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Sunday, May 24, 2009

Oh My Gosh! Is That? It Can't Be! It IS! You're Tail is Curling! It's...Swine Flu!!!!!!

Alright, so the past few days I've been sick. I've had a runny nose, congested chest, terrible cough, and, on the first day, I had a low fever (around 100.0). There are two things that I think of when I think about this cold.

1) I'm very grateful that I have this cold now rather than a week from now. I'll be seeing the nephnew in a 1 1/2 weeks and I don't want to risk giving him anything. That's why I'm attacking this thing with all the drugs I've got!

2) I am so sick of people assuming that, just because I'm sick, it must be swine flu. More than one person has suggested that I have it tested even though my symptoms don't match that of the flu at all! It's insane.

First of all, I'd like to remind people that, before swine flue, there was such thing as the common cold. Everybody's had it at least once, and anyone who knows me knows that I typically get a cold around the end of allergy season. I did fairly well with allergies this year, but Hans got sick and passed it to me, the lil shit!

Also, and this may not be your opinion, but I feel it's pretty clear that the swine flu is just some media hype. Is it out there? Yes. Can it be deadly? Definitely. The thing is, though, the regular flu can be deadly too. It's just that we expect the regular flu every year, and this one came out of left field. I mean, if you watch the news (which I typically don't, so I how I heard this I'll never know) they've already said that swine flu may not be as terrible as originally though. Oh wait! I read that on Yahoo News. Ok, now I know how I was informed. Most of the people affected in the U.S. got over it just fine, and those who aren't over it don't seem to be in risk of dying.

Really, I think people need to just take a deep breath and get over it. There's not a lot you can do to prevent yourself from getting sick at this point. There's not shot or magic pill. Sure, you can wear a mask, but is it really that severe? I don't think so. Sure, you can wipe down everything with disinfectant, but then you're killing good bacteria too. Plus, you're not allowing your immune system to naturally strengthen itself, so you're actually making yourself more prone to sickness.
Side bar: It was really funny at the grocery store yesterday. I was watching people wipe their carts with disinfectant wipes and thinking how silly they were. Then I went to get my cart and had a coughing fit. I found it humorous. Oh, and don't worry. Hans touched most of the food. I just used the cart to hold myself up (I was tired and hungry and the meds were wearing off).
Sure, if I were going to visit someone with swine flu (or any flu for that matter) I might take a few precautions. I might wear the mask then. I'd definitely wash my hands for a thorough 20 seconds. Actually, unless it was close family, I probably wouldn't even visit. The thing is, though, I don't know anyone with swine flu. Most people don't.

Anyway, what do you think? Is it just some big hype, or is it the next major epidemic?

2 comments:

  1. I think it is clear that there is some hype involved in swine flu, but I do think it is a good reminder for basic hygiene anyway. Everyone should wash regularly anyway, flu season or not, because who knows when the real epidemic will show.

    Can't wait to see you guys!

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  2. I don't know...I'm going to reserve my opinion about the swine flu until the Fall. Just remember that with the Spanish flu, NONE of your ancestors died with it! Your great-grandfather got it, and was very sick, but none of the other 5 people living in the same house even got it....so that is encouraging, I think.

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