I had no idea h1n1 killed 500 000 and infected a billion.
I had that one.

Not sure about those as global numbers but it was >50million Americans infected with >30,000 dead depending on what stats you use. This was not long ago either, it’s not like we are referring to something that happened 100 yrs ago in 1918. This was 2014, and when the talking heads everywhere say “we are in uncharted waters” with all the depletion of PPE, triaging ventilators, beds, etc; we did that in 2014. I was a senior resident doing an away rotation in Phoenix, and H1N1 hit the winter birds hard that February. The ECMO unit was full and if you were over 65 the ICU was full also and people were being triaged, managing with Bi-PAP, Optiflow, etc on the floor. People did DIE, because the ICU and ECMO were full. There were patients getting bagged in the ED for hours trying to find somewhere they could be flown for an ICU bed. This stuff HAPPENED and life went on as usual, now they are talking about it MAYBE happening and the world has been brought to its knees. Not good.

*man, I don't even remember H1N1, was this the Swine Flu ??
It probably had very little impact where I live, hence my ignorance.........

I was just listening to my old police scanner, and the ems calls for "difficulty breathing, high fever" are starting to pile up now.

Not good.

I for one am taking this new virus very seriously and I do not think it's going to be over any time soon.
Some say we won't even begin to feel the full impact until say June or so, man I hope they are wrong - because watching the numbers keep going up overseas - and now here - it is not looking good.

Trapper7, your signature is truly words to live by:

"Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love. They depart to teach us about loss."

My Pleasure !!

I'm just getting back from my weekly acupuncture visit for my pinched nerve problem with my lower back, and I was talking with my doctor, she's one of those natural doctors... and she did bring me up to speed regarding the swine flu, so my level of ignorance there is unforgivable.

But - in my defense, she mentioned how the swine flu nobody really made a big deal out of, and also the stats are over 18 months or so, while... when did this virus get cranking - in December of last year ??

Seriously though, she mentioned that when this is over - many will discover they have problems with their liver and other organs, as the body will absorb through the skin all these alcohol based sanitizers the masses believe they can't live with out.

She added - it's like pure alcohol with a touch of aloe... and that is very bad long term.

So, I got enlightened in more ways then one, and my immune system got boosted too [with the acupuncture...] so I am good for another week.

My fear is come the summer, the numbers will skyrocket.

I think - I would hope - that's why everything is slowly being locked down.

But it's still person to person contact, and some of these hysterical measure people take - bleaching their masks ?? who came up with that one !! - are just plain hysterical.

The advice given to me was good diet, lots of water, vitamin C, Zinc, Oregano [oil type...], lots of sleep, and was your hands with soap.

Sounds reasonable enough to me !!

*Time now for licks from my dog, she believes that is what keeps me healthy and strong

Again - be safe everyone !!

Big George W:

And what did your acupuncturist base her theory of sanitizers on. Stop and think about this. A bottle of hand sanitizer contains approximately 2/3 alcohol and 1/3 aloe. When you use the sanitizer you don’t use the whole bottle but use a squirt the size of a dime or less. When rubbed around on your hands a lot of the alcohol will evaporate. Did she say what other organs would be damaged? Dr.s and nurses have used hand sanitizers for years and I have never heard anything like your acupuncturist told you.

I have for the last 50 years drank way more alcohol than my body could absorb through hand sanitizer and I am still kicking.