What does the word "pandemic" imply?

In the U.S., flu deaths and hospitalizations have declined for the third straight week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Regarding Canada specifically, the WHO claims “influenza activity remains similar but [the] number of hospitalizations and deaths is increasing.” But Health Canada’s FluWatch website, updated weekly, begs to differ.

“All influenza indicators declined,” according to FluWatch, speaking of Nov. 27. Just what part of “all” doesn’t the WHO understand?
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Every year in this country, 2,000 to 8,000 people die of flu, according to Health Canada. Swine flu, conversely, in the almost eight months since the outbreak began, has killed merely 138. Worldwide, WHO figures show fewer swine flu deaths in eight months than seasonal flu deaths every two weeks.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/12/03/361504.aspx

>There is no hysteria.
>
>>There are a couple possibilities on the horizon but none has a chance to fully engage the hype machine until the current objects of hysteria settle down a bit.
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>>>Could it be the rumored Global Warming or is it something to do with medicare?
>>>
>>>>Never you worry about me. The next big hyped scare is just over the horizon and I will dutifully respond.
>>>>AGW fraud. Check.
>>>>Swine flu hype. Check.
>>>>
>>>>If you want to "hope" for something, hope that I'm wrong about the global economy.
>>>>
>>>>>The world health organization says one-third of the world's population will be affected by H1N1. Testing the mutation that causes death by lung hemorage has shown that that virus does not pass from one human to another. Let's hope is stays that way or Jake will be out of a job on the UT. :)
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>>>>>>No, what is really scary is that by the time you finish reading this post another 30 people wil ldie of cardiovascular disease, another 10 from AIDS.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Not scary is 3 people dying who already had other medical complications to start off with plus the unknown aspects of the virus:
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>>>>>>All four of the patients suffered from multiple ailments, which weakened the patients’ immune systems and their abilities to fight the virus. But it is still unclear what part the drug-resistant flu played in the deaths of three of the patients
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>>>>>>and
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>>>>>>Mary Covington, executive director for Campus Health Services at UNC, said the University is not worried about the mutation because the majority of the cases can be treated with Tamiflu.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>And now 12 more are dead from cancer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I guess everyone missed the news about the 4 mutated cases of swine flu at Duke Hospital here in Durham, North Carolina. It is definitely a new breed of flu and very scary, but not widespread (yet). 3 of the 4 people with it died. However, so far, it is affected folks with immunosuppressed systems:
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>>>>>>>http://www.dailytarheel.com/content/mutated-h1n1-kills-three
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>FYI There is a mutation that is spreading slowly . . . so far. As more people get it, it will spread faster.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>http://www.examiner.com/x-29228-LA-Health-Technology-Examiner~y2009m11d27-Fatality-in-France--Swine-flu-virus-a-mixture-of-drug-resistant--lung-hemorrhaging-H1N1-strains
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>Jake and Nick - Before you jump in here to tell us it is only the flu, be sure to get both flu shots and wash you hands. We want you around to complain after the pandemic. :))
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Grady, Grady! I just let the dogs out in the back yard and one of them came in scratching. It's the SWINE FLU!!!! Run for your lives!!!!!!!!
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Oh, no, I've got it. Save me (glub, glub)........
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>:)) Good one Mike! I don't think they can stop this mutated virus anymore. The mutation causes lung tissue to bleed and has roughly speaking, a 50 to 60 percent kill rate. It's outta the box and will be in North America soon enough.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Yawn. Bring it on. I'm inoculating myself now with a large scotch. Then I am making pasta with a tomato and mascapone sauce with a couple of glasses of red wine.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Ditto yawn !.