Public Safety Signals

William Says:

I’m in Laredo Texas, a few inches from where the swine flu originated. Laredo took precautionary measures about a month ago. Just about everything closed down for about a week. About 2 cases reported but they were detected weeks after the people fully recovered. Now it seems everything is back to normal. Or is it? Just this week half a dozen cases pop up. Our close proximity to Mexico makes us vunerable to such diseases. You need to realize, swine flu is our least worry here. We have to deal with TB, dengue fever, Aides, and VD on a daily basis.

June 11th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

Clinton J. Andersen Says:

I think Will has a good point – the swine flue is not really a big concern. While my community has not seen anybody infected with H1N1 the CDC sends out tri-weekly updates on its progress. It is no more dangerous than the regular flu and what do most individuals do for the regular flu? Get a flu shot and call it a day. Even the Homeland Security Secretary has announced the flu being no worse than then the ‘regular’ flu and even though the WHO announced level 6, a pandemic, they too are telling agencies that they “…recommend no restrictions on travel and no border closures.” The bottom line is that the H1N1 have given public safety agencies a perfect opportunity to practice and test all of their emergency/pandemic procedures in a live environment. This is the perfect opportunity to work out any kinks that are in the system and to get ready for something even more devastating.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/04/swine.flu.main/index.html

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/en/index.html

June 13th, 2009 at 10:28 am

Jay Gonzalez Says:

Clinton and William, I have to respectfully disagree with both of you. This H1N1 (Swine) flu is something we all need to focus on; not let it slip to the back burners. In fact, I either would come right out or say any of us who have the responsibility for the public’s safety who look at this as “just another flu” should retire, or sent back down for remedial training.

Here is why… Read the following:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.594b3919f568748326be82a3a65d7646.241&show_article=1

http://biomedreports.com/articles/most-popular/1438-h1n1-flu-has-mutated-which-companies-may-be-able-to-help.html

I would like to know if the Adolfo Lutz Bacteriological Institute, and CDC have had talks as of yet….. Now, I will follow that up by saying the CDC is rejecting their findings. Using the term “rejecting” or for all intensive purposes, refusing to believe the report does not, in my opinion make much sense. Furthermore, does not hold much value. We as people who work in the public safety arena must always plan for the worst outcome and never assume anything at face value. I’m not saying one agency is right over the other, however I do know if someone in a building screaming fire, and I’m outside, chances are I’m calling the fire department to confirm it (or knowing me, I just might take a look for myself).

If the CDC stated they have tested a sample of the new strain, and then stated the Adolfo Lutz Bacteriological Institute was incorrect, and here is why, I might want to agree with them. I believe, however we would be ill served to take their work for face value. Especially when so many potential lives could be at risk. Additionally, we should also consider some of the past events like the HIV debacle. How long did they dispute the finding of the lab in France (I believe) before they finally admitted the scientist from France were right? I am sure there are others examples. I am not trying to imply the CDC is going to botch this up, nor, am I saying they are not working their butts off, however I am saying before I am willing to discredit someone else’s findings, I would like to see some proof.

June 29th, 2009 at 7:27 am