K-Squared Ramblings

Pandemic Question

Why didn’t WHO declare A(H1N1) flu to be a phase 6 pandemic several weeks ago when it first met the published criteria? #

50-State Flu

Confirmed H1N1 flu cases in all 50 US states #

Wolverine in 6 Words, Google Goats, and Name That Flu

• Wolverine in 6 words: Heals fast, super-sharp claws, grumpy. #
• It’s official: Google mows goats – er, mows *with* goats. #
• Ringworld Manhattan via @warrenellis #

And then there’s the Name That Flu, er, event.

• Total Flunacy #namethatflu #swineflu #h1n1 #
• OMGWTFBBFlu!! #namethatflu (Though I have to admit #hamthrax is a good one) #
• Looks like Hamthrax has been chosen by the Masters of the Fluniverse #namethatflu #

Naming the Flu

Swine flu doesn’t seem to cover it. First of all it’s not a swine flu anymore. Secondly, what do we call influenza that still only infects pigs…or the next flu virus that jumps from pigs to humans? Edit: And then you have morons who think you can get the flu from eating pork.

Mexican Flu, naming it after its country of origin like the Spanish Flu or Hong Kong Flu kind of makes sense, but in today’s politically-charged climate, it ends up sounding less like an identifier and more like blame. Edit: Plus we’ve already got jerkwads scapegoating anyone who might be Mexican. (Comment threads on news sites are depressing.)

The CDC and WHO seem to be going with H1N1, but that doesn’t work either, because people get it confused with the H1N1 human flu virus that’s one of the regular seasonal flu strains.

Yeah, on one hand, what’s in a name? A flu, by any other name, would still get you sick. But there’s something to be said for precision in terminology.

Update: For a less serious take on the subject, check out posts with the #namethatflu tag on Twitter.

New Spring Returns, New Flu Begins

• Lots of suspected #h1n1 cases confirmed today as labs catch up. How many have been ruled out? #
• Trade-off: make vaccine for seasonal flu, or #swineflu? Which will be more dangerous? #
• Wheel of Time news: New Spring comic adaptation to be finished! 4 years later, I guess the rights are settled. #

B5, Kean Coffee, Flu and Chess

• Went to Kean Coffee (new place by founder of Diedrich). Very good. The place was packed. Starbucks never knew what to do w/that location. #
• Single-shot flu vaccines (instead of yearly) may be coming if this discovery pans out. (via @BadAstronomer) #
• JMS’s original notes for what became Babylon 5. #
• Listening to Chess. Only 1 year before Les Miserables, but sounds so much more dated because it was done in a 1980s pop rock style. #

Flu Fighters

According to Marketplace, critics of President Bush’s flu pandemic preparedness proposal contend that it’s too focused on vaccines and antiviral drugs, and that the money would be more effectively used by monitoring outbreaks and trying to stamp out bird flu in the third world.

In other words, they say we should take the fight to the flu abroad so we don’t have to fight it at home. Why does that sound familiar?