Question by Richard V: Will the Swine Flu Be the Earth’s Sixth Extinction: Homo-Sapiens?
4/29 Swine Flu Update
With 14 confirmed cases of the swine flu illness in California, state health authorities have taken several preventive steps to mitigate the impacts and slow the spread of the virus. In the United States, there are 91 confirmed cases and one death in Texas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in conjunction with state and local health officials, are in California providing assistance and closely monitoring the ongoing swine flu situation.
In addition, California has activated the Joint Emergency Operations Center (JEOC) of the Department of Public Health in coordination with the California Emergency Management Agency and expanded public health laboratory testing of potential flu specimens.
On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Health and the Select Committee on Disaster and Emergency Response will be holding a joint hearing to discuss issues related to the swine flu.
International Swine Flu Outbreak: Assessing California’s Preparedness and Response to this Potential Flu Pandemic
WHEN: Thursday, April 30, 2009; 12:00 noon
WHERE: State Capitol, Room 4203; Sacramento, CA
This hearing will be webcast. You can watch it live at http://192.234.214.75/SenCh1 (via Windows Media) on Thursday.
Individuals should take the following precautionary measures:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
If you become ill with flu-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.
If you get sick with the flu, it is recommended that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
For more information and the most up-to-date information, please visit:
The California Department of Health: Swine Influenza (Flu)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Swine Influenza (Flu)
National Institutes of Health: Swine Flu
PandemicFlu.gov
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
World Health Organization: Swine influenza
California Department of Food and Agriculture: Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) Update in California
California Emergency Medical Services Authority: Swine Flu Guidance
Best answer:
Answer by jonathan
hahaha that’s just silly.
Add your own answer in the comments!
“emergency preparedness committee”
Mars light and ash
Image by miheco
that orange stripe is the filtered sun reflected off the BBQ lid. this photo would normally be a stainless steel color, but the thickness of the atmosphere makes it Mars like.
received this through community message board:
EMERGENCY NOTICE!
While we are not in immediate danger, there is a possibility that evacuation might be necessary later today or tonight. The Emergency Preparedness Committee has prepared an informational packet listing which important items and documents you should take, and will be bringing it door to door shortly. We recommend that you stay indoors and watch the news for late breaking information. You can never be too prepared for a possible emergency.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Eh… probably not, because even the Bubonic Plague didn’t kill EVERYONE. And we have medicine now.
Very unlikely. There was a Flu Pandemic in 1918, and the whole human race wasn’t wiped out. And it doesn’t look like all of the strains of the Swine Flu are deadly. It all depends on how aggressive the strain is, how fast you get it treated, etc. If you get Swine Flu, there’s a good chance that you won’t die. Most of the cases in the US are quite mild, actually.
There’s no chance in hell. Swine flu is very treatable, this is just a extreme overreaction from the media. You are 1000x times more likely to die from a common flu virus.
Extinction from disease is ultra rare in sexual species. Extinction from Nuclear holocaust or a meteor the size of Texas is much more likely.
With sexual reproduction comes intraspecies genetic diversity. There is bound to be some segment of the population that is resistant or immune to any disease that may come about.
For example, 10% of Caucasians are immune to HIV. I’m 99.99% sure there is a much larger portion of the population that is resistant if not immune to swine flu.
Not likely, but consider this.
The world is experiencing one of the greatest extinction events ever due to the ecological ruin caused by people. Species are dropping left and right as the rainforests are burned, the oceans are overfished and acidified, fresh water is polluted and wasted on inefficient agriculture, the atmosphere is choked out and contaminated creating global climate change. Melting ice caps and hundred year long droughts will take there toll and you’re worried about a little flu bug killing people?
Maybe mother nature is getting tired of the most selfish and inconsiderate species since the dawn of time and s starting to take aim at good old modern man. Seems like its about time.