Swine 'flu - What economic impact?

BlondeHeadOn

themanbearpig wrote: »

It's harder on your lungs apparently, so you may feel like you have a chest infection (agony when you cough). Most people died of pneumonia (viral) in the 1919 flu pandemic, which is still untreatable.

This thread has just convinced me that the illness I had a couple of weeks ago was a mild dose of swine flu. I wasn't sure, because although I had a temperature for a few days and sneezy/sore throat, along with a mild tummy upset, I thought because I didn't ache badly all over like I expect with flu that it must be some other viral infection. The effect that has surprised me though is the cough and symptoms of a chest infection - I usually only get those after a very bad cold or flu, and I was thinking about going to the doctors just to check my chest was okay. In fact it's getting better now, so haven't bothered.

Coo. Had swine flu, didn't even know it....

michaels

And now for some big numbers:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8157876.stm

Item Club says worst case scenario could knock an extra 3% of 'growth' this year (-7.5% cf -4.5%) and 2% next year (-1.5% cf +0.5%)

treliac

themanbearpig wrote: »

It's harder on your lungs apparently, so you may feel like you have a chest infection (agony when you cough). Most people died of pneumonia (viral) in the 1919 flu pandemic, which is still untreatable.

I can't find the link now but read that (unlike for example avian flu) swine flu affects (attaches itself to) the back of the nose and throat rather than the lungs. In many cases the effects will be so mild that people won't know they have had it.

In fact, from what I've read, I think it quite possible that I am getting over it myself at the moment and although I have had several of the listed symptoms and felt poorly, I've been able to carry on almost as normal.

For most of us, it's not something to worry about.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8021958.stm

Flu expert Professor Peter Openshaw, of Imperial College London, says about one in every three people who become infected will not realise they have had swine flu because they will have had no or only very few symptoms.

amcluesent

Swine flu threatens deflation slump, Ernst & Young ITEM Club report warns

Britain risks sliding into a long deflationary recession if the H1N1 swine flu pandemic develops along lines predicted by the Government, according to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club report today. The group said a pandemic reaching 100,00 cases a day by August, and lasting six months, would lead to a 7.5pc fall in GDP this year. The lingering damage would cause a further fall of 1.2pc next year.

Swine flu could mean more criminals escape court

Minor criminals could be handed fines or cautions rather than be ordered to appear in court under plans to ease the strain on the authorities should the swine flu outbreak worsen. Attempts to contain the spread of the virus could also see sporting events such as the The Ashes series and Premier League football matches played behind closed doors.

Airlines to turn away ‘swine flu’ passengers

Holidaymakers suspected of having swine flu will be prevented from checking in and required to provide doctors’ notes saying that they are fit to fly, airlines said yesterday.

Swine flu threat greater than terrorism

Swine flu is a greater threat to Britain than terrorism, said Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, as pregnant women were advised to avoid unneccessary travel. In Australia, where 11 expectant women with swine flu are in intensive care, pregnant women have been urged to stay at home when possible, and to wear face masks when they do go out.

FACT - Another day passes and the sheeple are given another crumb of information on what is really happening!

JoolzS

I guess I'm the only person who thinks that swine flu turning into a genuine pandemic could be a good thing for the planet.

If this flu could actually wipe out as many people as we are being scared to believe - then that's a great thing - enviromentally.

This planet needs fewer people so maybe mother nature has decided to kill off a load of us humans. That's what I'd do if I needed to stop a beautiful planet being destroyed.
Julie

baileysbattlebus

JoolzS wrote: »

I guess I'm the only person who thinks that swine flu turning into a genuine pandemic could be a good thing for the planet.

If this flu could actually wipe out as many people as we are being scared to believe - then that's a great thing - enviromentally.

This planet needs fewer people so maybe mother nature has decided to kill off a load of us humans. That's what I'd do if I needed to stop a beautiful planet being destroyed.
Julie

Will you be happy for the planet if it kills members of your own family? I know I wouldn't. Everyone who dies is someone's mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter etc.

There are better ways of population control than a pandemic - education and birth control are two.

vivatifosi

Thought it worth posting the assumptions that the E&Y forecast are based on - infection rate of 50%, pandemic lasting six months and mortality rate of 0.4%. They also offer advice to companies as to how to face up to the swine flu pandemic - such as increasing use of videoconferencing facilities. Sadly some of the sensible advice has been pushed aside in order to make way for sensationalist headlines.

The report (which is about the economy as a whole) can be viewed here:

http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/Economic_outlook_Summer_2009/$FILE/EY_ITEM_Economic_Outlook_Summer_2009.pdf

tomterm8

JoolzS wrote: »

I guess I'm the only person who thinks that swine flu turning into a genuine pandemic could be a good thing for the planet.

If this flu could actually wipe out as many people as we are being scared to believe - then that's a great thing - enviromentally.

This planet needs fewer people so maybe mother nature has decided to kill off a load of us humans. That's what I'd do if I needed to stop a beautiful planet being destroyed.
Julie

In world terms, when you consider world births are around 134 million-per-year, and deaths are only around 57 million per year, you see the worst case scenario of 50 million excess deaths over five years ( the 1918 scenario) would have only made a small dent in world population growth. A blip.

More likely scenarios are one or two million excess deaths, which really doesn't make much difference on a global scale.

Of course, the deaths are a tragedy for those involved, but we shouldn't lose contact with reality.

lostinrates

amcluesent wrote: »

Swine flu threat greater than terrorism

Swine flu is a greater threat to Britain than terrorism,

A most of you know I have chronic health problems, and you know, I'd still rather have the flu, even swine flu, than face a bomb.

2009 the year pigs flew.

DH and I managed to laugh for about quater of an hour offer that little joke late last night, in various permutations- hich is also quit humourous now I think of it.

kennyboy66_2

I'm getting really worried.

I'm starting to think that Swine Flu could be much worse than the Millenium Bug which tranmuted from computers to humans and wiped out millions.