When is someone going to say STOP TO THIS LATEST NONSENSE OF OUR MEDIA?!
First of all, do people even know what a pandemic actually is? According to the majority of definitions, a pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region, possibly worldwide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic).
Now can anyone tell me when was the last real and serious pandemic? Well now this is the real question ... because it depends whom this affects!
If we are talking about our obviously superior race of westerners, then we could say 1918 (Typhus killed millions in Russia) ...
... but if we are talking about the rest of the planet'S HUMAN, yes human, Population, then the list is long: cholera, AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, etc which kill hundreds per day, thousands per month and millions per year, but now that's a whole different set of issues because ... Who cares right?!
I just find it incredible that no one panics when these millions of families die of illnesses and when a simple donation from each of us for vaccines could actually put a stop to it (but oh sorry, better pay taxes to give as bailouts to the banks), but when a possible flu such as the Avian one (by the way, who can tell me how many human lives this one costed? how about the Mad cow disease?) might spread, then it's panic on board, and let's talk about it and take immediate action.
The interesting fact is that if it were to be a real pandemic, they are talking about billions of dollars to erradicate it ... seems like billions of $$ are the order of the day these days to solve many problems, except the real ones who have been around forever...
Excuse me if I am over-reacting, but I find this shocking, revolting and disgusting!
What do you think?
14 comments:
My dear friend. An influenza is most often a pandemic. It cleanses, unfortunately we have a scientific discovery of antibiotics, that makes it stronger and more nasty every year, as with Tuberculosis.
Thanks for your scientific clarification, but I believe it still does not excuse the fact that the media are all over it because it might affect the US and Europe, don't you think?
No, it has so far mainly affected Mexico, which is rarely included in the countries in which people you refer to as typical "Westerners" live. And the reason why it's in the press so much is because it's NEW, no one ever heard of the Swine flu before, and the Bird flu and SARS were just as much in the press when they broke out in...in Asia and South East China respectively.
But you're right, it shouldn't take any attention away from AIDS, malaria etc that still kill thousands.
PS! You're right about one other thing, I didn't know what a pandemic is...
I can see where you are coming from... but still, don't you think it is important that people are being informed about the fact that it is out there and that it may be spreading worldwide? I think you would be far more offended if 'our media' or our 'government' would try to 'hush it up' and people would still be travelling to Mexico, get infected and spread the disease even faster than the rate it is currently going at.
It does not take away the fact that the other mentioned diseases should remain in the spotlight. I agree that malaria and tuberculosis are awful things that could be erradicated by vaccines and better hygienic circumstances. However, when it comes to AIDS, we all know what the main reasons of the spread of this disease are and there have been multi-billion campaigns to inform people about the disease and how to avoid it. So, when it comes to that, we all have to take our own responsibility as well as supporting any ongoing scientific investigation into finding a remedy/cure for it. I have no idea how the 'cultural' issue of not using any protection in certain countries could be tackled though... but that's another discussion alltogether...
The main media cannot be seen as anything else than the seller of FEAR, and it works. It even affects me, and that does piss me off. Because this is just another bird flue and SARS hype. It sells. And no, I do not support scientific investigations, because they are always about balancing on a two edged sword. Anti biotics were a mistake, anti psychotics were a big mistake, excitotoxins were a big mistake (video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2384105525501310962)
anti depressants were a big mistake - simply because when you can make big bucks on it - it is not anylonger the same dynamics and purpose for its use. It is destroying our human nature.
The reference were supposed to be:
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=
-2384105525501310962
And by the way, exitotoxins is present in most of the food you get at your local supermarket
I wont be flying home wearing a mask (they dont stop contamination)... actually the hysteria is quite remarkable since I am in the USA and the only thing that has happened was Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) had to cancel his movie premier in Mexico City due to Swine Flu... otherwise everyone seems to be managing and surviving just fine.
It gets worse, and I appreciate the scientific comments of Eva, being a scientific rational person herself, BUT ... the Media are not only creating hysteria based on fake facts (they are reporting around the world more than 150 deaths ... when the reality is that 7 people have died, and there are 257 reported cases in 11 countries), http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_30_a/en/index.html
Now, here is a further thought ... let's say that indeed the public needs to be informed of a possible virus spread and potential pandemic. The danger is that if people get to the affected area, they might get contaminated. But if you are not even near the affected area, how and why should this affect you, and make you panic?! Once more, let's get real. Malaria is the most deadly virus, kills 1 child every 30 seconds (there are 3.3 billion of people at risk of malaria, 1 million die every year! and this virus does not choose the poor only, anyone can catch it anytime in those areas), and many people travel to malaria areas. Now the question I ask is why aren't we all panicking then?! I stick to my points as I am yet to be convinced of the necessity for this madness: yes we should inform the public, but no we should not make them panic, and worse even, if the media have a responsibility to inform the public of dangers posed to them, then they should not be selective!
Por enquanto nao se sabe qual é a gravidade da situaçao, como foi o caso no inicio do SARS e da gripe das aves. O facto de a propagaçao ter sido limitada nessa altura nao nos deve deixar pensar que foi errado reagir e informar o publico.
O pb das doenças respiratorias é a facilidade com que se propagam e com que os virus podem mutar, criando novas variedades cada vez mais resistentes.
As pandemias referem-se, certamente, à larga extensao geografica de uma epidemia, mas uma caracteristica essencial é o facto de os humanos nao conseguirem imunizar se naturalmente contra elas. A SIDA é uma pandemia, de facto, mas nao é por ela ser grave que devemos deixar de reagir quando aparece uma nova ameaça.
Uma pandemia de gripe nao existe desde 1968. Mas parece ser uma questao de tempo até acontecer novamente. E acredita que se os focos de infecçao nao forem controlados quem vai sofrer mais nao sao os paises ocidentais, com largo acesso a antivirais e com sistemas de saude eficazes.
Informaçoes diarias fiaveis no sitio do Centro Europeu para o Controlo das Doenças: http://ecdc.europa.eu/
just fyi: eva = annelies ;-) so no scientific background whatsoever ;-)
how many people you know have panicked about this, by the way? I only know of one, all the others are having a bit of a laugh with it all, though everyone seems to have been getting a bit more serious about using tissues and hand sanitizer sprays ;-)
The truth about the Swine flu: No-one yet knows whether swine flu will become a global pandemic, but it is becoming clear where it came from – most likely a giant pig factory farm run by an American multinational corporation in Veracruz, Mexico.
These factory farms are disgusting and dangerous, and they're rapidly multiplying. Thousands of pigs are brutally crammed into dirty warehouses and sprayed with a cocktail of drugs -- posing a health risk to more than just our food -- they and their manure lagoons create the perfect conditions to breed dangerous new viruses like swine flu. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) must investigate and develop regulations for these farms to protect global health.
Big agrobusiness will try to obstruct and scuttle any attempts to any reform in this system. The question is how shall we effectively act, when it deals with global problems of this nature?
Yeah, Swine Flue indeed. Stop eating them poor animals I say, and stay away from them oh humans.
The media has moved on to something more interesting, with potentially more long-term news value - Iran, if they can sustain their action for a decent length of time.
Oh, darn, Michael Jackson's died, and now Iran is not a 24 hr a day, 60 minutes an hour etc. story.
Me, as a health care worker, belonging to a hospital that will be responsible for all the notified cases of this big region, and as a "diagnoser" of the disease am aware of the importance of this flu.
What can I say? As a "respiratory" disease, it will spread very easily and quickly..can´t wait autumn and winter, when all flu cases will be mixed up with swine ones :P
Why are "the media going mad"?
1- It´s going to affect all "western"/"developped"/"industrialized" countries which are the ones that feed/create/brainwash the public, theory that defines the "media industry".
2- Big pharmaceutical industries, which names I will not mention are involved, fighting to have the monopole and the registered brand of the well known vaccination they developped/are developping. Some people even say this flu was their creation so they could sell the product massively...
3- Referring to point 2, the same people that point those pharmaceutical companies to be held responsible, say that all other "big diseases" could be treated, if the incomings were rentable for the companies...not that it´s my opinion, but an idea to think about..
Well, just sharing some ideas that are discussed everyday at the hospital/restaurants/public places/etc...
Kiss.
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