If you ever go down Trinidad
No Virus there make you feel too bad
Don’ Worry bout no Flu of Swine
Guarantee you one real good fine time
- With apologies to Morey Amsterdam
# 3393
I’ve seen some ham-handed (sorry, couldn’t resist) attempts at disinformation regarding the H1N1 swine flu virus, but I confess, this editorial which appeared in the Trinidad and Tobago Express is by far the most egregious example to date.
Thursday, June 25th 2009
Let us be quite clear: the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, is not dangerous. It is highly contagious but the flu symptoms are not generally life-threatening and, in fact, you are more at risk if you get the more common flu.
We feel it necessary to state this in light of what may be growing, and quite unnecessary, terror over the spreading of the swine flu.
<snip>
What also exacerbates such unfounded fears is the fact that deaths from the disease naturally garner more attention than mere infections. But the number of fatalities worldwide from the swine flu, as a percentage of infections, has been quite small. And most of the persons who have died from this disease have been very old, very young, or had compromised immune systems.
Put another way, if you are in good health and you get the H1N1 virus, you are going to have flu symptoms-the cough, the sniffles, the fever, and so on-and be fine again within ten days.
Of course, everyone should take all sensible precautions to avoid getting ill. But you need not add unwarranted stress to your mind as you do so.
Where to begin?
The Swine Flu virus is not dangerous?
You are more at risk if you get the more common flu?
Two lies for the price of one I guess. Early data indicates that this virus has a CFR (Case Fatality Ratio) roughly equal to, or perhaps slightly higher than, seasonal flu.
And seasonal flu kills hundreds of thousands worldwide every year. That, in my book, makes it at least a little dangerous.
There is little evidence to suggest that this virus is less dangerous than seasonal flu, particularly to those under the age of 50.
It may be that those over the age of 50 are less likely to contract it, or if they do, may see milder illness.
But it is probably too soon to draw that conclusion.
But to say this flu is less dangerous than seasonal flu is misleading. and also discounts the possibility that this virus could mutate over time.
Only the very old, very young, or those with compromised immune systems have died?
If you are in good health, all you will get is a cough, a fever and the sniffles?
Again, misleading to the extreme.
Very few elderly people have contracted this virus, and relatively few deaths have occurred in that age group. That may change with time, but for now, the elderly are not at particularly high risk from H1N1.
The `very young’ have also mostly been spared, with the bulk of hospitalizations occurring in the 5 to 24 year old age group. Scarcely the `very young’.
As far as those with compromised immune systems, it is true that they are at greater risk of serious illness, but they are hardly alone.
According to the WHO (World Health Organization) 1/3rd to 1/2 of serious illnesses have been reported in people with no known health problems.
Some very common health issues, things not normally lumped in with `immuno-compromised’, are particularly risky with this flu.
This includes Asthma, diabetes, and pregnancy.
Instead of trying to convince their readers that Swine flu was nothing to be concerned about, this paper should be urging people to take common sense precautions – including staying home if they have the `cough, the fever, and the sniffles’, washing their hands frequently, and covering their coughs.
Another teachable moment squandered. And in the process, lives may very well be endangered.
But hey, Mon. Don’ Worry, Be Happy!
