Comments on: The only medicine you need is a Chill Pill.

By: kelli, rn

kelli, rn — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:14:55 +0000

What you’ve said here is needed and appreciated, myself being something of an admitted alarmist. And now that things are simmering down, you’re actually easier to believe. One correction, however… this flu was getting young healthy folks, similar to prior pandemic-type flus, not just the young, old, and immuno-compromised.

By: bellacoker

bellacoker — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:43:44 +0000

AmandaS:

I think there is a historical meme about Asians that was re-stirred up when SARS hit, and also when the lead-paint toys, anti-freeze mouthwash, etc. was happening. That meme is: Noxious things come from the Orient. *Insert images of men with Confucian moustaches peering over steaming cauldrons and people wasting away in opium dens*

By: sukie (in the graveyard)

sukie (in the graveyard) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:58:36 +0000

If I can’t panic about it and make everyone around me panic about it then how am I suppose to use it to get out of going to a birthday party I don’t want to go to?

What do I do???? (haha, i can panic about anything, it’s a gift.)

By: Kivrin

Kivrin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:45:25 +0000

I was in a meeting this afternoon with a woman of Chinese descent (not sure if she was born in China or U.S.) and another woman who grew up in Colombia. The Chinese woman actually said, “Hey, we [i.e., the Chinese] had to deal with all the SARS outbreak, now it’s your turn [i.e., brown people].” Except, y’know, Colombia is not Mexico. I guess maybe the first lady’s point was that anyone who looked Asian was treated as suspect during SARS, so now anyone who looks Hispanic will get the same response re: swine flu…but still, it was an odd thing to say in mixed company!

By: Av0gadro

Av0gadro — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:50:00 +0000

Totally off topic, but Mary, I love the term “manfriend”

By: AmandaS

AmandaS — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:46:56 +0000

“I think the reason people are overreacting is because it ‘came’ from Mexico – this is just another excuse to be open about their xenophobia!”

I want to ask (since I wasn’t paying ANY attention at the time), did a similar xenophobic sentiment run against Asians during the big bird flu scare?

I really don’t understand this idea that people and diseases only travel from “there” to “here”. Stupid egocentric idea.

By: zooeyibz

zooeyibz — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:32:11 +0000

I'm in Mexico and, funnily enough, the only media freakin' out I'm getting is when I read English language news online. It would help if the rest of the world could get their head around the idea Mexico is more than just drugs + germs.

By: bellacoker

bellacoker — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:25:54 +0000

As of a couple of minutes ago, 91 people have gotten sick in the US and 1 person has died. So, if I can do math at all, if you get sick you have less than a 1% chance of dying and more than a 99% chance of getting better. Um . . . what’s there to be scared of here?

By: Kivrin

Kivrin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Laugh it up, people. You won’t be so snarky when the Global Pandemic KILLS US ALL.

J/K. I work at a (well, the) large, famous U.S. public health organization, and we’re not even freaking out that much internally. Although we do keep receiving e-mails reminding us to wash our hands and stay home from work if we’re feverish, coughing, or achy. I’m considering calling in sick with post-yoga aches…

By: spicyplumchatni

spicyplumchatni — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:40:53 +0000

@ CarlyB:
I totally understand. My allergies are in full effect too and since I am brown, I am getting not only the glares but also some nasty snide remarks.
Seriously though, I think the reason people are overreacting is because it ‘came’ from Mexico – this is just another excuse to be open about their xenophobia! And thanks media for being SO DRAMATIC about it every three seconds.