Obama declares swine flu a national emergency.

Obama declares swine flu a national emergency -- latimes.com


Receiving advisement from his Health and Human Services secretary and the CDC I'm sure, Obama has declared the
'swine flu' (which I thought was being referred to publicly as the H1N1 virus) a national emergency.


This declaration paves the way for health secretary to suspend federal requirements and speed treatment for thousands of infected people.

What were the federal powers in the first place that are being suspended?

We spoke months ago when the first wave hit and was subsequently underestimated (as it appears to have been at a governmental level) about the impacts a pandemic like this could have. Projections have the virus infecting 60% of the population of the United States. If you've been observant it is almost impossible to not have already seen some of the effects of the virus.

Class sizes have been reduced to around 50% at the school I attend. Employers have threatened punitive measures against their workers if they come to work sick or are feeling any symptoms of the H1N1.

If lets say for example 20% of the U.S gets flu symptoms in roughly the same 2-3 week period as the projections estimate, that is roughly 70 million people. Aside from the death toll, the causes to industry will be enormous.

Thoughts?

Polynikes said:

Obama declares swine flu a national emergency -- latimes.com


Receiving advisement from his Health and Human Services secretary and the CDC I'm sure, Obama has declared the
'swine flu' (which I thought was being referred to publicly as the H1N1 virus) a national emergency.


This declaration paves the way for health secretary to suspend federal requirements and speed treatment for thousands of infected people.

What were the federal powers in the first place that are being suspended?

We spoke months ago when the first wave hit and was subsequently underestimated (as it appears to have been at a governmental level) about the impacts a pandemic like this could have. Projections have the virus infecting 60% of the population of the United States. If you've been observant it is almost impossible to not have already seen some of the effects of the virus.

Class sizes have been reduced to around 50% at the school I attend. Employers have threatened punitive measures against their workers if they come to work sick or are feeling any symptoms of the H1N1.

If lets say for example 20% of the U.S gets flu symptoms in roughly the same 2-3 week period as the projections estimate, that is roughly 70 million people. Aside from the death toll, the causes to industry will be enormous.

Thoughts?

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This seems like overkill.
Half the people I know have had it now, including many at my work.
It's just the flu, people. It's just the flu.
Of course nobody wants it.
I plan to get vaccinated as soon as the injections are available (I prefer not to take the nasal spray vaccine).
But it's no reason to lose our heads entirely.
It's just not that big a deal.

Polynikes said:

Thoughts?

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Last week a high school girl where I live died from H1N1. This week 900 high school students reported flu-like symptoms and the local junior college has canceled all classes until Monday.

1069 said:

This seems like overkill.
Half the people I know have had it now, including many at my work.
It's just the flu, people. It's just the flu.
Of course nobody wants it.
I plan to get vaccinated as soon as the injections are available (I prefer not to take the nasal spray vaccine).
But it's no reason to lose our heads entirely.
It's just not that big a deal.

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Certainly some level headed thinking is required in a situation like this. I just feel that it has surpassed the point of 'not that big of a deal' and has the serious potential to cause a major national disruption.


Not that big of a deal is a very relative term. When will it become that big of a deal to you? When a family member dies? When your work or school shuts down? The President of the United States declaring it a national emergency definitely adds credibility to the fact it is become a big deal.

From the people I know who have contracted the flu, the effects are very potent and long-lasting. More so than the seasonal flu. I've heard numerous instances of people being bed-ridden for a week or more.

Another scary aspect of the strain of flu is the deadly effects it is having on healthy middle-aged individuals.


Seems ironic to add this at the end of the post, but I for one will never get vaccinated.

1069 said:

This seems like overkill.
Half the people I know have had it now, including many at my work.
It's just the flu, people. It's just the flu.
Of course nobody wants it.
I plan to get vaccinated as soon as the injections are available (I prefer not to take the nasal spray vaccine).
But it's no reason to lose our heads entirely.
It's just not that big a deal.

Click to expand...

In a case like this, I don't think it's possible to over-react. This is a smart move, IMO. If it turns out that we over-rected for nothing, then no harm done.

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE HYPE

First it's sad when ever any one dies and children are the most sad to hear about. A 14 or 15 year old died a few miles from where I live near Palm Springs, but it happens every year and we never hear about and it happens in much larger numbers.
Every year in this Country there are between 20000 and 37000 annual deaths from flu. To date there have been 1,000 way blow the average at this point. So why the all the hype? There are any number of reasons to over hype it, some are diversionary tactics to draw attention from the failing attempt to force the Obama I don't really care about your Health Plan through. Is it to draw attention away from the 150 some lies Obama has been caught it? Maybe it's to take attention away the continuing exposure of Communists and leftist radicals Obama has appointed to positions that have no real power under the Constitution.
Then there is one other reason that comes to mind. Its The Model State Emergency Health Powers Act: An Assault on Civil Liberties in the Name of Homeland Security.
This is no joke not a conspiracy theory but a reality in 38 States and here is some of what this act permits.
A THREAT TO FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
Under this legislative proposal, once a public health emergency is declared, governors and state public health authorities would be granted greatly expanded police powers. While a few other actions are enumerated, I want to bring to your attention 10 main powers conveyed into the hands of only a very few individuals by this model plan.

Under the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act, upon the declaration of a "public health emergency," governors and public health officials would be empowered to:

1.Force individuals suspected of harboring an "infectious disease" to undergo medical examinations.
2.Track and share an individual's personal health information, including genetic information.
3.Force persons to be vaccinated, treated, or quarantined for infectious diseases.
4.Mandate that all health care providers report all cases of persons who harbor any illness or health condition that may be caused by an epidemic or an infectious agent and might pose a "substantial risk" to a "significant number of people or cause a long-term disability." (Note: Neither "substantial risk" nor "significant number" are defined in the draft.)
5.Force pharmacists to report any unusual or any increased prescription rates that may be caused by epidemic diseases.
6.Preempt existing state laws, rules and regulations, including those relating to privacy, medical licensure, and--this is key--property rights.
7.Control public and private property during a public health emergency, including pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, nursing homes, other health care facilities, and communications devices.
8.Mobilize all or any part of the "organized militia into service to the state to help enforce the state's orders."
9.Ration firearms, explosives, food, fuel and alcoholic beverages, among other commodities.
10.Impose fines and penalties to enforce their orders.

Read it for yourself and prepare to either fight it or submit.

The Model State Emergency Health Powers Act: An Assault on Civil Liberties in the Name of Homeland Security

If they come to your door what are you willing to to do to stand up to Big Brother? Nothing I suspect because they'll have guns and they don't need a warrent when they trash the Constitution until the Supreme Court puts an end to it. If they ever do. With people Obama will appoint there is little chance that would ever happen. So weclome to the New Communist States that were once America if this is allowed.
By the way it started under Bush and Clinton not Obama.

I have been around this block a time or two. Getting over it now, it’s been a bitch but I have had worse. Maybe some kind of immunity build up is why this was as mild as it was,at least on my part.

Sadly, tens of thousands of folks die during a "normal" flu season. However, only ~1,000 has died thus far and we're declaring a National Health Emergency???

It is quite odd, IMHO. I wonder what is the real impetus behind this.

I personally want to get the Swine Flu so that I am immune against it when it mutates into a zombie virus.

This is a little over-reacting to the threat itself, but sometimes that can be a good thing. The media has made the Swine Flu to be the next Plague, and people are panicking. A panic can be more dangerous than the thing people are panicking about.

A couple of co-workers got H1N1 recently. One is hospitalized because he has diabetes and his kidneys are having issues, but the same could be true if he contracted non-H1N1 strains. The other guy is just getting lots of bed rest. He is miserable and achey but he knows it's pretty normal.

I've changed my mind about vaccines because of these incidents, but only slighty. People who are in high risk groups - such as those with pre-existing conditions who could die if they got the flu - should consider vaccination, but only if there are clear indications (i.e. past experience) that they would suffer medical distress if they contracted H1N1.

My perception of vaccines is that they are pushed by government because of a) industry backing and profit incentives, b) the idea of lost economic productivity, and, last and certainly least, c) public health and safety. During a recession, people being struck down by illness would deepen the impact. Past empires have fallen because plague became the last straw in economically bad times.

Orius said:

A couple of co-workers got H1N1 recently. One is hospitalized because he has diabetes and his kidneys are having issues, but the same could be true if he contracted non-H1N1 strains. The other guy is just getting lots of bed rest. He is miserable and achey but he knows it's pretty normal.

I've changed my mind about vaccines because of these incidents, but only slighty. People who are in high risk groups - such as those with pre-existing conditions who could die if they got the flu - should consider vaccination, but only if there are clear indications (i.e. past experience) that they would suffer medical distress if they contracted H1N1.

My perception of vaccines is that they are pushed by government because of a) industry backing and profit incentives, b) the idea of lost economic productivity, and, last and certainly least, c) public health and safety. During a recession, people being struck down by illness would deepen the impact. Past empires have fallen because plague became the last straw in economically bad times.

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Pity the poor schlup that gets this and don’t realize that he has some hidden preexisting condition that he don’t know about though. :shock:

donc said:

Pity the poor schlup that gets this and don’t realize that he has some hidden preexisting condition that he don’t know about though. :shock:

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I support everyone's choice to seek whatever form of medicine they believe will help them; if that includes getting vaccinated, then so be it. I still affirm that H1N1 is not as serious as the media is portraying.

Orius said:

I support everyone's choice to seek whatever form of medicine they believe will help them; if that includes getting vaccinated, then so be it. I still affirm that H1N1 is not as serious as the media is portraying.

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I don’t know if it is not but I’m bitching to my sons to get my grandchildren vaccinated.

donc said:

I don’t know if it is not but I’m bitching to my sons to get my grandchildren vaccinated.

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How old are your grand kids?

Orius said:

How old are your grand kids?

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There stung out from five to twenty five. Not worried about the older ones just the ones under twelve.

1069 said:

This seems like overkill.
Half the people I know have had it now, including many at my work.
It's just the flu, people. It's just the flu.
Of course nobody wants it.
I plan to get vaccinated as soon as the injections are available (I prefer not to take the nasal spray vaccine).
But it's no reason to lose our heads entirely.
It's just not that big a deal.

Click to expand...

Maybe you should get the H1N1 flu...and if you live through it...come back here and post. Tell us how it wasn't such a big deal; that it wasn't a bad experience to go through.

Unlike the seasonal flu, H1N1 is primarily affecting the kids, and young adults. I suspect the real death toll is much higher than what the CDC has reported due to the fact that their posts are always one week behind. Add that fact with many cases being unreported as of yet...people with underlying medical conditions and such.

The world is in the midst of a Level 6 Pandemic (according to WHO). Most all cases in the United States is from H1N1, instead of seasonal flu. Vaccines are in woefully short supply, and the vaccines that ARE available will go to people with priority...the children, pregnant women, and those with underlying medical conditions.

quatrotritikali said:

Maybe you should get the H1N1 flu...and if you live through it...come back here and post. Tell us how it wasn't such a big deal; that it wasn't a bad experience to go through.

Unlike the seasonal flu, H1N1 is primarily affecting the kids, and young adults. I suspect the real death toll is much higher than what the CDC has reported due to the fact that their posts are always one week behind. Add that fact with many cases being unreported as of yet...people with underlying medical conditions and such.

The world is in the midst of a Level 6 Pandemic (according to WHO). Most all cases in the United States is from H1N1, instead of seasonal flu. Vaccines are in woefully short supply, and the vaccines that ARE available will go to people with priority...the children, pregnant women, and those with underlying medical conditions.

Click to expand...

Uh... live through it? :lol:
My coworker (who works in the same room as me) was just down with it two weeks ago. Her two kids had it too.
Half the people at my work had it.
Guess what? They're all better now. None of them were even hospitalized.
They just stayed home and got better (or came to work and exposed others, I suppose, since so many got it).
It's just the flu, just the flu, just the flu.

My city has been declared a major H1N1 hot-spot; the hospitals have set up tents in their parking lots to deal with it.
I think it's possible that I already did have it... I was a little sick 2 weekends ago, but even knowing I'd been exposed (through work) I dismissed it as probably allergies because it never got all that bad.
Having spoken to some of the returning sick people at work, I now realize that it doesn't always get that bad. Some cases are extremely mild, and these are cases that were positively identified as H1N1. There have probably been many undetected cases where the patient never even went to the doctor, and just got better on their own.

Danarhea, who doesn't live too far from me, coincidentally, was down with it last week. He's back up on his feet and posting already.
Ask him about it, if you want to know.
It's just the flu.
A couple of kids have died in my city, and a couple of adults have died too. But that's out of thousands- maybe tens of thousands- who have had it.
It seems no more fatal than the ordinary seasonal flu.

Obviously, it would be better to get the vaccine and avoid this miniscule risk... and more importantly, avoid the discomfort and loss of work involved in being sick.
And as for the person who says they hope they get H1N1 so they can build immunity, the vaccine contains weakened live H1N1 (nasal spray) or dead H1N1 (injection), and causes your body to develop the same natural antibodies to the virus that you'd develop from actually having the virus. Either way, you build a natural immunity.

Swine flu, Bird flu, mad cow, killer bees, etc......

We seem to have this idea that our destruction by some natural element is just right around the corner.

"never let a good crisis go to waste"