Scientists: H1N1 is relatively mild; Biden: I wouldn't get on that train if I were you

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Scientists say don't worry (too much)

Scientists studying the virus are coming to the consensus that this hybrid strain of influenza -- at least in its current form -- isn't shaping up to be as fatal as the strains that caused some previous pandemics.

In fact, the current outbreak of the H1N1 virus, which emerged in San Diego and southern Mexico late last month, may not even do as much damage as the run-of-the-mill flu outbreaks that occur each winter without much fanfare.

But Biden says it's time to panic!

Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday that he would not recommend taking any commercial flight or riding in a subway car “at this point” because swine flu virus can spread “in confined places.”

...

“I would tell members of my family — and I have — I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now,” Biden said on NBC’s “Today” show.. “It’s not that it’s going to Mexico. It’s [that] you’re in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That’s me. …

[AlHayatZween 2]

isn't it funny that they kept Biden under wraps for the past 85 days or so...

they let him out once and he starts a whole uproar.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

There is good reason to suspect the virus will become less lethal as it spreads. The virus is constantly mutating, and the strains that will spread fastest are the ones that do not stop people going about their daily lives and coming into contact with others. The most lethal viruses tend to be short-lived because they kill their host before the virus has had a chance to be passed on.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2009/...tamiflu-vaccine

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Well, he is sorta right about being stuck in an airplane with someone sick, it will increase your exposure than if you were not in that environment. But that is true of any pathogen - not just swine flu, I mean, H1N1.

So, I would tend to agree with the statement of avoiding places that stick a lot of people together, where the air is re-circulated, for hours.

Because I have seen plenty of "sick" people get on airplanes with me, and wonder why they don't just stay home, instead of "sharing" their sickness....

(look at the issues when someone suspected/known to have virulent TB gets on a plane, they round up the pax around them to have them tested).

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Biden was a bit of a doofus there wasn't he.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

isn't it funny that they kept Biden under wraps for the past 85 days or so...

they let him out once and he starts a whole uproar.

Yep...time to send him off out of the country for awhile...keep a low profile.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well, he is sorta right about being stuck in an airplane with someone sick, it will increase your exposure than if you were not in that environment. But that is true of any pathogen - not just swine flu, I mean, H1N1.

So, I would tend to agree with the statement of avoiding places that stick a lot of people together, where the air is re-circulated, for hours.

Because I have seen plenty of "sick" people get on airplanes with me, and wonder why they don't just stay home, instead of "sharing" their sickness....

(look at the issues when someone suspected/known to have virulent TB gets on a plane, they round up the pax around them to have them tested).

Does make you wonder if he was one of those kooks spreading that rumour about contracting HIV from toilet seats.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Biden was a bit of a doofus there wasn't he.

Don't be picking on Joe. Joe is just saying what everyone is thinking, but is afraid to say. Nothing wrong with Joe.

[nowhereman 1]

Biden was a bit of a doofus there wasn't he.

Don't be picking on Joe. Joe is just saying what everyone is thinking, but is afraid to say. Nothing wrong with Joe.

I agree with Biden most of the time, but he does have a knack of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Well, he is sorta right about being stuck in an airplane with someone sick, it will increase your exposure than if you were not in that environment. But that is true of any pathogen - not just swine flu, I mean, H1N1.

So, I would tend to agree with the statement of avoiding places that stick a lot of people together, where the air is re-circulated, for hours.

Because I have seen plenty of "sick" people get on airplanes with me, and wonder why they don't just stay home, instead of "sharing" their sickness....

(look at the issues when someone suspected/known to have virulent TB gets on a plane, they round up the pax around them to have them tested).

Does make you wonder if he was one of those kooks spreading that rumour about contracting HIV from toilet seats.

Yes.

[Ban Hammer 14,573]

Biden was a bit of a doofus there wasn't he.

Don't be picking on Joe. Joe is just saying what everyone is thinking, but is afraid to say. Nothing wrong with Joe.

I agree with Biden most of the time, but he does have a knack of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

i suspect joe will be on a goodwill mission to the penguins at the south pole for a few months, starting now.

[nowhereman 1]

Biden was a bit of a doofus there wasn't he.

Don't be picking on Joe. Joe is just saying what everyone is thinking, but is afraid to say. Nothing wrong with Joe.

I agree with Biden most of the time, but he does have a knack of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

i suspect joe will be on a goodwill mission to the penguins at the south pole for a few months, starting now.

SNL does a great job poking fun at Joe. However I'm sure Obama isn't always amused by his antics!