THE INEVITABLE SWINE FLU THREAD: How bad is it where YOU are?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Wow, flights to Mexico are *really* cheap right now.

They are also cancelled in most cases.

Today, sure, but right now I can buy tickets for a round-trip flight in September for like $350.

I'm thinking about booking two weeks down there just for shits and giggles.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I'm worried about this swine flu thing because I was thinking about going back to school to become an epidemiologist, and what if the swine flu spurs a spike in epidemiology majors?

[Roaring Biscuit!]

I'm worried about this swine flu thing because I was thinking about going back to school to become an epidemiologist, and what if the swine flu spurs a spike in epidemiology majors?

Well we might be even worse off if it doesn't

[Rumckle]

Wow, flights to Mexico are *really* cheap right now.

They are also cancelled in most cases.

Today, sure, but right now I can buy tickets for a round-trip flight in September for like $350.

I'm thinking about booking two weeks down there just for shits and giggles.

I think most flights are really cheap atm, it's only $550 to fly to NY return (from Sydney).

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Sweet.

[Iason Ouabache]

Two cases confirmed in Indy. It was two young kids so they are closing down both of their schools for a week. I need to put my daughter in one of those John Travolta/Jake Gyllenhaal bubble thingies.

[maphdet]

Three closed schools next county over-one confimed case in the county I live in...
I know this shit isnt as bad as they say err I hope so---but being the paranoid fuck that I am, I've kept my son home last week and am doing so this week as well. 

[Jenne]

I had bacon in every sandwich and the 1 burger I had this weekend.  Also:  the husband-type-unit is expecting his first day back to work since Wednesday of last week will be hell on wheels.  I haven't heard from him yet on it, but yeah, he'll probably still be dealing with some mass hysteria of some form or other.

Luckily, our school district is keeping a cool head and it looks like the kids, for now, will be staying in school for the next month til they're scheduled to be out.

[Iason Ouabache]

Afghanistan's only pig quarantined in flu fear

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghanistans-only-pig-quarantined-in-flu-fear-1679993.html

Afghanistan's only known pig has been locked in a room, away from visitors to Kabul zoo where it normally grazes beside deer and goats, because people are worried it could infect them with the virus popularly known as swine flu.

The pig is a curiosity in Muslim Afghanistan, where pork and pig products are illegal because they are considered irreligious, and has been in quarantine since Sunday after visitors expressed alarm it could spread the new flu strain.

"For now the pig is under quarantine, we built it a room because of swine influenza," Aziz Gul Saqib, director of Kabul Zoo, told Reuters. "We've done this because people are worried about getting the flu."

I honestly thought this was satire at first. 

[fomenter]

Afghanistan's only pig quarantined in flu fear

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghanistans-only-pig-quarantined-in-flu-fear-1679993.html

Afghanistan's only known pig has been locked in a room, away from visitors to Kabul zoo where it normally grazes beside deer and goats, because people are worried it could infect them with the virus popularly known as swine flu.

The pig is a curiosity in Muslim Afghanistan, where pork and pig products are illegal because they are considered irreligious, and has been in quarantine since Sunday after visitors expressed alarm it could spread the new flu strain.

"For now the pig is under quarantine, we built it a room because of swine influenza," Aziz Gul Saqib, director of Kabul Zoo, told Reuters. "We've done this because people are worried about getting the flu."

I honestly thought this was satire at first. 

wow ...... i sat here trying to think of something to say about this, and all i can come up with is wow.

[Iason Ouabache]

It seems supremely dumb until you get these parts:

"We understand that, but most people don't have enough knowledge. When they see the pig in the cage they get worried and think that they could get ill," Saqib said.

AND

Shabby and rundown, Kabul Zoo is a far cry from zoos in the developed world, but has nevertheless come a long way since it suffered on the front line of Afghanistan's 1992-4 civil war.

Mujahideen fighters then ate the deer and rabbits and shot dead the zoo's sole elephant. Shells shattered the aquarium.

One fighter climbed into the lion enclosure but was immediately killed by Marjan, the zoo's most famous inhabitant. The man's brother returned the next day and lobbed a hand grenade at the lion leaving him toothless and blind.

Never underestimate the power of stupid.

[fomenter]

dear Afghanistan
i am living in the twenty first century, and i would like to work for you as a consultant, i have a well rounded grasp of "common knowledge", and i think it would be of great benefit to your country to make use of this "common knowledge", to keep your country from looking to backward and foolish, i propose in exchange for a handsome salary and a penthouse corner office to preview any ideas your country has and vet out the embarrassingly backward ones before they get implemented and become publicly known  resulting in international ridicule. i am eagerly awaiting your reply and look forward to the possibility of getting to work in a place where my humble skills can put me on the cutting edge.

[Cain]

Afghanistan has sent a reply.  Its in a rather lumpy package though, and the delivery guy ran off pretty quickly....

[Suu]

Some pig pox fanatic asked if they were shutting down Anime Boston in a couple of weeks. The convention told them it's still going on as planned, and that smelly convention goers need to learn to take fucking showers.

...That's a paraphrase, but you get the idea.

[fomenter]

Afghanistan has sent a reply.  Its in a rather lumpy package though, and the delivery guy ran off pretty quickly....

shortest career dream i have ever had..