Why you shouldn’t be scared of H1N1!
13. Aug, 2009 
9 Comments
This is my second post on the flu outbreak. Yesterday, I argued that a prevention campaign such as lave la main is productive. Today I will demystify some myths about this particular flu strain.Firstly, I am not scared of H1N1 since it is not a dangerous strain of flu. The two deaths in Mauritius (so far) fall in the vulnerable groups category: children and old-timers. These two categories have a weaker immune system and are prone to respiratory complications. The other vulnerable categories are: hospital staff, people with diabetes, asthma or cardiovascular diseases and people in the poultry industry.
If you are a healthy adult, you do not have to worry too much about H1N1. This virus is a strain A flu: it means that it is very infectious, but the death rate is very low. The reason why H1N1 A got this media attention is because it is a new strain. Our immune system is not yet adapted to it and therefore there is a significant risk of an epidemic. [A flu epidemic is when 400 people per 100,000 consult their doctor with flu symptoms, as compared with the yearly average of 50 to 200 per 100,000.]
If I am not wrong around 20% of mauritian population in Mauritius lives with diabetes, the highest or one of the highest rates in the world.
Une 3eme personne est morte ce matin suite à la grippe A. La victime avait 30 ans.
Serieusement malgré tout ce qu'on peut dire, je pense que les authorités à Maurice prennent des pincettes pour ne pas affoler la population.
We still need to be cautious though. We don't really know how healthy we are unless one undertakes regular medical check-ups.
I feel healthy when the sun is out. LOL
Arguably you can say it's psychological but it's so true.
I should shoo away the stray pigeons who come to chill on my porch…they always poop on my terrace!
of course you should not be afraid of ah1n1, but though that, protection should be continued to be undertaken
My friend and I cover our nose when we are in the most-of-the-time-crowded lift. I, for one, ain't doing it because I am freaking out. It is just a way to protect myself and not contribute in its spread.
It is true to say that healthy adults shouldn't worry so much. But I still think prevention is better than cure, and in this case, we ain't even sure there's a cure yet. So prevention it is. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
i would like to point out that there has always been a sanitary team posted at the airport but since 2005 its gone..
dthen after the flu outbreak it was back on.
sanitary team expandable?
edited romantic post btw :p its much more subtle now
My brother got infected with H1N1 or Swine Flu in Mexico. He got a mild fever and luckily he did not die.
If you look at the pandemic of 1977, when H1N1 or Swine Flu re-emerged after a 20 year absence, there is no shift in age-related mortality pattern. The 1977 “pandemic” is, of course, not considered a true pandemic by experts today, for reasons that are not entierely consistent. It certainly was an antigenic shift and not an antigenic drift. As far as I have been able to follow the current events, the most significant factor seems to have been that most people, who were severely affected, were people with other medical conditions.
during the height of the H1N1 or Swine Flu epidemic, i was very afraid to get infected with this disease and i wore face mask whenever i got into heavily populated areas.