Swine Flu Primer

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There is a lot of confusion about swine flu - some say it's a conspiracy, others say it's a reality and a horrible danger - most people are scared but confused.

For example, one medical provider saw 29 patients, 2 of which had flu and the rest of whom were not even ill but they all told her "I don't want to die!"

Most people are ready to get the vaccine but now they say the vaccine won't be available for a couple of months but no reasons are given why.

Here is an attempted FAQ:

1.  Does anyone know for sure how dangerous swine flu is?

No, not even the scientists know for sure but remember that science can never give us positive answers about anything - no illness or medical condition - we should not panic about swine flu. Here are some thoughts about fear:

  • Even when diagnosed of a terminal illness, we don't know if it will kill us.  For example: A Catholic priest was diagnosed of terminal cancer and given 3 months to live.  Since he'd always wanted to visit Mexico, he decided this was the time.  One night he took a walk from the hotel he was staying in.  He encountered a boy about 10 years old, begging.  He offered to take the kid home and the boy told him that he was an orphan and had no home.  He took the boy home with him.  He found several more homeless kids and ended up founding an orphan home.  Fifteen years later, this priest who had been told he would die in 3 months was still alive and well!
     
  • We have no idea what day we will die or what we will die of but it will probably be a surprise whatever it is. Here is one example of this:  A friend's husband had stage four cancer but it was not progressing. However, one day, he tripped over the dog in their living room, sustained a lethal head injury and died of that...
     
  • Dr Roy Spencer, climatologist says (in his book, CLIMATE CONFUSION) "if you want possible explanations of things, go to science - if you want TRUTH, go to church"
     
  • We are not afraid of the unknown - we are afraid of what we think is the KNOWN.

2. What are the concerns about swine flu and should I be worried

  • It's like the flu which killed so many in 1918
     
    • This should not be a concern because
       
      • We don't know that it's the same virus
      • They didn't have antibiotics back in 1918
      • They didn't have indoor plumbing nor facilities to wash hands after toileting
      • They didn't have real refrigeration for food so there was lots more viruses and bacteria in food than there is now.
      • They worked 12-14 hour days, did not take vitamins and were not well nourished
      • And even then, only 10 percent died which means that 90 percent LIVED!
         
  • The virus could mutate
     
    • Even if it did, it would just appear as another flu.  Remember most people get the flu at least, once during the season
       
    • A virus is like a complex protein molecule with a covering.  How it mutates is, it changes its covering so our bodies won't recognize it and it can sneak in.
       
  • It's a brand new virus
     
    • To your body, any virus which mutates (which is true of most flu viruses) is like a brand new virus - this is another non worry
       
  • I don't want to die of the H1N1
     
    • People do not die of the flu - they die of respiratory illness which they get when they don't go to bed with the flu and their bodies are run down. 
       
    • A certain percentage of people die every year after HAVING flu and getting another infection either virus or bacterial - nothing is different with H1N1
       
    • Let's put this in prospective - you have a much better chance of dying in a car accident than from flu related illness, so should we all stop driving places?
       
  • Doesn't the CDC say that 36,000 people die of the regular flu every year - maybe H1N1 will be worse
     
    • There's no evidence that H1N1 is worse than regular flu - the number of deaths after an H1N1 infection is a lower percentage than after regular flu
       
    • The CDC admitted that the 36,000 yearly flu deaths they've been quoting all over is an estimate - they don't KNOW how many people die after having the flu.  They take a percentage of those who died of respiratory illness and "estimate" that these might be flu related.
       
    • The CDC told all the states to stop testing for H1N1 in July so a lot of guessing who's got it and who does not have it, is going on.
       
      • Remember the only way to really tell the "cause of death" is an autopsy - which most people do not have. (in the TV show, "Dr G." on Discovery Health, she usually finds the "cause of death" to be different from the Medical Examiner's guess on the death certificate)
         
      • A person can have the virus in their bodies and not even have gotten sick with the H1N1 so even if they TEST positive, it doesn't mean the H1N1 had anything to do with their death.
         
  • What about the vaccine - will it prevent me getting (and dying from) H1N1 and is it safe
     
    • No one knows if the vaccine is safe and/or effective
       
      • It was fast tracked for approval meaning it was not well tested
         
      • It's got some new ingredients in it one of which interferes with your immune system and may cause cells in the brain called "microglia" to attack brain tissue and cause autoimmune disorder like MS.
         
      • Chances are the vaccine won't hurt you but there is an equal chance that it won't help you either.
         
      • It's got some old ingredients in it which may not be safe like thimerasol which is 50% mercury, extremely toxic even in very small amounts
         
      • No one knows about the long term side effects of vaccines - vaccines for deadly illnesses like small pox and diphtheria and tetanus are a good idea.  Vaccines for non deadly illnesses like flu, measles and chickenpox, may not be a good idea. Some of the long term side effects may be:
         
        • Autoimmune disease like Crone's Disease, Raynaud's etc
           
        • Some studies have found a higher incidence of neurological illness in those who get flu shots yearly (like Alzheimers)
           
        • Possible less immunity to other infectious illness - some vaccines are thought to be immuno suppressive
           
    • If anything in the vaccine protects, it well might be the placebo effect i.e. you FEEL protected
       
    • Most people do not die from the flu and many don't even get it.
       
      • Remember when the seasonal flu vaccine was short?  It turned out to be the mildest flu season ever.
         
  • So why is everyone afraid?
     
    • More than likely because since 9/11, we have been afraid of our shadows
       
    • Also because the TV news services have found out that being afraid will make us watch more TV news (and the commercials) than other enticements
       
      • We have lived through many TV scares hyped by the news services including
         
        • the "Y2K" (which was false because computer programs run on an internal date which is a computed number having nothing to do with the year, 2000 - all that happened were some reports and screen displays had funny looking dates.)
           
        • The killer bees which never arrived
           
        • The 1976 swine flu "pandemic" which never happened but the vaccine produced bad side effects in hundreds of people
           
        • SARS which was so not contagious that only a few hundred, in population dense China got it
           
        • Mad cow disease which never happened to humans
           
        • Bird flu (they predicted this for several years in a row but even most bird handlers didn't contract it.)
           
    • Hate to say it but our society is not one of strong faith - to most folks, making money and finding recreational activities trumps things like going to church
       
      • To a person whose faith is not strong, life becomes a mine field and a feeling of being "in danger" at all times
         
      • Death becomes a black hole to be avoided at all costs
         
      • We want to regain control over that over which we have no control
         
    • Americans tend to be paranoid about their health - not enough to do something like embracing a healthy lifestyle but enough to run to medicine for an assurance that medicine cannot really give because they don't really know.

    Bottom line - find back the art of prayer and faith.  "Be not afraid" - chances are really great that what we are really afraid of, won't happen.

    Consider turning off the TV news and limiting reading of the news on the internet - but whatever you read, you process with the left brain (logical response) rather than how you process TV (with the right brain i.e. emotional response).

    Even if you are not into religion, try saying this to yourself

    "I must not fear.
    Fear is the mind-killer.
    Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
    I will face my fear.
    I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
    And when it is gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
    Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
    Only I will remain."
    - The Litany of Fear from Frank Herbert's "DUNE"