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Originally posted by jtma508
reply to post by mystiq
Why is the fact that it has avian fragments so important? The most important factor is that it is a recombinant of human influenza. That gives it the critical human-to-human transmissability. And of all the infuenzas known, the swine type has proven to be the most lethal. I don't get what makes the avian aspect susch a big deal.
The concern surrounding the H5N1 is that IF it successfully recombines with a human influenza it could, by virtue of the birds' mobility, spread widely and quickly with little chance of stopping it.
Originally posted by Essan
Data from 2003 suggests that on average 36,000 people die from 'normal' 'flu in the USA each year
So much for the myth of "36,000 flu-related deaths a year."
I tracked down the origins of this number on CDC.gov, by the way. Turns out it was an estimate derived by the CDC in 2003 (www.cdc.gov...).
...
I'm not disagreeing with the number. It's probably a fairly accurate guess (the CDC folks are a smart bunch).
Originally posted by Essan
I appreciate this is old news, but I think it's useful to get a sense of proportion here.
So far just over 100 people have died of Swine 'flu in Mexico and exactly 0 have died in the USA.
Data from 2003 suggests that on average 36,000 people die from 'normal' 'flu in the USA each year
Source
Using new and improved statistical models, CDC scientists estimate that an average of 36,000 people (up from 20,000 in previous estimates) die from influenza-related complications each year in the United States. In addition, about 11,000 people die per year from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a virus that causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections primarily in young children and older adults. The study demonstrates that most deaths caused by RSV occur in the elderly.
Whilst Mexican Swine 'flu may have to potential to become a serious pandemic, let's, for the time being at least, keep a sense of proportion, eh?
Or maybe unnecessary panic is what people want?