Swine Flu Question

[Robot Chicken]

From today's Express, see the figures below. Why has the UK been so severely affected? Do so many Brits go to Mexico on holiday? I can understand the USA having so many cases and maybe Canada, but I notice we have approximately the same number of deaths as in Australia with similar confirmed cases. Is Mexico such a popular destination?? Or is there some other factor like we Brits all sneeze without covering our mouths or something? Do less Germans or French people go to Mexico?

The main point is that countries might start banning Brits from visiting. Some countries have aleady started warning their citizens about the dangers of travelling to the UK. All very worrying and it's not even winter yet...

UK
Confirmed cases: 10,649
Dead: 29

USA
Confirmed cases: 40,617
Dead: 263

Mexico
Confirmed cases: 13,646
Dead: 125

Germany
Confirmed cases: 700
Dead: 0

Spain
Confirmed cases: 1,222
Dead: 4

Italy
Confirmed cases: 258
Dead: 0

Australia
Confirmed cases: 11,962
Dead: 31

Canada
Confirmed cases: 10,216
Dead: 46

Chile
Confirmed cases: 10,491
Dead: 33

France
Confirmed cases: 600
Dead: 0

New Zealand
Confirmed cases: 2,230
Dead: 10

Argentina
Confirmed cases: 3,056
Dead: 155

Thailand
Confirmed cases: 4,469
Dead: 25

Brazil
Confirmed cases: 1,175
Dead: 11

Peru
Confirmed cases: 2,390
Dead: 8

 

[seven stands]

i think the death statistics are open to debate as all but two (?) have had other illnesses

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

Some countries have probably stopped testing for swine flu, or are putting deaths down as due to reasons other than swine flu. Those figures don't prove anything.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

From today's Express, see the figures below. Why has the UK been so severely affected? Do so many Brits go to Mexico on holiday? I can understand the USA having so many cases and maybe Canada, but I notice we have approximately the same number of deaths as in Australia with similar confirmed cases. Is Mexico such a popular destination?? Or is there some other factor like we Brits all sneeze without covering our mouths or something? Do less Germans or French people go to Mexico?

The main point is that countries might start banning Brits from visiting. Some countries have aleady started warning their citizens about the dangers of travelling to the UK. All very worrying and it's not even winter yet...

UK
Confirmed cases: 10,649
Dead: 29

USA
Confirmed cases: 40,617
Dead: 263

Mexico
Confirmed cases: 13,646
Dead: 125

Germany
Confirmed cases: 700
Dead: 0

Spain
Confirmed cases: 1,222
Dead: 4

Italy
Confirmed cases: 258
Dead: 0

Australia
Confirmed cases: 11,962
Dead: 31

Canada
Confirmed cases: 10,216
Dead: 46

Chile
Confirmed cases: 10,491
Dead: 33

France
Confirmed cases: 600
Dead: 0

New Zealand
Confirmed cases: 2,230
Dead: 10

Argentina
Confirmed cases: 3,056
Dead: 155

Thailand
Confirmed cases: 4,469
Dead: 25

Brazil
Confirmed cases: 1,175
Dead: 11

Peru
Confirmed cases: 2,390
Dead: 8

Rubbish Labour Gov't. All smoke & mirrors. They tell us it's all under control, take credit then do little to stop the spread.
Simples!

 

[Seagull Stew]

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

Some countries have probably stopped testing for swine flu, or are putting deaths down as due to reasons other than swine flu. Those figures don't prove anything.

This is the case in New Zealand. They stopped testing people for swine flu 3 or 4 weeks ago unless they become really ill. It is reckoned that the 2,230 figure quoted could be 10 -20 times that in reality.

I had flu a fortnight ago and have no idea if it was swine flu or not!

 

[Rookie]

Because for some reason in this country loads of people run to their GP or A&E with anything, so when they read about a 'killer' flu they all rush and demand to be tested.

 

[beorhthelm]

Do so many Brits go to Mexico on holiday? [...] Or is there some other factor

yes probably, it only takes a dozen to have been and infected, then theres those who caught it via US. and there is another factor for our higher number is that having a completely free health service means we call the GP straight away, while others nations might just stay at home and sit it out.
self medicate.

 

[Seagull Fred]

It will kill us all !!!!!!

 

[Carrot Cruncher]

In this country we've moved away from diagnosis, instead concentrating on treatment.

This means you'll phone NHS Direct where someone one with no medical training will work from an algorithm and on the back of that, if you tick enough boxes, you will be deemed as having piggy flu, despite the fact you may have nothing more than the sniffles.

You'll then get some tamiflu and Robert's your father's brother, you're a statistic.

 

[itszamora]

Rubbish Labour Gov't. All smoke & mirrors. They tell us it's all under control, take credit then do little to stop the spread.
Simples!

It's impossible to prevent it from spreading. I expect one of the reasons it's spreading quickly is because our country is a pretty crowded place. Still nothing to really worry about though, even if you get it.

 

[KneeOn]

16 Boxes of Tamiflu... sorted... :Thumbsup: Dad got them for us for free off of roche.

 

[Wardy]

We are also a popular destination for Americans.

 

[Gary Leeds]

UK figures are inflated because you can be signed off work for 2 weeks without a visit to the doctors if you are diagnosed with swine flu. So all the lazy gits are looking up the symptoms on the net, ringing NHS direct and getting 2 weeks at home

It will end up like SARS and bird flu and forgotten about in 2 months time

 

[bright1064]

It will end up like SARS and bird flu and forgotten about in 2 months time

I have a feeling that sadly that won't be the case.

Bird Flu hasn't mutated into a human-to-human strain YET. And SARS didn't spread far and wide, even though the death rate was bad.

This virus has spread, and it's still summertime. In the Autumn and winter it will spread even faster. That's not to say it will become more deadly, but I think we are a long way from seeing the last of this.