A lot of people make outrageous claims that are definitely not backed up by science or scientific logic. We are in an information saturation period where anyone, regardless of their motives, can push their views into the public arena. More than half of what I read about health everyday is simply wrong, untrue, outrageous in some cases and worse still in others criminally negligent, duty of care has been thrown out of the window in favour of profit making, they know what they are saying is untrue, but for the sake of money your health gets placed on the back burner, if it is considered at all.
What has prompted this tirade? A man claiming to be a pharmacist (with a pass in the top 0.5% in his state, SA) has de-valued the swine flu vaccination, by claiming it harms people more than it helps. In real life this fellow appears to be invisible, he has no public profile at the University he claims to work at, I couldn't find him anywhere, other than his internet post on this vaccination.
In the interest of science and health I will post "New Scientist's" health article on this.
http://www.newscientist.com/special/swine-...anger-your-life
And for those people that don't like links here is the story.
Swine flu: Eight myths that could endanger your life
(Image: Chung Sung-Jun / Getty)
(Image: Chung Sung-Jun / Getty)
FACT VERSUS FANTASY
The second wave of the swine flu pandemic is now under way in the northern hemisphere. Case numbers are climbing fast and in some places vaccination has begun.
So what's the big deal? The virus hasn't evolved into the monster that some feared and most cases are mild. Were all those pandemic warnings just scare-mongering?
Perhaps, but the Butcher family of Southampton, UK, wouldn't say so. In August, their daughter Madelynne, 18, became sick and short of breath after returning from a holiday. Two weeks later, she died in hospital.
Neither would the Parker family of Baltimore, Maryland. In September, their healthy 14-year-old daughter Destinée started having trouble breathing within minutes of arriving at school. She was rushed to hospital. A week later she was dead.
There has been complacency-mongering, too. This pandemic is very far from the worst-case scenario, but it is not normal flu either. Many more people than usual will catch flu this year. The vast majority will be fine but some of us, including young, otherwise healthy people, will die. You can help protect yourself and your family by learning the latest on swine flu, from how to spot a serious case to the facts about the vaccines.
MYTH 1
The symptoms are like regular flu. You've got it if you've got a fever
Testing for fever may not be a reliable way of diagnosing swine flu (Image: View China Photo/Rex Features)
Up to half the people who get swine flu never develop a fever, and some suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms as well as more standard flu symptoms. Read more
MYTH 2
This is just mild flu. The death rates are even lower than for normal flu
No exaggeration (Image: Adrian Brooks/Rex Features)
Swine flu is killing young people rather than the very elderly, and although winter is just starting, more young people have already died of flu than normally die over the entire winter. Read more
MYTH 3
You're safe as long as you're healthy. Only sick, weak people get really ill
Deep lung infection can be a killer, but why are some people already immune? (Image: Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty)
Most of the children who have died of swine flu were perfectly healthy beforehand, and many of the adult victims also had no underlying conditions. Read more
MYTH 4
I'll be OK if I just eat organic food, take vitamins, wear a mask, wash my hands a lot and drink plenty of fluids
Even the N95 mask won't save you (Image: Jimin Lai/Getty)
Getting vaccinated is by far the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from swine flu. Read more
MYTH 5
It's OK now because we have a vaccine. In fact, we have several
On the waiting list. Vaccines will save lives, but only if they get through in time (Image: Sipa Press/Rex Features)
Even in rich countries, it will be months before everyone who wants the vaccine can get it. Poor countries will get little if any vaccine. Read more
MYTH 6
The vaccine isn't safe. Why take the risk to prevent mild flu?
Testing the virus. Vaccines protect but links to other conditions have heightened concerns (Image: Action Press/Rex Features)
During past pandemics, a third or more of the entire population has got flu, and the risks of flu killing you or causing nasty problems such as Guillain-Barré syndrome are far greater than those of the vaccines. Read more
MYTH 7
This virus won't get deadlier - that isn't in a germ's interests
Will it mutate? (Image: Kallista Images/Getty)
Flu viruses do sometimes get nastier. No one can be sure how 2009 flu will evolve, but it's certainly not going away. Read more
MYTH 8
Once this pandemic is over we'll be safe for another few decades
The 1957 flu pandemic wasn't the first nor last (Image: Francis Miller/Time & Life Pictures/Getty)
Another animal flu virus could jump to humans tomorrow and start another pandemic, which could be far worse than 2009 swine flu.
Cheers
