wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

They are lying to us about swine flu. They have no idea where it is going. They are gambling that it will go away relatively harmlessly. They are attempting to pacify us to cover up the fact that large parts of the public health system are in a shambles in the same way that the economy is in a shambles, and that medications to deal with this strain are largely unavailable.

They fear chaos and disorder, but as is always the case, in the absence of reliable information, rumor flourishes. Some parents around NYC are furious that they were given nothing but reassurance when the assistant principal fell ill. Now he’s dead, and people are wise not to believe official assurances. So, on their own, many are moving to keep their kids out of school.

They tell us to hold off on getting Tamiflu. Behind this is an implied contract: if we fall ill, they will supply it. This is a preposterous lie. We must determine that we have the appropriate symptoms, see or talk to our doctor, procure the medication (in the face of inadequate supplies) and start taking it – all within the first 24-48 hours. This is a set-up for riot.

When a sufferer dies, it's attributed to pre-existing condition (as in insurance?). Everybody has a pre-existing condition.

It’s absurd that Biden was ridiculed for perfectly sanely urging us to stay away from crowds, subways, airplanes. How easily the media fall into line with the official position. We need masks and medications at no cost. (Compare bank bailourts.)

We need more left analyses of this, more refined than the above. It’s all very Brechtian: when the leaders talk of peace, expect war.

Jesse Lemisch

OK, so this is my third post:

The parks are outside - so, less need for sanitizing - sun, open-air, etc.

Perhaps we don't extra cleaning at the playgrounds surrounding the schools closing for flu.

I'm kind of blown away by how much essential information was provided in this segment.

It makes you realize the role that WNYC has served in the community.

Nice work. I think it helps that the guests were so good, and Brian Lehrer, I think, has a Ph.D. in public health. You really couldn't have a better source for information.

Glad to hear the argument against "swine flu parties" reiterated. I don't know if it was fully explained, but another factor is that, in order for the virus to mutate into something more lethal, you would have to have a larger population exposed, and frighteningly, that's what swine flu parties would accomplish.

Follow-up to my previous post:

We're spending moeny on cleaning schools that will be closed for more than 48 hours in what has been recognized as a public relations move, and other area where children congregate are not being cleaned.

Wouldn't it be better to spend the money where the cleaning could make a difference?

What about cleaning the nearby playgrounds surrounding the schools that are shut down?

The virus lives on surfaces for about 48 hours, and these playgrounds are being actively used by the children attending these schools, probably moreso with the closures.

This is the first day I've listened to the show in a few weeks, but I think that Brian is failing to stress certain important information that would make for a more informed public. One of his guests mentioned it, but Brian should be stressing it.

1) People die of the flu ever year. 80,000 in the country, and 1,000 in NYC. A single death from this new flu should not cause panic or alarm. In fact, just a single death would imply that this flu is rather safe.

2) We commonly mistake the common cold and the flu. Most of the time, that just leads to harmless overstatements. Now, however, we need to be more clear and precise. Brian ought to be able to explain in just a few seconds the difference between a cold and the flu.

I would like to know why the big deal about this influenza and not all the others that supposedly kills about 39,000 people per year?

I do not nave health insurance but I do feel as if I am getting sick. I do not know if I am getting the flu or something else...but please tell me where can I go to get tested and receive medical care?

1. this is one of the critical uses of radio, thank you for this programming brian

2. jack's call -- what a mind blower; ain't that the real question??

Where can people go to be tested for Swine Flu?

Halsey is JHS 157, NOT 175.

http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/28/Q157

wow- very cool gentleman! kudos to offering no cost medical care and your telephone numbers to the caller whose daughter is sick. new york really is a wonderful place!

More information about vitamin D and flu prevention can be found on Dr. John Cannell's website, vitaminDcouncil.org at
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-and-influenza.shtml
and from the NIH at
http://www.nih.gov/news/research_matters/march2009/03092009coldandflu.htm

Sandra's questions was not answered. She did not ask if she should be taking Tamiflu...she wanted to know what else she can do to boost immunity.

Brian is failing to provide some important information about context -- which is supposed to be one of the great strengths of public radio.

11 schools and 10,000 students sounds like a lot, but it is less than 1% of the public schools in the city and less than 1% of the public school students, as well.

Sounds like a lot, but actually are very small numbers in this context (i.e. 1400+ public schools, 1.1 million students).

I've was home for about 2 weeks. I initially had an upper-respitory infection which was followed by a fever. I took zithromax which quelled many symptoms. However, during the second week I was experiencing severe headaches which have calmed down in the past few days and are now very mild, intermittent tension aches which rotate around my head. My blood tests came out perfect and my doctor said my symptoms were normal and would go away within a week. Do upper-respitory infections usually cause fever and headaches? And are the weather fluctuations a reason for so much illness going around?

Again, are the weekend or underdeveloped immune systems of school children, pregnant women, etc, the a good defense against mortality with this flu? Because the flu has been primarily in schools is that why there are so many "mild" cases?

It occurs to me that the woman who asked whether the antibiotic cures the flu is confused about the nature of viruses and bacterial infections, as are many people.
My understanding is that viruses and bacteria are extremely different and cannot be treated in the same way. But people overuse antibiotics because they don't know the difference.

Vitamin D has been conclusively shown to help prevent infection with cold and flu viruses and was recently recommended by the NIH. Why isn't Vitamin D supplementation being recommended by city health officials?

Regarding Mitchell Wiener, his family confirmed that he had suffered from gout. The Daily News reported that the flu badly ravaged his lungs and shut down his kidneys.

Kidney and lung conditions are both connected to gout.

This might present a fairly serious underlying condition.

Brian, the criteria for closing schools haven't been tightened. Some schools have been closed w/ no confirmed cases. Others have stayed open w/ confirmed cases.

I am concerned as to what Healthcare workers (nurses etc) and tranporting by wearinig their uniforms to and from work. Can the City not enforce some law to ensure Healthcare workers do not wear their uniforms when they are noton duty.

Eric Gioia has one point exactly right -- not enough info. There is a reason for this. Mayor Bloomberg doesn't believe We the People have a right to know -- whether it is a major issue or a minor one.

The mayor and Police Commissioner Kelly are still fighting release of some of the info regarding the Republican National Convention in 2004.

Mayor Bloomberg routinely displays contempt for us regular folks. His approach is paternalistic, minus the compassion and caring of actual parents.

Can someone please give some clear advice for adults and children with asthma.

Great question Hugh/10

I teach at one of the universities in eastern Queens and have a question. Does anyone have an explanation of why all these cases are located in northeast Queens?

The issues regarding this strain of flu would change significantly if it proves to persistent through warm weather. Imagine a world where "flu season" is all year long.

(health habits and *conditions*, such as environmental and medical care)

THe prime question is, is this flu more lethal to healthy middle aged (25-45 year olds) because of their/our healthy immune systems that causes immune system to 'nuke' flu giving them fatal pnuemonia, like 1918. Please ask your guests about this. Is his underlying condition a robust healthy immune system?

Research is beginning to suggest that influenza is related to vitamin D status since we get little or sun exposure from October to April.

The Vitamin D Council suggests that improving general immunity by making sure you are replete in Vitamin D might confer protection against this and other flus.

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health/deficiency/am-i-vitamin-d-deficient.shtml

Can your guests comment?

my son had strep throat, and he has been taking antibiotics for 10 days. is that considered an underlying condition? does the antibiotics protect im from the flu? There has been at least 20 cases unfluenza A, if not more, in our school in Plainview, and the school has remained open. I only know this because of my kids FB accounts. What about pregnant teachers, are they at high risk?

So is the risk of getting sicker or dying equal among ALL types of flu viruses?

Or is this one of the factors not yet known?

(I'm asking in part with regard to the greater number of deaths of Mexicans compared to Americans and how that might relate to eating or other general health habits.)

Much ado about almost nothing!

It's worth noting again Mayor Bloomberg's response of callous indifference -- a response he displays frequently when the concerns voiced are those of people he looks down upon.

With kindergarten waitlisting, electrical hazards, construction site fatalities, and now with the flu, the Mayor's response is a combination of glib and hostile.

Remember his "your child may get flu tomorrow?" when a reporter the Mayor got a question he didn't like?

Relationship betwn general good health and chances of 1. picking up and 2. dying of "swine flu"?

Would teaching proper eating and exercise habits, for example, be one of the appropriate ways of combating this virus -- or are those factors 100% irrelevant?

At another school in Queens: My child says that dozens of classmates are ill, some confirmed by doctors as "probable" cases of swine flu. Her school is still open, and emails to the parent coordinator haven't received a response. Suggestions on what a parent should do?