The World Health Organization said yesterday the world is nearing a pandemic, raising its threat level as the swine flu virus spread and killed the first person outside of Mexico, a toddler in Texas.
“Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world,” WHO Director General Margaret Chan raised the official alert level to phase 5, the last step before a pandemic. This is the first time that the World Health Organization has declared a phase 5 that I know of in my life-time.
The virus, is a mix of pig, bird and human genes to which people have limited natural immunity, had spread to at least nine countries. In the United States, nearly 100 have been sickened in 11 states.
What is truly scary for me is I keep having flash-backs to Joe Biden (before he became VP) and he said "Obama will be tested". Look, I don't (necessarily) believe in the prophecy, but I will say that Obama hasn't had an easy first 100 days. And doesn't it seem like he's been president a LOT longer than 100 days? Let me be clear that I think he has done a GREAT JOB and I wish him continued success.
(Oh I just read that Biden said something 'Biden-like' by saying to stay off trains/planes etc. HOW Mr. VP are NYers supposed to get around? We travel via subway and on yea...they are raising the cost of these trains - yet AGAIN, and if the ridership gets lower, will raise it again. WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS.
From the NY Daily News - The gaffe-master Vice President stomped all over President Obama's stay-calm message by blurting out that he's told his family to stay off planes and subways to avoid swine flu - exacerbating fears.
"I would tell members of my family - and I have - that I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now," Biden said on NBC's "Today" show.
Biden even went into specifics: "It's not just going to Mexico - if you're in a confined aircraft and one person sneezes it goes all the way through the aircraft."
"That's me. I would not be at this point, if they had another way of transportation, [be] suggesting they ride the subway."
Biden's staff instantly went into damage control mode with a what-Joe-really-meant statement, saying the veep thought planes and subways were still okay for his family and they should stay off them only if they felt sick. - Mr. President, aren't you guys tired of your VP and damage control??)
How did it start, how did these students at St. Francis Prep (in Queens) get it, how can you prevent it, what does the bible (if you believe in it) say about sickness and the fall of nations? Look, not going to do the bible thing. I'm no scholar on that, but I have friends who are. If you're interested in a deep discussion, then I can put you in contact with them.
What I am saying is that we really, truly need to take care of each other and our planet. These type of diseases don't just happen over night. Maybe we need to take additional care on the type of food we eat. We also need to take special care of the children and elderly who may not be able to take care of themselves. I keep saying that you are born in one family and then you create a family (your friends and those in your inner-circle). Let's take care of our family, friends and this planet we have. After it's gone, there isn't another.
For more information go to the Center for Disease Control
Do take care of your self....
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