I'm only recounting my own experience Drac, not attempting to diagnose others.

I was off work for about 10 days I think. Doc didn't want to test me (this was in the early days of the pandemic!) despite having all the symptoms. To be honest I wasn't bothered, didn't particularly want Tamiflu anyway since I didn't feel I was about to keep over and die (I had a bout of Malaria 2 weeks before which was much worse, and even that is a lot milder than back in the mid – late 90's when I caught it).

Worst bit was the cough – big chewy one! The fever was pretty mild by what I am used to, nothing to get overly worried about. Aching and lethargic, but again, not as bad as I am used to… and no delirium which was a bonus 😉 Headache, sore throat etc… but all pretty mild really.

Probably would have been back at work earlier, but since my job is pretty manual it is difficult to do when your lungs are falling out all the time.

I am definitely not a doctor, but i do look after someone who has virtually no immune system, chronic asthma, and diabetes….. ie firmly in the "at risk" category.

I have been following this pandemic very closely and my semi intelligent input to this debate is as follows:

There seem to be two extremes of reaction to this pandemic, from the panic stricken "preppers" mainly in the states who are gaffer taping up their doors and windows and bedding in for the next 6 months…..

to the "if you can walk its not flu" and "I dont care I am going to work its all a media hyped non event", which appear to be mainly the underinformed.

I think a more balanced reaction is needed, and I do think the media are over emphasising the worst case scenario to sell papers, get hits etc.

But it is a potetially serious business, the government are probably doing the right thing, and yes people socialising/working whilst even potentially ill are acting irresponsibly.

Hopefully it doesnt mutate in a bad way, hopefully it doesnt kill a large number of people, but some perspective is needed when looking at inflamatory headlines.

20000 people died in 1999/2000 of influenza, this was quite a lot, and didnt cause this much media/public reaction.

65000 is a worst case scenario.

The questions i would like answered though are as follows, any doctors able to answer them?

1) Of the reported dead, how many ACTUALLY died of swine flu (ie Viral Pneumonia, or an inflammatory immune response or Sepsis?).

2) The deaths in previously healthy individuals, is this caused by an over excited immune system response, ie a cytokine storm? If not, is there any explanation for why some healthy people die then, could it be Viral Load, ie how much Virus (snot etc) they take on initially, or a lack of immunity or genetic weakness to pneumonia?

20000 people died in 1999/2000 of influenza, this was quite a lot, and didnt cause this much media/public reaction.

I got the flu that year and put me in bed for week took me a month to fully recover but wasn't right for about 5 months kept coughing up gunk.

I'm one of the unlucky ones. Was told by my GP yesterday that I had it and I was not allowed to cross the door for 7 days. Doesn't feel any worse than any other flu I've had.

I'm due to do the Merida 50km next Sunday but think I might struggle which is a total bitch. Might see if I can downgrade to the 25km cause if I am still slighly recovering my body will never tale it, especially if I cant get any training in between now and then.