How does geography/nationality influence severity?

[Mommy0406]

I'm feeling rather confused reading reports about the Swine Flu thing. Supposedly in Mexico people are dying. Yet in the US there's only one person who has been hospitalized out of the confirmed cases, and the 6 cases in Canada have all been described as relatively mild. I know that 6 is a low number, but if there was to be some virulent strain, I'd imagine that they'd have more than just relatively mild symptoms that kept them home for less than a week. :confused:

So what gives? Why are they dying in Mexico and yet other places people are only having mild illness?

And why did they have to give it the name of another "pandemic that never was" - as I think the 1976 swine flu pandemic was referred to as that. Is this just more of the same? Or is it trying to re-awaken the fear from 1976?

And hey, while I'm at it, why the heck are they telling people to go and get the regular flu shot? I really don't get that one. :alien:

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Methinks we're being told what they want us to hear.

[Sakura]

For the most part I agree with MT.

Part of me does think that there is a possibility that the treatment(s) they are implementing in Mexico are exacerbating the illness and causing deaths.

[justine]

Hi,

I found this interesting link
http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=21087&name=TAMIFLU
It looks like some people are not happy with Tamiflu according to this.

Justine :eek:

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Given that Mexico City is THE most polluted city around,
4 million cars pump an estimated 32 tons of lead[tetra-ethyl lead] each day into the air, and that was as of 2000.. what about today???


http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/issues/sag-99-29-6/sag-29-6-4-98107.pdf (http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/issues/sag-99-29-6/sag-29-6-4-98107.pdf)


The Effect of Lead Inhalation on Rat Lung Morphology

Abstract: Lead may exert toxic effects on several organ systems, but those in the lung are the most insidious. Therefore the aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological alterations caused by lead intoxication in rat lungs.

Twenty-five Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: the control group consisted of five animals while the experimental groups contained ten animals each. The control group animals were not subjected to lead treatment, whereas the first experimental group animals were exposed to
500 mg /0.1 m3 /day of lead for one week, and the second group had the same dosage of lead exposure for two weeks. All the animals were decapitated and the lung tissues were obtained from each animal. Tissue samples were processed for light microscopical examination

In the lung tissue of the first experimental group, lymphocyte and monocyte infiltration and collagen accumulation were evident in the interalveolar septa, whereas in the second experimental group the animals had pneumonia in addition to exhibiting the same features as the first group animals.

In conclusion, the concentrations of lead, especially over a long period, may cause irreversible morphological alterations in the, rat lung tissue.

Key Words: Lead inhalation, lung, morphology, rat

so that applies to rats. What about people???

[Mommy0406]

That would make sense... already fragile lung tissue being more vulnerable to pneumonia and perhaps the secondary pneumonia infection in this particular flu being more virulent? (I think that's the right word - moving faster, making the person more ill.)

[Quickening]

Yup and add all of those contributing factors to the current management of the illness like Sakura suggested. Its not really much of a surprise that people are dying. It might be possible too that there is a whole lot of misreporting going on (propoganda) to whip everyone up in a frenzy. Like if someone has the flu but dies due to an operation or something else, the death might be attributed to the flu without taking into account what weakened the body to the poiint the flu was able to kill.