American health officials declared a public health emergency as cases of swine flu were confirmed in the U.S. Health officials across the world fear this could be the leading edge of a global pandemic emerging from Mexico, where seven people are confirmed dead as a result of the new virus.
On Wednesday April 29th, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert level to five on its six-level threat scale,1 which means they"ve determined that the virus is capable of human-to-human transmission. The initial outbreaks across North America reveal an infection already traveling at higher velocity than did the last official pandemic strain, the 1968 Hong Kong flu.
Phase 5 had never been declared since the warning system was introduced in 2005 in response to the avian influenza crisis. Phase 6 means a pandemic is under way. WHO now openly states it is not possible to contain the spread of this infection and recommends mitigation measures, not restricting travel or closing borders.
Everyone should take a deep breath (at least three feet away from anyone who is coughing, as always) and gain some bloody perspective. Here are some things to keep in mind, gleaned from the above article:
- In 1976, more people died from the swine flu vaccine than swine flu!
- Peacenik take note: Tamiflu, may be very bad for you! In 2007, the FDA finally began investigating some 1,800 adverse event reports related to the anti-viral drug. Serious symptoms included convulsions, delirium or delusions, and 14 deaths in children and teens as a result of neuropsychiatric problems and brain infections (which led Japan to ban Tamiflu for children in 2007).
- There is speculation that this may not be a natural mutation. Your fear will Make Some People VERY Rich in Today"s Crumbling Economy.
- Last month, the American pharmaceutical company Baxter was under investigation for distributing the deadly avian flu virus to 18 different countries as part of a seasonal flu vaccine shipment. Czech reporters were probing to see if it may have been part of a deliberate attempt to start a pandemic. Some say such a mistake would be virtually impossible under the security protocols of that virus. Punditman is no scientist but guess who gets the go-ahead to work on a new vaccine? Baxter of course!
- Factory Farming may be the source of swine flu.
So, after all we've been through lately—war crimes, torture, financial terrorism—in which the real criminals literally get away with theft, murder and mayhem, who in their right mind would accept whatever the corporatocracy says?
All punditman asks is that you don't be sheeple, people. Keep your skepticsm at LEVEL 6.
