Swine flu confusion

Elessar

I never got the swine flu vaccine during the pandemic of 2009-2010, never got the flu then either. Today I'm reading reports that it is still around and starting to peak again.

The HSE is advising at risk groups to get vaccinated. I'm not at-risk. 25, male, healthy (except mild exercise-induced asthma). Other reports are asking ALL unvaccinated people to get vaccinated.

I guess what I'm asking is, is swine flu any more dangerous than regular flu?

i.e. Is there a higher probability that I will die if I get swine flu compared to if I get regular seasonal flu?

I'm reading reports that healthy young people have died from swine flu, but then other reports say it's mainly at risk groups (over 65s, pregnant women, people with medical conditions) who will get the worst of it.

So much confusion

FluffyCat

Elessar wrote: »

I never got the swine flu vaccine during the pandemic of 2009-2010, never got the flu then either. Today I'm reading reports that it is still around and starting to peak again.

The HSE is advising at risk groups to get vaccinated. I'm not at-risk. 25, male, healthy (except mild exercise-induced asthma). Other reports are asking ALL unvaccinated people to get vaccinated.

I guess what I'm asking is, is swine flu any more dangerous than regular flu?

i.e. Is there a higher probability that I will die if I get swine flu compared to if I get regular seasonal flu?

I'm reading reports that healthy young people have died from swine flu, but then other reports say it's mainly at risk groups (over 65s, pregnant women, people with medical conditions) who will get the worst of it.

So much confusion

Swine flu, or any flu, can kill a healthy person. People with a reduced immune system will clearly struggle with the illness more so than others. The HSE is wanting all people to be vaccinated as flu causes it money it doesnt have!!
Swine flu doesnt appear to affect older people as much as it is thought a version of it was around in the past and so this group may be slightly more protected.
Swine flu is peaking but still isnt as bad as last year. It seems to have affected people with previous breathing issues the most.
I have two long term illnesses and wont be getting vaccinated. Not worried about i either!!
The biggest flu problem is treatment. The lack of it and resistance to the drugs. I think if you keep clean (washing hands and all) is the main way to avoid it.

Mynners

I've been dying of the flu for the last 4 days. The worst one I've ever had, by far. I was reading an article saying that 90% of the winter season flu count has been H1N1. I'm not too sure if these is completely accurate, I'd be more thinking that it's 90% of all hospitalised cases has been swine related.
But it this 9/10 cases is swine is true, then I probably had it, right? Well I'm over it now, took paracetemol every now and then. I'm a health 19 year old male, so if it was swine flu, I wouldn't worry about it too much -- but I'll never know will I?
You won't die from swine flu if you go to a doctor or hospital if it's getting a bit too much. It is still just a flu. People who are immunocompromised or have other health issues are at high risk, but I very much doubt you would be.

Dave!

Mynners wrote: »

I've been dying of the flu for the last 4 days. The worst one I've ever had, by far. I was reading an article saying that 90% of the winter season flu count has been H1N1. I'm not too sure if these is completely accurate, I'd be more thinking that it's 90% of all hospitalised cases has been swine related.
But it this 9/10 cases is swine is true, then I probably had it, right? Well I'm over it now, took paracetemol every now and then. I'm a health 19 year old male, so if it was swine flu, I wouldn't worry about it too much -- but I'll never know will I?
You won't die from swine flu if you go to a doctor or hospital if it's getting a bit too much. It is still just a flu. People who are immunocompromised or have other health issues are at high risk, but I very much doubt you would be.

Yeah that's correct AFAIK. When H1N1 came to public attention, it was presumed that it would be alongside the normal seasonal flu, amounting to a really bad flu season (unless H1N1 mutated or became particularly virulent), but there ended up being pretty much no seasonal flu (dunno if this is worldwide or what), and almost everyone with the flu was testing positive for the H1N1 strain.

OP here's the Department of Health's page on H1N1
http://www.dohc.ie/issues/swine_influenza/

AFAIK H1N1 has a lower mortality rate than the seasonal flu, so I wouldn't be in any frenzied rush to get vaccinated out of fear for your life, but if you definitely (pretty much) want to avoid the flu then vaccination will do the job! Otherwise unless you're in a high-risk group, or you work in a hospital or school or something, I wouldn't be overly concerned.

bmarley

There dosen't appear to be the same hype about it this year as last year...not sure why that is, maybe because children in schools etc were innoculated against it..personally preferred for my own children not to have this...last year, gels everywhere for washing, have not seen any about this year maybe companies and government departments can't afford them this year...heard on the news today that it is not classed as an epidemic anymore, wonder why this is?

maninasia

It doesn't seem to have been as virulent as was predicted however I'd say the real reason it's not being discussed is because it is breaking over the Christmas holidays and the HSE and government and media have been occupied by other matters...i.e. they are not keeping a proper eye on things. Check the last update on that link from DOH, it's Sept 2010. The WHO called an end to theglobal pandemic alert last year but maybe that was premature too.
Look at the situation for the UK- http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/01/01/hospitals-struggling-to-cope-with-swine-flu/

You can also read this report-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/8235153/Swine-flu-spreading-faster-in-Britain-than-rest-of-Europe.html

The Irish papers and media will pick up on it soon enough. HIN1 seems to be particularly dangerous to pregnant mothers, at least according to reports I heard in Asia (maybe all flu is dangerous to expectant mothers and the media exaggerated it, I don't know).

CathyMoran

I am in a couple of the "at risk" groups (diabetic, pregnant...) but I started getting the flu jab a few years ago as I had had really bad flu a few years ago and had a chance to get the jab in my work place the following year, I figured that it was easier to do that than potentialy have the flu which is horrible.

Ms. Chanandler Bong

I'm in an "at-risk" category (I'm on immuno-suppressants) & I decided not to get the jab.

Big mistake! :O

2 people at work were diagnosed this week with it &, as I'm currently smothered with flu, rang my doctor to get the story on what I should do. He said it's not being tested for these days as it's pretty much the only form of flu virus around this year & handed me a prescription for Tamiflu! The pharmacist filling the script said the exact same thing, whilst echoing an earlier poster's comments about the media being incredibly quiet about it all.

The reason I'm awake at this hour of the morning, posting on boards? When I lie down, my nose decides to stop functioning as an airway which means I'm breathing solely through my mouth (obviously!) This in turn irritates the little tickle at the back of my throat which sends me into coughing spasms that last upwards of 30 seconds a time. They happen every minute or two. Needless to say, it's wrecking my head so I stay sitting up. It's also as bad as this thing has been (so far, touch wood!)

So, all in all, given that you're young & healthy with no dodgy "at-risk" situations, I think you'll be fine. IMO.

Dave!

Unlucky! Get well soon

Ms. Chanandler Bong

Dave! wrote: »

Unlucky! Get well soon

Cheers! Should have expected it really...if there's something going, I'll catch it! Unfortunately the people at work weren't diagnosed until after I started to feel crap & work also decided not to broadcast the fact that they had been diagnosed at all! So I could have been taking the meds earlier if only... :rolleyes:

Ah well...could be worse! I could be feeling this crappy & not have working internet!!!