TravelBlog members discuss the implications, gather information and share conspiracy theories.
I agree with you Jonathan, regarding the masks. All the "surgical" type masks you can buy at the stores are really to protect
other people from your water droplets (coughing, sneezing).
The type of masks that actually do offer some protection against others have to be specially fitted to the individual, and they're not cheap, and I've never seen them sold commercially - I encountered them only in the hospital ICUs when I was dealing with patients with TB or some other communicable respiratory disease, and even then, medical personnel were just as likely to wear a ventilated hood as they were a special mask.
Here in Seattle people aren't particularly worried (I saw no masks on the bus), although I've noticed tourism has decreased dramatically and some people are prone to over-reaction now that we've had some confirmed cases in the city. After talking to a group of folks for well over an hour non-stop this morning I paused to clear my throat/cough and a woman made an obvious move about 10 feet away from me and said something "Uh oh..." I later spoke with someone who worked in a spice store who mentioned the same thing happens every time someone sneezes. The store just completely clears out. People usually understood that there are just so many spices in the air it's hard not to sneeze sometimes when someone is scooping out ground pepper or chili powder, but not anymore.
Reply to this It looks like the media driven mass hysteria about the
swine flu is starting to die down. I haven't heard anything about it on the news lately.
Fortunately enough, swine flu hasn't reached Australia
"yet" (knock on wood) . More than 100 people exhibiting flu-like symptoms have been tested for the virus...and so far, no one screened positive. The Australian government is taking this pandemic seriously, as there's already confirmed cases in a neighbouring country - New Zealand. Thermal scanners have been deployed in airports and international travelers are required to submit a health declaration form.
Free flu vaccines are also being offered at our department which include the Type A (H1N1 and H3N2) and Type B strains. Eventhough I already had my first bout of flu over a month ago, I opted to take the jab. My arm was sore for few days but it's all worth it.
As they say,
"Prevention is better than cure" . 😊
Reply to this Fortunately enough, swine flu hasn't reached Australia "yet"
Well, you do have the most stict and best quarentine departments in the world...I accidently left an apple core in my bag once while going coming into Sydney...ouch, was I told off and given the third degree! Nothing gets into Australia!
Reply to this haha !... that's a good one. 😊
My suitcase was also ravaged at the checkpoint for bringing seashells from overseas !
Reply to this I think the whole thing is over blown. The media hyped it out of control. There were less than a dozen deaths world wide from it when all was said and done. Those who died usually had other health problems. This is far less worrisome than the normal flu, where thousands die of each every year. I smell a bad odor about this hype and why is it being done? What is the motivation behind it is still to be seen. Watch for a freedom to be taken because we 'might get the swine flu' syndrome to pop up.
Reply to this I smell a bad odor about this hype and why is it being done? What is the motivation behind it is still to be seen.
- Dymphna
Conspiracy theories: these might sound far fetch but it’s something to think about
1) Maybe, Pharmaceutical companies have something to do with it to sell more flu vaccine ?
2) Maybe, the media hyped swine flu is a way of
diverting people’s worries about the
world economic crisis to prevent civil unrest. It’s also a way of saying, “Hey, so what if you’re unemployed, as long as you still have your “good health” consider yourself lucky, right ?
3) Maybe, the media has run out of something to sensationalize about
4) On the positive side, it’s a way of preparing the nations to have contingency plan in the event of
“real” pandemic or an outbreak of biological weapon
(God forbid!)
But then again
who knows, really ? 😉
So what's your conspiracy theory ? ...
P.S Hope pharmaceuticals have a cure for my rather insane rambling and such conspiracy theories wouldn’t make it to the headline news! LOL
Reply to this The UK FCO has, as of yesterday, stopped advising against travel to Mexico on the basis that the number of reported cases of swine flu has been in decline and it does like the problem peaked at the end of April. Considering I am flying to Mexico City in 3 hours I'm pretty chuffed about this.
Reply to this Joe - I think you have some pretty good theories going there. 😊
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