Page 7 of 8 FirstFirst ... 345678 LastLast
Results 121 to 140 of 155

Thread: Swine flu outbreak

  1. #121
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    East Kilbride, Sco
    Posts
    903
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe View Post
    But Swine Flu is A...oh never mind, carry on !

  2. #122
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Carnoustie
    Posts
    1,044
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Doolan View Post

  3. #123
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    London
    Posts
    180
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    I've just posted a poll on the subject of Swine Flu on the homepage of the website that I write for if anyone wants to vote...

    http://www.brentbrain.org.uk/

  4. #124
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    London & environs'
    Posts
    3,938
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe View Post
    But Swine Flu is A...oh never mind, carry on !
    Quote Originally Posted by batnurse View Post
    Nope just the three - A, B and C. Only A and B infect humans. The current outbreak is a variation of a flu A strain.
    It's an A strain.

    For insurance purposes it is not classed as A. (according to the newspapers last week)

    So how can it be called A?

    I love Lou . Sorry Lou, Batnurse said Swine flu is a strain.


    So Bird flu is which?

    ...and what about Stomach flu?

  5. #125
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Carnoustie
    Posts
    1,044
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Swine flu is a type A influenza virus. Type A viruses are subdivided into different serotypes, or strains, according to the way antibodies respond to the proteins on their surface. It's called H1N1 because it has type 1 haemagglutinin and type 1 neuraminidase. These are proteins found on the surface of the virus particle. Haemagglutinin helps binding of the virus to the host cell, and neuraminidase is involved in the release of new virus particles from the host cell.

    Flu A and B are prone to antigentic drift - minor reassortment of the genome due to spontaneous mutations, caused by the way the virus replicates, and this means that if you get flu one year you can get it the following year because your body doesn't recognise it. Flu A can also undergo antigenic shift - a major change in the genome caused by different strains of virus swapping bits of their genome. The most common way for this to happen is for an animal (usually a pig) to be infected with two different types of flu at the same time. This is why flu A causes pandemics, as it undergoes these massive changes.

    Pigs commonly act as a "mixing pot" for viruses as they have receptors on their cells that look like human cell receptors and also receptors that look like bird cell receptors. This means that if a pig is infected by bird flu and human flu at the same time, the viruses can swap bits of genome. The new virus can then be passed on to humans.



    "Stomach flu" is a made up name. Influenza virus can only attach to the cells of the respiratory tract, although if someone has a very high temperature they may develop vomiting and diarrhoea as a side effect. "Stomach flu" probably refers to Norovirus, aka the "winter vomiting bug".

    Influenza is so called because in the past astrologers linked the positions of the stars with outbreaks of illnesses, this stellar "influence" giving rise to the word influenza. It was, of course, total rubbish!

    Phew, science lesson over.
    Last edited by batnurse; 27th-June-2009 at 10:29 PM. Reason: adding a picture!

  6. #126
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    East Kilbride, Sco
    Posts
    903
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by batnurse View Post
    Swine flu is a type A influenza virus. ...................



    Phew, science lesson over.
    Wow! I'm glad I decided to be a gas fitter when I left school, many years ago, much easier than your job

    btw, is swine flue going to kill us all ?
    Last edited by Brian Doolan; 27th-June-2009 at 10:45 PM.

  7. #127
    Papa Smurf
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Planet Scathe
    Posts
    12,528
    Blog Entries
    6
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Doolan View Post
    Wow! I'm glad I decided to be a gas fitter when I left school, many years ago, much easier than your job

    btw, is swine flue going to kill us all ?
    it won't kill any of the clever people

    ...bugger

  8. #128
    Not a spoon! Lou's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Holby
    Posts
    3,772
    Blog Entries
    2
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by Astro View Post
    I love Lou . Sorry Lou, Batnurse said Swine flu is a strain.
    Love you too, petal. But I really have no idea what you're on about!

  9. #129
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    London & environs'
    Posts
    3,938
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by batnurse View Post
    Pigs commonly act as a "mixing pot" for viruses as they have receptors on their cells that look like human cell receptors and also receptors that look like bird cell receptors. This means that if a pig is infected by bird flu and human flu at the same time, the viruses can swap bits of genome. The new virus can then be passed on to humans.

    It said in the "Food in History" book that pig's milk is nearest in likeness to human milk.

    Also that in 1800's Ireland, a pig's main diet was potatos.


    "Stomach flu" is a made up name. Influenza virus can only attach to the cells of the respiratory tract, although if someone has a very high temperature they may develop vomiting and diarrhoea as a side effect. "Stomach flu" probably refers to Norovirus, aka the "winter vomiting bug".
    Thanks for the explanation.

  10. #130
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    London & environs'
    Posts
    3,938
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by Lou View Post
    Love you too, petal. But I really have no idea what you're on about!
    I was making the point that if animals are kept inside in tiny confined spaces, fed on antibiotics etc., then they will be unhealthy and catch these diseases - Swine flu etc.,

    Also that if cattle land was turned over to crop growing (if it's still fertile) more poeple could be fed.

    Half the world's population don't get enough to eat.

  11. #131
    Papa Smurf
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Planet Scathe
    Posts
    12,528
    Blog Entries
    6
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by Astro View Post
    Also that if cattle land was turned over to crop growing (if it's still fertile) more poeple could be fed.
    Nonsense : "The world produces enough food to feed everyone." It is getting it to them that is the problem.

  12. #132
    The Dashing Moderator
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Midlands
    Posts
    3,556
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    As well as lots of posters about swine flu, we now have (presumably alcohol-based) hand wash dispensers at the entrance of our building.

    There's a confirmed case somewhere in the organisation - dunno if it's at my building though.
    Love dance, will travel

  13. #133
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    London & environs'
    Posts
    3,938
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe View Post
    Nonsense : "The world produces enough food to feed everyone." It is getting it to them that is the problem.
    Harvests do fail though.

    In the 70's the Russian, European and African harvests all failed.

    Luckily the USA harvest was fine, and other counties were able to buy - if they could afford it.

    Next thing though, there was an oil crisis in the Middle East, which was the final straw, which plunged the world into a recession.
    Quote Originally Posted by DavidY View Post
    As well as lots of posters about swine flu, we now have (presumably alcohol-based) hand wash dispensers at the entrance of our building.

    There's a confirmed case somewhere in the organisation - dunno if it's at my building though.
    Hope thay are not Swine Flu.

  14. #134
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Carnoustie
    Posts
    1,044
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidY View Post
    As well as lots of posters about swine flu, we now have (presumably alcohol-based) hand wash dispensers at the entrance of our building.
    Alcohol hand rubs are very effective against the flu virus
    It also works against MRSA, but is useless against C.diff. In fact, we use alcohol to "wash" poo samples if we want to grow C.diff from them I love my job!

  15. #135
    Registered User Beowulf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    The Beoverse
    Posts
    7,985
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by batnurse View Post
    we use alcohol to "wash" poo samples if we want to grow C.diff from them
    I'll have to redefine my dictionary.. I used to say "no matter how you try you can't polish a t*rd".. I'll now have to append "But it does appear you can clean them with Alcohol !"

  16. #136
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    London & environs'
    Posts
    3,938
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by Beowulf View Post
    I'll have to redefine my dictionary.. I used to say "no matter how you try you can't polish a t*rd".. I'll now have to append "But it does appear you can clean them with Alcohol !"

    But why would you want to?

  17. #137
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Carnoustie
    Posts
    1,044
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    Quote Originally Posted by Astro View Post
    But why would you want to?
    A large percentage of poo is made of bacteria, most of which is killed by alcohol. So if you want to grow C.diff, you make a suspension of the poo in alcohol, allow it to stand (and kill off the bacteria you don't want) then grow what's left. Hey presto... C.diff

  18. #138
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    bedford
    Posts
    4,899
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    The virus seems to first infect the soft tissues in the lungs and throat, and perhaps in the eye, that are in contact with the air. It seems logical that it is spread about the lungs and throat in the first place via the air. It seems logical that an airborne attack would be effective against it. There is indeed an antiviral that is inhaled.

    Chlorine and ozone are very reactive and toxic gasses. It seems to me that the virus may well be vulnerable to those. I am wondering if swimming pool attendants and regular swimmers, exposed to chlorine, or arc welders, exposed to ozone, might fare better than the ordinary population against the virus.

  19. #139
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    East Kilbride, Sco
    Posts
    903
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    There's been some confusion as to the symptoms of Swine Flu, and how you might know if you have been infected.

    Well, this should clear up any confusion.
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    Swine Flue.jpg

    If you wake up looking like this, don't go to work.

  20. #140
    Papa Smurf
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Planet Scathe
    Posts
    12,528
    Blog Entries
    6
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: Swine flu outbreak

    eh? but I've always looked like that

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Outbreak of Foot in Mouth in the midlands
    By Jan in Notts in forum Let's talk about dance
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 9th-December-2008, 01:50 AM
  2. Should you dance with a Cold or Flu
    By dave the scaffolder in forum Let's talk about dance
    Replies: 39
    Last Post: 24th-October-2008, 10:24 AM
  3. I wanna talk about MAN FLU
    By dave the scaffolder in forum Chit Chat
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 13th-October-2008, 10:30 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •