Do We Have a Pandemic on our Hands?

I tend to be pretty observant of anything that tends to be out of place around me.  Before I had heard of this Mexican Swine Flu, I was already piqued with the late season flu going around.  Especially in the past three weeks.  It happens, I told myself.  For all I know, the incidents of late season flu is just that:  late season seasonal flu.  Nothing more.  But, instincts tell me to be aware and to be vigilant, strangely so, this time around.

So far, at least three person I know have been sick for the past two weeks.  Not sick enough to be bed ridden completely nor at death’s door, but, just that the flu like symptoms have not been shaken free yet.  All the symptoms are that of a flu and the intensity of at least one of the symptoms seems to be dominant.  I’m no nurse, nary a doctor.  I am not an expert in health related field, except only in the role of being a mom.  Mother’s instincts is what I have. Normally, I tend to pshaw things and not make a big deal of it.  But this one has me wary.

Wary, simply because of the DNA strain of the Mexican Swine Flu.  The one factor that has me worried is the fact that this strain includes a combination of the swine, bird, Aisian, and European, all in one.  Something that has never been seen before.

This particular strain appears to affect healthy young people more who normally tend to have healthier immune system than the very young children and the elderly.  Typically, the young and mid adults, tend to shake the flu off without much ado.  But, death was at their door for many in Mexico. The majority of the cases are occurring in adults between 25 and 44 years of age.

This Mexican Swine Flu has the same symptoms as seasonal flu which includes fever, lethargy, lack of appetite,coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Logically, many people that get the flu, do not always go to their doctor or even bother to visit their clinic or hospitals. Most people ride it out.  With that in mind, how many actual cases of this Mexican Swine Flu are there out there?  With intense media coverage, we can now be sure to see the numbers rise.  As CDC said, it is too late to contain it.  Already, confirmed cases have been reported in Texas, California and Kansas, additionally, possibly New York.  Already we have many college students returning or have returned back from Mexico from spring break.  Many families have their spring breaks in Mexico.

One blogger – underthehill dot wordpress dot com blogged about this and he came across a blogger at europebusines dot blogspot dot com

that theorized that this could be a biological warfare based on several factors, one of which are the strains involved.  Both sites has some interesting links that are worth checking out.  I’m kind of skeptical that it could be biological warfare, however, I’m mindful of ‘never say never’.

CDC officials described the virus as having a unique combination of gene segments not seen before in people or pigs. The bug contains human virus, avian virus from North America and pig viruses from North America, Europe and Asia. It may be completely new, or it may have been around for a while and was only detected now through improved testing and surveillance, CDC officials said.

Normally I’d hear things about certain things going around and usually you’d see a pattern of symptoms and you know, it’s something obvious that is going around. But, this time, I’m noticing a similar yet strange pattern.  It was something that had me piqued thus, it was something I couldn’t ignore.  I just hope it’s all nothing.

But to be on the safe side and to be vigilant, as one commenter stated in one of the news article about this Swine Flu, that if anyone were to suspect that they have the flu, they’d be smart not to go to the doctor’s office or even the clinics or the hospital for obvious reasons.  These places are  a hotbed for spreading the flu.  However, I’m not suggesting one do that or that one shouldn’t.  Personally, I’d call the doctor rather than going into an office full of sick people who might have this particular strain.

One other commenter even suggested that people start buying and storing canned foods and water.  One should also start preparing for anything and have good supply of blankets, flashlights, batteries, and whatever it is to be able to survive being isolated if needed.

I’m not sure what I will do at this point as far as preparing ahead of time, but, I’m definitely keeping a close eye on this one.

Be safe.