Remember swine 'flu?

[Saint Clair Island]

I always thought it had something to due with immunity 'going away' after a few years. =\

Combination of the two, I'd imagine.

Well, and a mutated virus presents differently to the immune system so it doesn't have the defenses ready to go.

Thus, you're immune to the flu -- but only the old version.

So I guess it's inaccurate that the immunity wears off; the virus just changes. As someone said just three posts ago.

[Magechill-Izeckistan]

Avian flu, SARS, Swine Flu.I predict a gecko flu.
But, seriously.My school is downwind from a pig farm, yet I still type.Is it that contagious?A no.

[Milks Empire]

Avian flu, SARS, Swine Flu.I predict a gecko flu.

Please tell me it only affects TV geckos!

[Everyone is a Pony]

Pony (may I call you that? "Everyone" seems impersonal

You may indeed. It, too, paves the way for multiple bad innuendos.

[Everyone is a Pony]

First time for everything.

Yeah... No. Not for this.

I'll grant that. Drinking pee's kinda icky.

I could make such a bad, inappropriate innuendo here, but...

Please... Do.

Oh, it works so much better if you're a Texan.

...Are you a Texan?

[Barringtonia]

Avian flu, SARS, Swine Flu.I predict a gecko flu.
But, seriously.My school is downwind from a pig farm, yet I still type.Is it that contagious?A no.

But seriously, I live next to a print shop, does that make me a lollipop? No.

[Farnhamia]

First time for everything.

Yeah... No. Not for this.

I'll grant that. Drinking pee's kinda icky.

I could make such a bad, inappropriate innuendo here, but...

Please... Do.

Oh, it works so much better if you're a Texan.

...Are you a Texan?

Nah, Milk's from Noo Yawk (and before you start, I'm from Joisey).

And I didn't mean actually drink ... oh, never mind.

[Everyone is a Pony]

Nah, Milk's from Noo Yawk (and before you start, I'm from Joisey).

And I didn't mean actually drink ... oh, never mind.

Damn.

Oh, okay. That's good then.

[Non Aligned States]

I think it's fairly obvious.

Swine flu is farming evo points to get moar deadly symptoms or trying to get to Madagascar.

What happens when it gets to Madagascar?

The last bastion of humanity is finally contaminated, and the world is doomed as the virus gains the ability to cause liver failure, hemorrhaging and heart failures.

The hospitals in Greenland though, despite finally being turned into a lifeless wasteland, will still be open.

[Saint Clair Island]

Nah, Milk's from Noo Yawk (and before you start, I'm from Joisey).

And I didn't mean actually drink ... oh, never mind.

As a resident of The City, I am obligated to make a snarky comment about our similar yet oh so different neighbors across the river and various aspects of their supposedly inferior wasteland.

Since I'm tired, just imagine I said something humorous yet offensive. I can't think of anything right now.

[Milks Empire]

Nah, Milk's from Noo Yawk (and before you start, I'm from Joisey).

It's not the New York most people think of. It's like Alabama with cold winters way up here in the boonies.

[New Limacon]

I think it's fairly obvious.

Swine flu is farming evo points to get moar deadly symptoms or trying to get to Madagascar.

I can never get to Madagascar, it's incredibly annoying. I mean, come on, the country really doesn't have any airports? Really?

[Farnhamia]

Nah, Milk's from Noo Yawk (and before you start, I'm from Joisey).

It's not the New York most people think of. It's like Alabama with cold winters way up here in the boonies.

Oh noes, you're from Upstate? You must flee. There's an underground railway that leads down the Hudson River to civilization. Pack a bag and head out now.

Of course, I myself now live in Colorado and trust me, you think Upstate is bad? It's just as bad only with cowboy hats.

[Soheran]

Actually, this may be a good thing.

The high number of estimated cases means the mortality rate is very low... and if a deadlier strain comes around later, the people who were infected with the milder strain will be safe.

[Everyone is a Pony]

I can never get to Madagascar, it's incredibly annoying. I mean, come on, the country really doesn't have any airports? Really?

My partner managed to get Madagascar and Greenland as the two starting-points for his virus.

Only person I know to have 100% infection and mortality rates.

[Milks Empire]

Nah, Milk's from Noo Yawk (and before you start, I'm from Joisey).

It's not the New York most people think of. It's like Alabama with cold winters way up here in the boonies.

Oh noes, you're from Upstate? You must flee. There's an underground railway that leads down the Hudson River to civilization. Pack a bag and head out now.

Of course, I myself now live in Colorado and trust me, you think Upstate is bad? It's just as bad only with cowboy hats.

Can't even escape the cowboy hats here.

[Non Aligned States]

Only person I know to have 100% infection and mortality rates.

Half the problem is the extremely low amount of shipping traffic that goes to Madagascar. If they had a few more ships headed their way, they would be easier to infect.

[Free Outer Eugenia]

DOOM!

[Everyone is a Pony]

Only person I know to have 100% infection and mortality rates.

Half the problem is the extremely low amount of shipping traffic that goes to Madagascar. If they had a few more ships headed their way, they would be easier to infect.

Is there a way to haxx the game, to increase shipping?

[Milks Empire]

Only person I know to have 100% infection and mortality rates.

Half the problem is the extremely low amount of shipping traffic that goes to Madagascar. If they had a few more ships headed their way, they would be easier to infect.

Is there a way to haxx the game, to increase shipping?

Waitaminit... You wanna hack reality?

[Sarkhaan]

Then why do we still get vaccines every couple of years?

You actually need a new flu shot every year. And even with that, it isn't 100% that you won't get it. Here's how it works.
Influenza has three major groups: type A, B, and C. A is prominent in birds, but can spread to humans. B is common in humans, and C infects humans, pigs, and dogs. They are then labled by the H*N* numbers...given by two proteins found on the virus. So Influenza A can have many different types. Scientists study assorted outbreaks and patters around the world, and determine what strain or strains are most likely to become widespread. One year, they say it's going to be Influenza A, H3N2. They immunize against that strain. The next year, they think Influenza A, H1N2 is going to be the big one. The immunization from last year doesn't work against any strain except AH3N2, so they need to vaccinate again. The strain changes pretty much every year because influenza mutates rapidly.


Now...we come to todays swine flu. The type is Influenza A, H1N1. Influenza A is very virulent (spreads rapidly) and is often deadly. In fact, AH1N1 caused the Spanish flu in 1918 (one of the deadliest flu pandemics) Here are the issues with this particular virus.

1) the last time it was seen was 1918. We have not vaccinated against it, and no one save a very select few who were exposed back in 1918 have been exposed to it. As such, there is very little resistance to it.
2) Ordinary flu kills those who are most vulnerable...children, elderly, and those with weak immune systems. Spanish flu killed those in their 20's and 30's...those with the best immune systems...by setting those immune systems against the body.
3) the standard flu kills around 10% of those who catch it. We immunize tons of vulnerable people, and many have been exposed before. Since so few people have been exposed, and no one immunized, nearly everyone exposed to the virus will get it. If 10x more people get the flu, 10x more people will likely die. Moreover, it could be worse because a) those who are vulnerable have not been vaccinated as usual and b) this virus has been known to kill healthy people more than other flus.
4) this has turned out to be a relatively mild form of AH1N1, but also a highly virulent form. The fear is that it will rapidly mutate into a much more deadly strain, and potentially resurface in the standard flu season. More over, this flu is already abnormal for spreading outside of flu season...it could become a year round virus, rather than a seasonal one.


Ultimatly, this isn't particularly worse than a standard flu in terms of mortality. However, it COULD be.

[Tubbsalot]

I think it's fairly obvious.

Swine flu is farming evo points to get moar deadly symptoms or trying to get to Madagascar.

I can never get to Madagascar, it's incredibly annoying. I mean, come on, the country really doesn't have any airports? Really?

Honestly, that's even the problem. Cuba has no airports, yet I always manage to infect it. Madagascar has some crazy voodoo magic protecting them.

[Non Aligned States]

Honestly, that's even the problem. Cuba has no airports, yet I always manage to infect it. Madagascar has some crazy voodoo magic protecting them.

Cuba has an airport IIRC. But I'm almost willing to believe the Madagascar voodoo idea. At one time I had a transport headed towards it, and just before they docked, BAM, they closed the seaports. It's like they could see it coming.

[Everyone is a Pony]

Waitaminit... You wanna hack reality?

Hey, Jesus had "turn water into wine" and "exorcism" haxx. Why I can not share?

[Milks Empire]

Waitaminit... You wanna hack reality?

Hey, Jesus had "turn water into wine" and "exorcism" haxx. Why I can not share?

You'll have to take that up with Them.