and some orange shag carpet - this time I’ll be ahead of the trend. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359.md?page=3)