It's a Sign of the Times

A fight broke out during a swine flu clinic held today at the Washoe County Health District when someone tried to cut in line, Judy Davis, the health district’s spokeswoman said.

“I heard a couple of people were involved in a physical altercation when somebody tried to cut in line and someone was unhappy with that,” she said. “I don’t know the details but the fight did stop. I don’t know if people in the crowd stopped them or if they realized their behavior was inappropriate, but it was very limited.”

She said by 8:45 a.m., health district employees had passed out 1,200 wristbands to people standing in line to get H1N1 (swine) flu shots at the clinic, which is not scheduled to begin vaccinations until 1 p.m.

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H1N1 Flu

Some 16 NYC schools have closed because of "swine flu" outbreaks.

H1N1 Flu

There is something more important than the bottom line when it comes to illness, but unfortunately employers just don't care if their sick workers infect everybody else.

You can wash your hands fifty times a day and cover yourself with hand sanitizer, but you still have to breathe the same goddamned air a sick person does.

According to the BBC, there are over 2,500 confirmed U.S. cases of "swine flu."

H1N1 Flu

It is difficult to tell the difference between a real threat posed by "swine flu" or media hype, just as it is difficult to tell whether the hype is motivated by corporate and political factors.

H1N1 Flu

The probable cases of "swine flu" in Oregon has risen to five.

No new Nevada cases, however.

H1N1 Flu

The first case of "swine flu" has been reported in Hong Kong, the namesake of the last influenza pandemic.

Will any Washoe County area schools close?

H1N1 Flu

Now that the so-called "swine flu" has been found in Spain, the WHO says it may wind up being the first flu pandemic since the Hong Kong flu in 1968-1969.

About the latter (from Wikipedia):

The Hong Kong flu was the first known outbreak of the H3N2 strain, though there is serologic evidence of H3N? infections in the late 19th century. The first record of the outbreak in Hong Kong appeared on 13 July 1968 in an area with a density of about 500 people per acre in an urban setting. The outbreak reached maximum intensity in 2 weeks, lasting 6 weeks in total. The virus was isolated in Queen Mary Hospital. Flu symptoms lasted 4 to 5 days.[8]

By July 1968, extensive outbreaks were reported in Vietnam and Singapore. By September 1968, it would reach India, Philippines, northern Australia and Europe. That same month, the virus entered California from returning Vietnam War troops. It would reach Japan, Africa and South America by 1969.[8]

"Three strains of Hong Kong influenza virus isolated from humans were compared with a strain isolated from a calf for their ability to cause disease in calves. One of the human strains. A/Aichi/2/68, was detected for five days in a calf, but all three failed to cause signs of disease. Strain A/cal/Duschanbe/55/71 could be detected for seven days and caused an influenza-like illness in calves."[11]

Joe Biden is right about swine flu and confined spaces; his remarks are by no means gaffes.

I am glad I don't have to rely on public transportation now. I'd be in one hell of a fix.

Swine Flu

Sooner or later it will hit Oregon, and presumably every other state in the country.

It has arrived in Multnomah County.
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The Reno daycare affected with swine flu has been identified.
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The WSWS uses the subject as an opportunity to bash governmental efforts to combat it.
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Miscellaneous News

Swine flu has reached Washoe County, now that a single case has been reported.
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Congress gets a bit closer to banning the slaughter of wild horses.
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Was Guy Ward Hendrickson the Zodiac killer, or is the story bullshit?
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Swine Flu

Mexican officials are trying to focus in on the source of the swine flu outbreak:

With the death toll climbing, Mexican authorities at the center of an international swine flu epidemic struggled Monday to piece together its lethal march, with attention focusing on a 4-year-old boy and a pig farm.

The boy, who survived the illness, has emerged as Mexico's earliest known case of the never-before-seen virus, Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said Monday. It provides an important clue to the unique strain's path.

Meanwhile, the borders control are being tightened worldwide.
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Miscellaneous

More warnings are coming out regarding the budding swine flu pandemic, this time warnings for Europeans to stay out of the U.S. and Mexico if at all possible.
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If the Economy Doesn't Finish Us All Off,

the swine flu may.

Given how bad I can get sick the few times I do, I am glad I am not working with kids this year.