Tag Archives: plague

H5N1: A Threat to Human Civilization in 2012?

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Santi Tafarella

It’s hard to imagine a nervier end-of-the-year story. H5N1 is a highly virulent strain of bird flu. If it ever went aerosol, transmitting itself between humans through coughing or sneezing, it would probably kill a billion people before a vaccine got … Continue reading →

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I Saw Contagion and Got My Flu Shot

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Santi Tafarella

But not in that order. I actually got my flu shot on Monday and saw Contagion on Tuesday. My wife and kids also got their flu shots this week. As to the movie, it’s a must-see that is well informed … Continue reading →

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What Percentage of Americans Thinks the Bible is the Literal Word of God?

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Santi Tafarella

According to a new Pew Forum poll: 33%. And the above number really hasn’t changed all that much over the past 30 years. I read from this something important: fundamentalism, despite its clamoring presence in contemporary Republican politics, is not a … Continue reading →

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H1N1: The Flu is Coming

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

Better get ready for it now. This today in the NY Times: The Obama administration warned Americans on Thursday to be ready for an aggressive return of the swine flu virus in the fall, announcing plans to begin vaccinations in … Continue reading →

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Swine Flu Quote of the Day

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization emphasizes the dangers of virulent swine flu mutations and the need for ongoing vigilance: “For the first time in history we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real time. … Continue reading →

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“H1N1”: A Poem by Santi Tafarella

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

I guess evolution’s true. It started as a pig virus, but then the swine flew. Bit pig, bit bird, bit us. Hybrid, efficient, new. Call it “pigavian flu,” sent from me to you. Obama can’t save us; no telling it, “sod … Continue reading →

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Face Masks v. Frequent Hand Washing: Which Is More Effective in Reducing Swine Flu Transmission?

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

According to the Los Angeles Times today, both face masks and frequent hand washing provide equal levels of protection: [N]o single action . . . will provide complete protection in areas with confirmed swine flu cases, health officials said. It … Continue reading →

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How to Protect Yourself, And Your Family, from Getting or Spreading Swine Flu: Dr. Joe Bresee of the CDC’s Influenza Division

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

Accurate health information on Swine Flu from Dr. Joe Bresee (of the CDC’s Influenza Division):

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How Fast Can a Swine Flu Vaccine Be Made and Distributed?

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

According to Time magazine, four to six months: [E]ven if the CDC‘s seed stock of virus were to be released to vaccine makers today, it would take the companies anywhere from four to six months before the first inoculation could … Continue reading →

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A Small Bit of Swine Flu Good News: Some Hospitals in Mexico Are Seeing a Decline of Reported Cases from Their Peaks

Posted on April 28, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

So says AP: Amid the alarm, there was a spot of good news. The number of new cases reported by Mexico‘s largest government hospitals has been declining the past three days, Cordova said, from 141 on Saturday to 119 on … Continue reading →

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Swine Flu Symptoms: Ache, Coughing, Sneezing, Fever. If You Have Any of These Symptoms, Stay Home

Posted on April 27, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

And if you don’t have any of these symptoms, and are out and about today, wash your hands frequently. This today in the Los Angeles Times: The symptoms of swine flu are nearly identical to those of other influenza, including … Continue reading →

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Swine Flu Quote of the Day

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

John Donne’s “Meditation 17″ in 1624:  “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, … Continue reading →

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Swine Flu Quote of the Day

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

I live in the Los Angeles area, and I mentioned to a colleague today that, because I have two small children—a two year old and a five year old—the outbreak of cases of swine flu in Mexico City, Texas, and … Continue reading →

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