The swine flu continued to spread throughout the world today, as suspected cases are now under investigation on over twenty nations. Yet the official confirmed numbers are only tabulated at the speed of overworked lab staff as they type the virus. So official CDC case numbers (109 to 111) will most likely lag far behind reality. Yet the encouraging news thus far is that, at least outside of Mexico, the virus appears weak. The sole death reported here was, in fact, a Mexican national, and no US citizens have died thus far, most recovering slowly after a brush with the illness.
Fear of the germ is really the last thing our already much weakened economy needs. Mexico City has shown us a preview of where that could lead...soldiers on the streets, a run on face masks, cancellation of sports and entertainment events, restaurants schools and public offices closed. This is not something we really need just now. I went to a local CVS drug store for a few items and thought to pick up a small hand sanitizer. There was only one 2oz travel size container left in the store! Clearly, people are a bit rattled by the news of this new bug, yet normal flu kills 35,000 each year in the US, and this latest outbreak seems fairly weak.
Take our poll. What do you think about the potential of this virus evolving into a real pandemic?
Fear of the germ is really the last thing our already much weakened economy needs. Mexico City has shown us a preview of where that could lead...soldiers on the streets, a run on face masks, cancellation of sports and entertainment events, restaurants schools and public offices closed. This is not something we really need just now. I went to a local CVS drug store for a few items and thought to pick up a small hand sanitizer. There was only one 2oz travel size container left in the store! Clearly, people are a bit rattled by the news of this new bug, yet normal flu kills 35,000 each year in the US, and this latest outbreak seems fairly weak.
Take our poll. What do you think about the potential of this virus evolving into a real pandemic?
