H1N1

Okay, I've heard enough about H1N1 that's downright silly. I feel compelled to write a post about the current H1N1 flu situation.

First, H1N1 is a flu virus with flu symptoms. Without laboratory testing, it's practically impossible to know if someone has H1N1 or plain old seasonal flu.

Second, due to the obvious fact that H1N1 is a flu virus, it's impossible to get reliable statistics about it, because the only way we know it's H1N1 is through laboratory testing, and most people don't go for a laboratory test after catching the flu. Due to the similar physical signs between normal flu and H1N1 flu, many (possible several times more then reported) cases of H1N1 probably went unreported, because people get sick, treat it as any other flu (hot tea and warm bed) and recovered.

Third, because of the difficulty in getting accurate statistics, experts (and me) agree that H1N1 is probably way more widespread then you think (possibly 10 times more cases then reported). With the current data in Malaysia, the virus has already successfully infected much of the population.

Fourth, due to how widespread the H1N1 virus already is, quarantine and restrictions on traveling, as well as closing down schools, in most cases, is useless. If 10 of the students in your school has high fever, it's too late, the virus has spread into the school. It spreads through the air, people!

Fifth, it's flu, not AIDS, H1N1 is not much more dangerous then normal flu. Getting H1N1 is far from a death sentence. In fact in all likelihood someone close to you has already got it and recovered, and nobody knew about it. As of July 27th, there are 134503 reported cases of H1N1 with 816 deaths. Bringing the death rate up to a whopping 0.61%. Compare that to the death rate of plain old seasonal flu of 0.12%. Remember though, that there are definitely much more unreported cases of H1N1, but most cases of H1N1 deaths do get reported, meaning that 0.61% is probably a much higher then what really is.

However, it's noted that the potential the virus has for mutations might make the H1N1 pandemic much more serious in the future.

So next time you hear someone speak of H1N1 as if it were the end of the world, say:
Relax, it's a fucking flu!