H1N1: truth or fearmongering?

Second Wave of Swine Flu? We Aren't Worried

So begins the blog post for one of my favourite CBC medical radio shows. They h ave called it Swinefeld. (Which irks me because 'Swine flu' is not the correct term, and may hurt the pork producers! I love my pork on the fork.)

That said, thank goodness they are dispelling the media hype and fallacious fears. But this is getting out of hand.
It seems, the pharmaceuticals are fear mongering,interpreting feelings, asking leading questions (Are you afraid of H1N1?) and the journalists are creating newsworthy items, not simply reporting facts, like those from GC's FluWatch.

Who is at risk?
Children under 2 years of age, pregnant women, persons under 65 years of age with underlying medical conditions and Aboriginal populations have higher rates of hospitalization and greater risk of severe outcomes (ICU admission and death).

This is due to exposure, or the lack therof, to the virus. Some elderly, they say, otherwise in good health have developed antibodies.

H1N1 is serious, but creating unnecessary hype is the problem. I created a hand washing poster for my hospice clients.

We must do our part, I have seen students in my classroom sharing spoons and food. The kids are the ones to pass it on, and take it home! I used to have my students wash their desks off after lunch, as it is not done all that often with caretaking cutbacks. Small containers of alcohol-based gels are great, but do not replace handwashing. After 5 or 6 applications of the gel, you must really wash well.

If you are ill
Stay home. Prevent transmission. Stay away from high-risk folks, do not touch them or their personal effects.

If you are ill, sneeze into the crook of your elbow, or your sleeve, not your hand, to keep viruses out of the air. This is how Swine Flu (H1N1) spreads. Do not touch your face, mouth, or eyes. Use antibacterial pumped soap and water, not antibacterial sprays or gels, they do not kill Superbugs. The water rinses the bacteria and viruses away.

Immunities
I know, though, that with mild exposure to this virus kids will develop immunities. As will all of us. The trick is in treating symptoms in mild cases at home, and keeping people out of hospitals and waiting rooms where they will infect the really ill.

Statistics

Their stats from Australia's recent winter (JJA, 2009) are clear:

"As of September 16, 2009, Australia has 36,173 confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009. There are currently 307 people in hospital, 59 people in Intensive Care Units, and 171 people have died. Out of a population of just under 22 million."

At risk are the old, and frail, the very young, and those who are pregnant. You are hard pressed to find fear in such stats when you look at the bigger picture. My friend, Cindy Smith's website, Education for the Driving Masses, has reported that we have lost 1133 to traffic accidents, and 70 to H1N1. In a nation with a population of 31 million, we can expect to see a certain amount of illness, but not the fearmongering the recent predictions purport to hold up.

Comparisons are made with the pandemic of 1918, in which a first wave of flu in 1918 was followed by a much more widespread and deadly outbreak in 1919-20. We have learned so much about prevention, treatment and cures. We have better nutrition, healthier, more sanitary public places, buildings and homes. We have much less to fear, I believe.

For more information on hand washing tips, visit my health blog!