Thursday, April 30, 2009

Perspective

People in the United States who died of the "regular" flu last year: 36,000

People in the United States who died of the AID's virus last year: 14,000

People in the United States who died of an allergic reaction to aspirin last year: 5,000

People in the United States who have died from Swine Flu: 1

And we are talking about closing schools, restricting travel etc. Does this seem a little out of step with reality?

10 comments:

Rocketstar said...

As you well know, we are a fear based society

Jenn'fer said...

Agreed... I am traveling for work every week this month, starting with Dallas next week - people are starting to think I am taking a big risk.... I don't think so... But there will be more deaths in the US, I'm guessing more than 250... but definitely not enough to stop everything in it's tracks!

Emily said...

Definitely; I've been directing people freaking out in my general direction to www.shouldibeworriedaboutswineflu.com

Ma said...

I think people still think I'm nutso for never having had a flu shot (or made my son get one)
I figure we're all going to die some day... why inject poison into your body to try to prevent it?
I am a little nervous about Hawaii though - supposedly we're one of the safest places to be right now so everyone is going to flock here and start infecting us with swine flu.... at least I'll die in paradise having tried to live my dreams out :)

just a girl... said...

its chaos. They are acting as if the sky is falling.

Sornie said...

Imagine how freaked out FOX News, CNN and the like will be when the death toll in the U.S reaches two. That's a 100% increase in fatalities, you know.

MaryBeth Houlihan said...

my co-worker just informed me of her theory about the u.s. being behind the whole things. she referenced npr. where is jack bauer??

Kristi said...

Ma - I never get flu shots either, but I'm glad that my grandmother (79) gets them regularly.

Americans love drama, and love something to be frantic about.

Melinda said...

THANKYOU.

Maggie Moo said...

I agree! A plane from Munich was just diverted into Boston because some lady had a cold.

First of all, if she DOES have this swine flu, thanks for bringing her here to Boston. Next, seriously? I sneeze everyday at least once regardless of whether I'm sick or not. I'm flying in 2 weeks. I hope no one has a heart attack if I sneeze by accident.

That being said-I understand that we don't have the power to fight this weird strain. Harvard dental school is closed b/c 9 kids have this flu and worked on patients yesterday. I don't want to freak out b/c I know that the facts you mentioned are true but at the same time, I really don't want to have to go to the hospital over this shit!