In yet another Star trek reference, words spoken by Dr McCoy to create a sense of extreme urgency — actually mean “eating too much”: “acute” = (of disease) brief and severe; “postprandial” = after a meal; “upper abdominal” relating to the area of the stomach; “distension” = the state of being stretched beyond normal dimensions.  And, yes, I am enjoying paying homage to the TV show from which I learned spoken English.  And, yes, “deadly”, “swine”, and “pandemic” are being thrown around with abandon to create a panic that need not happen.  “Deadly” may apply to anything of which anyone ever died (and, in a rather confusing email from CDC, I learned that apparently the Mexican confirmed swine flu death toll is downgraded to… 7…?

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm58d0430a2.htm?s_cid=mm58d0430a2_e

Well, that’s way below what seasonal flu causes every season, but, technically still deadly.

Calling it “swine” (or “bird”) flu is also misleading, as most new strains are produced by reassortment in pigs and poultry in close contact passing the infection back and forth; and a “pandemic” means the whole world is sick with it — which applies equally well to common cold and athlete’s foot.  Reminds me of the obsessive-compulsive agnostic dyslexic insomniac — stays up all night wondering if there is a dog.

Anyway, only one positive yesterday (out of a many many anxious families) and that one not very sick either.  “Acute postprandial upper abdominal distention” also means being fed up, and it seems that the media have had their fill of hysteria, and voices of sanity are beginning to prevail:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/health/02flu.html?ref=americas

Five days after my interview with a Miami radio station:…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU0oom3B8DM

…and the Fox News TV interview:

http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/22200273/swine-flu-reality.htm 

… most news and official statements are beginning to confirm what we saw.

As a training exercise, or a dress rehearsal, for handling a really severe outbreak (which this was not), the official response to this epidemic has been of great value.  I think it will be analysed for years to come to assure better preparation for a potential emergency.  So for local, state, federal and international health authorities I have nothing but praise (especially let’s give a big hand to NYC Health Department, whose actions were an incredibly short 24 hours behind the frontline view).  I am less happy about the media; this is not the time to be crying “wolf”, no matter how it improves sales, ratings, or hit counts.  Let’s save the hyperbole for when we need it.

In case anyone forgot, Star Trek V is titled “The Final Frontier”; I don’t think the flu story has a final anything in it, so I’ll stay with 4.x for the time being.

Once I post them, click “Comments” for my videos on the swine flu subject.