Swine flu name offensive??
OMG.
Are they serious?
People are dying, and they want to argue that the name of the virus offends the sensibilities of Jews and Muslims?
These are probably the same folks that won't allow their kids to read "Winnie The Pooh" because of Piglet.
Guess what people?
Pigs DO exist!
LOL!
JERUSALEM – The outbreak of swine flu should be renamed "Mexican" influenza in deference to Muslim and Jewish sensitivities over pork, said an Israeli health official Monday.
Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman said the reference to pigs is offensive to both religions and "we should call this Mexican flu and not swine flu," he told a news conference at a hospital in central Israel.
Both Judaism and Islam consider pigs unclean and forbid the eating of pork products.
Scientists are unsure where the new swine flu virus originally emerged, though it was identifed first in the United States. They say there is nothing about the virus that makes it "Mexican" and worry such a label would be stigmatizing.
Two Israelis who recently visited Mexico have been hospitalized with symptoms of the flu. Health authorities have not yet confirmed whether they actually have the virus.
The current strain of swine flu is thought to have originated in Mexico where more than 100 people have been killed by the disease so far.
Laboratories in the U.S. and Canada have confirmed that of the samples tested so far, the swine flu virus in Mexico and U.S. appear to be the same.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090427/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_odd_israel_kosher_...
I took your point anyway. Hopefully something will result from the research that is ongoing for malaria.
the figure should have been 120,000.
30 million people each year catch Maleria and at least 1.5 million people die. There has always been steps taken to eradicate Maleria. Seems not to work though.
I still think as usual more is being made of this problem than is needed.
Well, untill now, birds flu was worst during the 1st days
Ayman
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
US has first death from swine flu:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090429/hl_nm/us_flu_usa_death
"Most plain girls are virtuous because of the scarcity of opportunity to be otherwise."
-- Maya Angelou
Only 119,999,993 to go then
They have reassessed how many casualties of swine flu have occurred in Mexico. The official number now stands at 7. Apparently other deaths were not related specifically to swine flu. As far as I know there have been no other deaths in the world, apart from the ones in Mexico. Most people who have contracted it, have recovered.
That means this "pandemic" has only taken 7 people world wide lol.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/807735/boy-named-as-swine-flus-first-victim
And then came along a wise old KAT who said "hmmm what shall we call this strange piggie flu without offending any religion? Oh i know, we shall call it the HAMlet Flu :p
Good Fortune always comes knocking at your door...when you are sh*tting in the toilet!! :)
_[]~SMoKE~[]_
apparently the virus will make pigs fly also.
We've gone from 149 dead to a possibility of 120 million dying?
I just think it is hype.
How many people have died of Malaria today? Even if swine fever kills 120,000,000 as some people are now saying, it's a small fraction of the number of people who die of Malaria and what is anybody doing about that?
Recent developments and details in the ongoing global swine flu outbreak, pls. read:
http://health.lifestyle.yahoo.ca/channel_health_news_details.asp?news_id=17871&news_channel_id=1026&channel_id=1026&relation_id=35181
VB: I was refering to "schools were closed as quarantine measure till May 6..."
Ayman
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
it spreaded in UK, Switzerland, Spain...
Read the following
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/5229715/Swine-flu-Spain-confirms-first-case-in-Europe.html
God bless us ALL
"Spreaded in many EU countries and schools were closed as quarantine measure till May 6..."
VB: Are you sure? I'm in Europe and it's the 1st time i hear that.
Ayman
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
to Pigs.
Like Plague epidemic related to Rats...
Spreaded in many EU countries and schools were closed as quarantine measure till May 6...
You can't teach experience...
Jeez, some people need to effin grow up and not be so sensitive.
---------------------------------------------------------
I think you have me confused with someone who gives a sh1t.
Offensive or not: it poses a threat.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=287381&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56
Let the jews speak for them selves I find the name swine flu appropriate
deleted
who care about the name??? we need to stop this. period.
Everybody is right everybody is wrong, it depend where you stand
with all the corruption, lying and stealing, can't we get a flu strain that will kill off the politicians who are messing up this world?
maybe they should call it, "them who must not be named" virus... :P
Nothing to get upset/mad and angry with the Word "SWINE" my god! Its only a word.....
No reason to get offend for God Sake. Get a life!!!
Remember when we were all supposed to die of :
SARS
Bird Flu
West Nile Virus
Yes, we need to be cautious of Swine Flu, but really I think the media needs to get a grip and stop scaring people.
Scarlett there are now 5 suspected cases of swine flu in Australia. They believe it has come from people flying in from overseas.
In this modern world, internet is the great equalizer.
David Ozonoff, a doctor and chronic-disease epidemiologist, is a professor of environmental health at the Boston University School of Public Health.
Although we’ve been told for a long time to expect another flu pandemic, now that one may be just around the corner many people seem surprised. Pandemics happen, and there have been two in my lifetime — the Asian flu in 1957 and the Hong Kong flu in 1968.
Whether 2009’s swine flu will become another we don’t know. Flu pandemics are caused by variants of the influenza virus which are new and novel to our immune systems, and the current swine flu virus is just such an example. There is no natural immunity to it (that we know of at this moment), it causes human disease (most of the 144 different flu subtypes just infect other animals, like birds), and it appears to be fairly transmissible. If its transmission becomes sustained as more cases are reported (at least four countries have confirmed cases), we may well face a pandemic, the contemporaneous infection of many people in many parts of the world.
So far, the swine flu virus looks clinically like the usual seasonal flu virus. That may reassure some people, but from the public health standpoint, even a serious outbreak of seasonal flu is a major concern.
During the 1957 and 1968 flu pandemics, when there were more staffed hospital beds per capita than now, gurneys were lined up head to toe along hospital corridors.
It’s estimated that seasonal flu kills close to 40,000 people in the U.S. each year. A virus killing at that rate and causing a similar level of hospitalization and absenteeism would put enormous strain on an already teetering medical care, public health and social services system. Most public health services exist at the state and local level, exactly where the economic crisis has hurt government the most. Just when we need them, we are laying off substantial numbers of public health and social service workers.
Hospitals are at the bare minimum of staffed beds and can easily be overwhelmed by even a bad flu season, much less a pandemic. In 1957 and 1968, when there were more staffed hospital beds per capita than now, gurneys where lined up head to toe along university health services and hospital corridors.
It would be worse today. Given this highly plausible, though still uncertain, scenario, there’s clearly reason for worry. So concern is appropriate even as the world health authorities work to gather more facts.
In Canada where the virus is just being found, it's causing such mild illness, it's running its course in two to three days, in some cases without treatment. But the Canadian officials have prepared a "seed stock" of the virus that could be used in the manufacture of a vaccine, though it is still premature to send it to pharmaceutical companies. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu yet.
Santa Maria....the Mexican will be condemmed. Why do we have to cross the pacific ocean to get a beautiful name for that. My car is made in Japan, and so be it. But hey..name it Stone Flu, after me.
Edipigs transmit the swine virus......
What if a option is given to Israel - Either the name or Palestine...... Choose one...
They wont chose either... its fun fighting for the two..... Wht else to do with life..........
Hard Work Doesn't Kill Anyone... But Why take Chances.
Hey No one says a word about the TAKILA Land.....
Mexicans are Already known for the TAKILA....
The Mexican wave.... n the daredevil way of loosing money..
Leave a Virus for Pigs.....
If you (Israel)have problem... make sure No Jew or Muslim is infected by that.. tht would be a great help by the Israeli Govt......
Hard Work Doesn't Kill Anyone... But Why take Chances.
swoink flu
Oink Oink..... Oink Oink.....Atttaachhhooooooo....Atachoooooooo...argrrrrrhhhh.....Oink oink Oink.....Oink..Oink..
There are some families who always run a piggery farm for generations and let their children run loose among those farms and they have no such cases of that 'flu' since.
What is wrong with scientists and media these days to come up with such...'names' for a 'newly-found' disease?
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
they are a BLAST!!! Most folks have experienced enough major storms that they stay...unless it gets to be a category 4 or above. Everyone hunkers down, parties hardy and rides out the storm in style and with friends!
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
Is it really bad that I want to go to a hurricane party?
Sounds like fun :D
www.qaws.org
When we have 40 confirmed cases in the US, 28 of those in New York and some reported in Texas, where people can easily WALK across the river/border .. death toll from the suspected disease is at 149 in Mexico...its not panic, but it is being cautious.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
I'd just keep a close eye on the progression of things. Most likely it will be fine.
As far as the Mexico nationals being able to scramble..yes they can very efficiently...I was speaking of the lack of funding for hospitals and medical assistance in remote areas, mainly. Of course the US will help out if Mexico needs help. They are our southern neighbors and its always been reciprocal.
On those hurricane alerts...they are pretty well schooled in them as are we on the Texas and Gulf coast. Everyone helps everyone else. And Hurricane parties are legendary!!!
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
hmmm wokay then :)
Good Fortune always comes knocking at your door...when you are sh*tting in the toilet!! :)
_[]~SMoKE~[]_
You know I am not so please behave.
yep Scarlett but I have been in hurricane alerts there and when they actually do want to get organised they do it well.....
I am sure the US will help out as well
I think it will get really worrying if it gets down to Central America etc....
I was thinking of going to Brazil this summer but am having second thoughts....whats your opinion?
Sweet mother of all that is dipped in whipped cream...i didnt know Scarlett had her kiddies here :p
Now now popcornchick are u accusing Scarlett of not being a concerned mommy?
Good Fortune always comes knocking at your door...when you are sh*tting in the toilet!! :)
_[]~SMoKE~[]_
guess we just have differences of opinions when raising children.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
Scarlett's not taking her kids back - they're already there! That's why she's cautious!!
www.qaws.org
if I was panicking, trust me, EVERYONE would know it.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
You ASUMME I don't have children. Assume again. What I said was; If, I WAS as worried as YOU and you FELT the threat WAS real I would not take my kids back.
the lack of adequate medical assistance and funding is going to be a huge handicap in controlling any disease. Add to that the enormous number of people that fly in and out during a day...its mind boggling to say the least.
I hope your Latino friends and their families are alright.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
What about us with very young children? Or elderly family members? Or infirm friends?
To be honest if I were Scarlett I'd be exactly the same. I'd be going there to keep an eye on my family. To try to protect them. Not run away from it all and let them sort themselves out.
And still my question - why are we all supposedly panicking?
www.qaws.org
Just had an earthquake too... :(
Thanks Scarlett I find MEXICAN flu very offensive.
Swine offends Muslims and Jews...errrrrrrrr dont you think calling it Mexican will offend Mexicans?
Avian flu
Swine flu
Whats the problem?
Popcorn there has been no panic anywhere ....everything actually being well handled so far
In Mexico too... just spoken to friends there.
It is NOT a pandemic but it has the potential to be one.
seems their curly tails fell off last time I saw them. It is so sad..
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
because if it was that bad, you bet your kiwis that i'd be going back even earlier for my children's sake.
Influenza doesn't just kill the infirm and elderly (of which my mother IS, who lives there also!!!), it can kill anyone that has a less than strong respiratory system...like my younger son who has severe allergies.
so before you start in on someone, stop and think before you speak.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
I'm suspicious of our guinea pigs now... Are they mini serial killers waiting to pounce....
www.qaws.org
I am sure you are very concerned. There is flu near you that has killed elderly and infirm people. If it was THAT BAD YOU would not be going back in two weeks.
Sorry but if I want financial advice I will go to Bloomburg. I will stick with the centre for disease control. Thanks for the effort ;-)
what's a good panic amongst friends???...you run one way and I will run the other, screaming and arm waving..yelling The swine flu is coming, the swine flu is coming!!
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
What exactly gives you the impression everyone in the world is panicking - we're all obviously not!
www.qaws.org
but I AM from Texas, close to San Antonio where there have been confirmed cases. I travel back there in 2 weeks and I have two sons there...just want to be cautious is all.
Why don't you stop being so critical of those that are using good sense.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
it is not a pandemic.
You missed the confirmed cases in Canada and Spain :P
People aren't panicking - I'm not rushing out to buy facemasks.. People are now being cautious... If I was offered free tickets to Mexico tomorrow I wouldn't go, but it won't stop me going to Spain in 2 weeks (unless it get's out of control!).
www.qaws.org
Q: What is swine flu?
A: Influenza is a virus that infects people, birds, pigs and other animals such as ferrets. Swine flu, or swine influenza, is a form of the virus that normally infects pigs. There are many forms of flu, and the different varieties have the ability to exchange genes with one another. The form of flu that originated in Mexico is a genetic mixture of viruses that have been seen in pigs, birds and people. It’s being called a swine flu because the overall structure of the virus is of the type that affects pigs, said Keiji Fukuda, a WHO official.
Q: How do people catch swine flu?
A: Studies are still ongoing on how this particular swine flu is transmitted. Flu is generally transmitted through the respiratory tract. Droplets of infected body fluids can carry flu when people cough or sneeze. Studies indicate that masks called N95 respirators that, when properly used, filter germs from the breath and hamper the spread of flu. Neither contact with pigs nor eating pork has been linked to the spread of the flu, Fukuda said today. Still, health researchers are working to establish that the virus is spreading from person-to-person.
I doubt if you will see this far but I will willingly go to my local hastanesi should I develop a corkscrew tail (or anything else).
I may be wrong, but from what I read, this present "strain" has nothing to do with Swine Flu..
Will Check and update :)
who have died are infirm, pre disposed illness etc?
Stop this scaring folks. This is not a pandemic at all. It can and will be stopped soon.
You panic so much over nothing.
if I see you getting a corkscrew tail, I'm taking you into Hamad immediately!!!
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
wonder what popcorngirl would say when it hits Australia as its doing in Mexico, UK and the US...
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
If the US panics(which they aren't...) the rest of the world doesn't...each country reacts in its own way...to protect its citizens.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
On Sky news as of 10 minutes ago it had reached 149 deaths in Mexico, 40 reported cases in the US and 2 in the UK (Scotland). They also think it's in other European countries - they were waiting for a confirmation on Spain.
It's not just the US panicking anymore....
And I think the whole debate over the name is a joke. Sorry but it's from swines - so it's swine flu. It's not mexican flu because it's not from Mexicans!
www.qaws.org
the last time I looked on google there was 81 dead in Mexico, 9 ill in the US, the case in the UK was not this type of flu. So 81 people in the WORLD have died, out of how many?
My idea is, if the US panics the whole world does. Am I wrong in saying that?
I fear you are incorrect in stating that swine flu is nothing to do with swine.
Having just visited the website of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) they give the following clarification:
"Can humans catch swine flu?
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry)."
It goes on to state that the virus can then be passed among humans.
So if you hear someone sneeze and then grunt,.......trot away and ignore them like the plague ;-)
The link to the CDC is given below.
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm
Surely there is more in this world to worry about than the name of a disease...and its not like you are EATING the virus...
I find MEXICAN flu much more offensive. Makes it sound like everyone is dancing the Salsa and eating tortillas. Talk about being insensitive.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
no evidence?? sweetheart, what do you call over 100 deaths??? Insignificant????
Alexa..I was thinking the same thing when i read her post...sheesh...
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
I will elaborate. If the US are worried the rest of the world seems to follow even when there is no real evidence.
That reminds me.. Where is Gypsy ???
nah brit, it means Sex With Irrational Naked Eskimos.
There is a clear misconception here.. Swine flu has nothing to do with the snouty creatures, but is named after the symptoms Mrs Expat usually gets ..
Sneezing
Wheezing
Irritation
Nasal Blockage
Ebriousness
Just to show how stupid some people are, I knew a few who stoned birds in Brunei because of Bird Flu. People get that stupid over this kind of hype. Especially if the US join in.
have you come across any muslim criticising the use of that word? Does a jew represent jews or muslims?
i bet the swines Are not offended.
In this modern world, internet is the great equalizer.