Actually, apparently there is some immunity conferred by different types of flu – e.g., almost all the deaths so far in this swine flu epidemic have occurred among people too young to have been alive during the previous swine flu epidemic – which means that the immune systems of people who experience a flu epidemic have all been exposed, whether or not they developed symptoms. The fatality potential of an epidemic is raised by the lack of previous exposure to that disease variant in the general population. This situation is similar, for instance, to that shown by the fatality rate of measles and smallpox among Native Americans when they were first exposed by Europeans.
In 1918, there was apparently a mild influenza outbreak during the spring, followed by a first wave of seriously threatening influenza late that autumn (in the Northern hemisphere) and into the first part of 1919.
But with the influenza pandemic of 1918-19, one must also remember the influence of massive doses of aspirin on the death rate. Severe as that flu version was, the majority of deaths appear to have been caused not by the flu but by the medicine.
Rosemary
Recognizing that past turmoil and future rhapsodies are projections of our mind prevents us from getting stuck in them. Just as the face in the mirror is not a real face, the objects of our memories and daydreams are likewise unreal. They are not happening now; they are simply mental images flickering in the mind.
Thubten Chodron, from Taming the Mind (Snow Lion)
From:
minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
minutus@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Shannon & Bob Nelson
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 8:08 AM
To:
minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Minutus] Perhaps this flu
My understanding is that one case of flu doesn't confer *much* immunity to another--tho I guess can confer some.
Given that it's been described (over and over) as a "mild" one, I too wonder why on earth we've been closing schools and panicking over it! I've heard speculation that it may be back in a stronger fashion in the fall; someplace (TV news?) somebody said that was what happened with the 1918 flu (anyone know?).
The 1918 flu, tho, was qualitatively VERY different, as it was a *severe* one; maybe the person just meant that it might be back with a larger number of cases? (As with "any seasonal flu", which is what I keep hearing this one compared with. So why the panic!!!!? Oh yeah, because panic pays.
)
FWIW, I've been reading over and over about connection between flu and Vitamin D. I mean no one *wants* even a "mild seasonal flu."
Perhaps this flu should be embraced as it is generally mild and
provides the opportunity for immunity to develop which may protect us
in the future against more virulent strains. It seems to be
spreading rapidly here and so many people are being put in quarantine
and antivirals.
I wonder if this is a sensible thought, Jean