Archive for April 26th, 2009

Good FSM. I slack on keeping up on my google reader and the next thing I know we’re ALL GOING TO DIE FROM THE PIGGY FLU!!!1!11!

Well, maybe not. There is an outbreak of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in the US, presumably starting from an outbreak in Mexico. Apparently quite a few people have died in Mexico, but it also appears that the infection in the US is not quite as powerful as the one in Mexico. No one has died here and only one person has been hospitalized.

Regardless of how bad this gets, it more than likely will spread. I’m not part of the tin-foil hat crowd nor am I prone to paranoid fantasies. That said, it’s always a good idea to be prepared. If you start to have flu-like symptoms, stay home from work. Go to the doctor. Wash your hands alot. Ready your house-containing plastic bubble (you have one of those, right?) Ok, the last one might be a little over the top.

Your absolute best bet is to stay informed from legitimate sources of information (i.e. NOT this blog).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu
Follow them on Twitter @CDCemergency
The Effect Measure blog, the editors of which are senior public health scientists and practitioners, has had some great, rational discussion of the ongoing outbreak.

Most importantly of all, quit making it with pigs. Seriously, it’s freaky enough without the added threat of piggy diseases.