Swine-flu Pandemic reality or.....

**DorisDazed** · 01-05-2009 10:36 PM

Jimbo...

"pandemic" stands for "pandemic".

It is good to be prepared but I feel the media is spreading panic which will turn into Pandimonium.

The "media" does at least three things. Brings things to our attention, pounces on newsworthy stories to boost sales (I think that's called "business"), and occasionally delivers "true information" about something that's really going on, which we need to know about.

As pandemics go, we are way overdue for the next one (according to those experts who are supposed to know these things). I think that counts us out. Promoting the idea that this Swine Flu is nothing to worry about is both naiive and silly. There will be another pandemic...it's just a matter of time. And for your information, it's got sweet FA to do with whether there are pigs in Saudi Arabia, or not.

gilbert de jong

Thanks for the link . But it raises more questions, then giving answers.
Maybe it will become a problem for Bali tourism, time will tell. As far as I can tell the local people laugh about a sickness called 'flu babi'. And to be honest...if you think about it, it is.

Two things. Nobody has "the answers", yet. And Balinese people who think this all all some kind of a joke doesn't surprise me at all. Ignorance is bliss (for some). But just watch them beating the hospital doors down if anybody actually gets it.

From my understanding, face masks are of little help as a precaution unless they are extremely good ones (= expensive). I doubt that they can be bought in Balinese supermarkets.

What can I say in conclusion?

Avoid Mexicans or anybody who's been there recently (like yesterday).
Stay away from sick birds and pigs.
Run away as fast as you can from anybody sneezing or coughing in your face (or spitting).
Laugh a lot and convince yourself that this is all just more BS.
Stay away from mad, farting cows (just in case).
Hold your breath as long as possible and pray to supernatural beings if you're that way inclined.

:shock:

**milan** · 02-05-2009 01:10 AM

goldminer writes:

Hey Milan where have you been? Was hoping you still in Jkt, will be there in 2 weeks. But your back in Italy.... regards to you and your husband. Steve

Hey Steve,
I'll be back in Jkt soon again but can't say when exactly. I doubt when you and your wife would be there though. I'll let you know so you both could also come over to my place if not this time then sometime later. Say hi to your wife as well. M.

Sorry for threadjacking. It's not a pandemonium as it is under control still.

**noodles** · 02-05-2009 09:43 AM

In 2003 SARS, It was very impressive that almost diffcult to find out where you can buy the Mask and medical disinfectant in my country, no matter where you go to buy Beijing, Shanghai, Hongkong and so on.

About Forum-flu, we have the experience from SARS and I have received company delivering the 3M Mark on last week :lol: , The national media press on the TV to public "Wear a Mask, Wash hands frequently, Don't go to public places where there are a lot of people."

How about the Bali ? Can you buy mask and medical disinfectant in supermarket or Pharmacy? :wink:

**gilbert de jong** · 02-05-2009 12:04 PM

just to put things in perspective....

The president also said the U.S. government is working to produce a vaccine down the road, developing clear guidelines for school closings and trying to ensure businesses cooperate with workers who run out of sick leave.

He pointed out that regular seasonal flus kill about 36,000 people in the United States in an average year and send 200,000 to the hospital.

full story can be read here
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090502/ap_ ... _swine_flu

**milan** · 02-05-2009 12:52 PM

Found one already in Perugia, here in Italy.

Good news is there could be vaccines but needs 4-5 months to be produced according to Geneva health dept.

Pandemic effects seem to take place in Europe as France and England have found victims too.

**noodles** · 02-05-2009 01:16 PM

Today Morning - Officials in Hong Kong Friday ordered a week-long quarantine of a hotel after one of its guests - a newly arrived tourist from Mexico - tested positive for swine flu, Asia's first case of the disease. The Mexican man landed in Hong Kong following a stopover in Shanghai. Hong Kong's flu alert level was immediately raised from "serious" to "emergency," the highest level. :shock:

Details pls refer to http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009- ... 298017.htm

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
People are starting to get a little scared over this thing, my USA colleagues said that the Masks sell for $2 apiece or a box of 20 for $29.95, although U.S. health officials say masks aren't needed in the workplace. But the price is going up...

Freindly reminding, typical face masks filter about 62 percent of small particles, though you can get professional-grade masks that stop 98 percent of material. Bring an extra mask along, and kindly offer it to anyone coughing or sneezing who looks sick, especially during in the flight or airport(crowd place), this will keep any droplets from landing on you 8)

**Jimbo** · 02-05-2009 03:07 PM

And for your information, it's got sweet FA to do with whether there are pigs in Saudi Arabia, or not.

Really. I do apologise that I am so stupid as not to have known this.....or perhaps if you were not so new here you might have known it was a joke.

As for the rest well let is just see what developes but let me assure you I have seen all of this hype before and watched it also fade away as the media find something else to pounce on.

There are thousands of deaths each year from what is normally considered to be mild deseases and here there has been a few and the whole world is worried. Perhaps they are right but these same experts have been telling me for years what is right and what is wrong and then changing their minds again and reversing their previous decisions.

Precaustions are one thing but panic is another and for me the media are promoting panic to gain headlines.

**DorisDazed** · 02-05-2009 05:39 PM

Please forgive me, Jimbo
It was not my intention to insult your intelligence, or upset you in any way.

The trouble with pandemics is that they can't be predicted with any accuracy. Maybe this current epidemic will peter out and disappear (I certainly hope so). Then again, it might be the big one that's well overdue. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

I don't believe that people should ignore the emerging signs. I also don't think there's anything to panic about, just yet. Most of know the story about the boy who cried "wolf" too many times. I hope for all of our sakes (and our children), that this is a false alarm.

People rushing around buying up face masks of dubious quality and effectiveness, is a sign of the level of ignorance surrounding this issue. We'll just have to wait and see.

For sure, many more people die every year from malaria, dengue fever, "ordinary" influenza, traffic accidents, tuberculosis, traffic accidents, starvation, AIDS, water-borne diseases...etc, than the current number of deaths from Swine Flu.

That's no reason to be complacent or gung-ho about this constantly mutating virus (IMHO).

:?

**gilbert de jong** · 02-05-2009 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by DorisDazed

Maybe this current epidemic will peter out and disappear (I certainly hope so). Then again, it might be the big one that's well overdue.

May I assume you are refering to the 'Spanish Flue'.. as in big one, that claimed 40 million lives?
It maybe harsh, but what is 40 million deaths on a population of 6 billion? It's not that much is it. Then again it would s*ck if being one of the 40 million :lol: .

Originally Posted by Jimbo

As for the rest well let is just see what developes but let me assure you I have seen all of this hype before and watched it also fade away as the media find something else to pounce on.

There are thousands of deaths each year from what is normally considered to be mild deseases and here there has been a few and the whole world is worried. Perhaps they are right but these same experts have been telling me for years what is right and what is wrong and then changing their minds again and reversing their previous decisions.

Precaustions are one thing but panic is another and for me the media are promoting panic to gain headlines.

I totally agree :) .

Originally Posted by noodles

How about the Bali ? Can you buy mask and medical disinfectant in supermarket or Pharmacy?

Yeah, if one wants to buy masks or disinfectant, it's for sale at the Apothek. Don't know prices, since I didn't wanna go out of my house :lol: :lol: .

Originally Posted by DorisDazed

Balinese people who think this all all some kind of a joke doesn't surprise me at all. Ignorance is bliss (for some). But just watch them beating the hospital doors down if anybody actually gets it.

To be honest, many Balinese have more trust in local medicines..strange I know, but many don't have the money to pay for a consult with a doctor. Secondly I doubt the docters here would give a proper diagnose :| .

Friendly greetings..........Gilbert.

**Bert Vierstra** · 02-05-2009 07:16 PM

Just checked if there is Tamiflu available in Bali. It seems its not on the "open market", will be distributed by the Indo government if needed.....

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