What do you think about the Swine Flu?

[ASammy1]

Are you taking any extra precautions? Do you think it's media hype?

I'm just curious because my mother (who works in the health profession) called me last night in a panic talking about how she wouldn't go into the local grocery store because they were out of the Clorox wipes to wipe down the cart. I know those carts can be gross...

My workplace also provided anti-bacterial wipes for everyone to clean their phones. I work for a very large, well-known, world wide company and they have sent out mass emails to everyone letting employees know that top management is keeping an eye on the WHO reports.

I'm not sure what to think. 36,000 people die each year in the U.S. alone from the flu and you don't hear about all of those cases...

[OakLeaf]

I don't think the WHO is prone to media hype. :(

I also don't know what precautions one can really take, that we shouldn't all be doing anyhow. Emergency preparedness is emergency preparedness. Keeping the immune system healthy is keeping the immune system healthy. (although actually, with this kind of flu, a healthy immune system makes you more likely to die...)

I guess if this spurs more people to become more prepared for emergencies, and to take better care of themselves, then everyone benefits regardless of what happens this time around. But I'm kind of scared. It's always been a matter of when not if, and this seems like it could be the one.

[Biciclista]

I think i'll keep taking my vitamin D and not worry about it.

[shootingstar]

A few days ago in one of the major Canadian newspapers there was an article about preparing for a pandemic.

I don't know if the author made the comment as a semi-joke, but it was suggested one should ride a bicycle..as a form of protective measure...I guess assuming cycling is a form of isolation from public transit, offering car rides to other people who may touch your car, etc. :confused::o

I have several siblings who worked (and still do) in various hospitals in Toronto when the SARS occurred (and there was some SARS infected patients in suburban Toronto hospital), where they did become hyper-alert about hygiene.

[Veronica]

It's freaking parents out in our school district. A school in the neighboring town has been shut down for a week with three possible cases. The kids definitely have flu, just don't know if it's the swine variety yet.

I had a girl stay home yesterday because her mother thought another student was out on Monday because she had it. The girl out on Monday was out for her allergies. Rumors... gotta love 'em. It's allergy season here. I've had kids coughing and sneezing for weeks.

Our district did add a custodian to the night shifts just to clean the doorknobs and desks though. It's too bad we couldn't have an additional custodian all the time so our classrooms could get properly cleaned on a regular basis. You should see the dust on my windowsills. :eek:

Veronica

[ZenSojourner]

It's hype, but it's not WHO hype, it's MEDIA hype.

Remember when Mad Cow disease was going to kill millions? And it actually killed about 26 people in Britain?

We have new strains of flu viruses all the time. It seems only the cold virus mutates faster. So we monitor for new strains of flu viruses, because we can't know when they're going to be relatively benign or when they're going to be more serious.

The CDC is just telling people to wash their hands and cover their coughs, it's the media who are using scare tactics to generate fear and ratings.

The REAL epidemic in the US is obesity! BRING ON THE SUPER-SIZE FRIES!

[ASammy1]

Interesting to see everyone's opinions.

I'm of the persuasion that it's media hype (not WHO hype), but I'm nervous too...

[Running Mommy]

Slow new cycle. I swear it feels like it was invented by the media.

Here in AZ they closed a school because a kid HAD the flu a week ago- since recovered and fine. But the powers that be are re-testing every sample they can get, so they tested the kids sample and it came out positive. It's almost like here in AZ they are on a manhunt for cases, and won't be happy until they find some cases. So now the school is closed until May 7th! Seems ridiculous to me.

What will it be for the media next week?? Maybe we need another "miracle on the hudson" to get their minds off the "pandemic of 09".... ugh

[badgercat]

I'm a graduate student in Arizona and our department does monthly outreach clinics that serve a lot of folks who come up from Mexico. Someone from our program fell ill on Sunday after working the clinic on Friday, and had to go to the ER the other night... we won't know for sure until this person's test results come back, but this made it quite real for me. I'm just trying to be more aware of hand washing, even more so than usual when seeing patients.

but, to perhaps lighten the mood a bit, here's a TERRIBLE joke I heard yesterday:
"Some people used to think the US would have an African-American president when pigs fly. Sure enough, 100 days into Obama's presidency: swine flu."
(groan.)

[Crankin]

I think it's real, but there is media hype. One TV station here is particularly notorious for whipping up a frenzy over stuff by repeating it over and over and over.
I thought about it on the subway Tuesday, but not much I can do, since I have to take it. Only 3 more times, though until the semester is over. I am not much of a crazy hand washer and think that we over use anti bacterial soap, etc. If I was still teaching, I might be using it, but not now.

[Eden]

I am not much of a crazy hand washer and think that we over use anti bacterial soap, etc. If I was still teaching, I might be using it, but not now.

This is very true. I've read that antibacterial soap is not only pretty ineffective (studies found plain water works better as long as it is clean....) it contributes to problems with resistant bugs. Alcohol based hand gels on the other hand, work by a different mechanism and are not only effective, but don't create resistance either and have been found to be less harsh on your skin than repeated washing.

[SheFly]

I am weary of all the swine flu hype. It's THE FLU. Over 30,000 people in the US die from THE FLU (regular type) every year, and we don't get this type of attention. The media is feeding people's fears, and elevating the panic levels.

If we are healthy (which most of us here are), our likelihood of getting the swine flu is equivalent to getting any other type of flu throughout the year. It is NO MORE FATAL than the regular flu.

The media should be ashamed. I am carrying on life as normal.

SheFly

[Jolt]

I think it has the potential to turn into a problem, but I'm not that worried yet (and I am a health professional). The cases in the US have been pretty mild so far, as opposed to in Mexico where it has been a lot worse for whatever reason. Overall, I think it's something to keep an eye on but no need to panic at this point--just take sensible precautions like washing your hands (it's smart to carry a little bottle of alcohol gel in your purse), keeping away from people who are coughing or sneezing if possible, eating well/exercising/getting enough sleep, and staying home if you're sick. Things we should all be doing anyway. As for antibacterial soap, forget it! Regular soap is just fine and doesn't have the issue of possibly contributing to resistant bugs. I think we have gone overboard with disinfecting everything (that said, it is still a good idea to do so when somebody has been sick!).

[oxysback]

Get out your Lysol, everyone! I thought this picture from Zen's 70's blogging fashion thread was appropriate. :D:D:D

[sfa]

Hey, don't dis the Lysol! We had a nasty stomach virus make its way through my family back in February. I was the one cleaning up the vomit and scrubbing the bathroom and doing the laundry. So I became obsessive about handwashing and alcohol gel and Lysol--I was spraying down doorknobs and cabinets and toilets before touching anything. My hands were cracked and bleeding from all the washing. But dammit, I was the only one in the house who didn't get the virus!

About the swine flu--I'm mildly concerned because I have a kid with a primary immune deficiency disorder, so any illness hits him particularly hard and the only immunity he gets is through his gammaglobulin infusions, so if a virus isn't covered in the gammaglobulin (and new things aren't--the stuff is a blood product so the only immunity he gets is the immunities the donors had) he just gets the same virus over and over and over. So any new virus is cause for concern for us. OTOH, from what I've been reading, this new strain of the flu doesn't seem to be especially virulent.

I think the media is playing up misunderstanding of the term "pandemic." I don't think people are really aware that the WHO levels refer not to how dangerous a particular virus is, but to how widespread it is. You can have global pandemics of things that really aren't a big deal and people don't even notice. In this case, since it's an entirely new virus, I think the worst we'll have to deal with is a global pandemic of a not-so-bad flu. Maybe lots of people getting sick and missing work and school. But if the media is secretly hoping for footage of mass graves, I think they're going to be sorely disappointed.

Sarah

[OakLeaf]

Okay, I hadn't read this morning's news yet where the virologists and geneticists are saying that preliminary indications are that this is not a particularly lethal strain. (Which BTW that news comes from the "MSM," not from the CDC or WHO.)

Nevertheless I stand by what I said to begin with... epidemiologists have been saying for years that it's a matter of when not if. Just as people dismiss climate change because their house isn't underwater yet, people dismiss the near-certainty of pandemic flu whenever the latest suspicious strain doesn't turn out to be "the one."

We all need to be prepared for emergencies. I'm not talking about panic - I'm talking about the same kind of attitude that causes us to wear helmets when we ride. We hope it will never happen, but the likelihood is that it will, and when and if it does, there's no substitute for having the proper preparations in place ahead of time. Seven days' food and water, a way to cook, heat and dispose of waste if the electric goes down, a plan to locate loved ones... those are things we all should have in case of hurricane, tornado, earthquake, pandemic or whatever.

[ACG]

Let me make one thing clear:

I have bronchitis not the swine flu!

While trying to fill my prescriptions the other day I coughed (into my five tissues) and a woman ceremoniosly backed away from me, her eyes bulging from her head, the other people around me began to slowly slide away. I could feel their eyes burning, I imagined alarms starting to ring in the store, being surrounded by people wearing protective gear, dragging me by by heals, a net over my head....

Then I started laughing to myself of the story I concocted in my head.

The woman didn't seem amused that I was smiling.

[ny biker]

Yesterday on the local news they said emergency rooms are busy with people who think they have swine flu...and it turns out they all have allergies.

[ZenSojourner]

We ARE doing the things that need to be done to be "prepared".

The CDC and the WHO ARE, and have been for years, monitoring flu strains as they arise.

Having it splashed all over the new as if people are dropping dead like flies, or are just about to any second, doesn't help anyone be prepared.

Aside from the immediate effects of spreading panic and making people act like idiots in public (backing away with bulging eyes from the plague-bearer in their midst), there's another effect: it's the boy who cried wolf.

IF we ever get a strain of super bug that rips through the public like the flu of 1916 - and that's a BIG "IF" with modern medicine and sanitation, I think we forget just what conditions people were living in in 1916, and how piss-poor hospital procedures of the time would be considered to be now - who's going to pay attention to the 20th news blitz claiming disaster?

[Aggie_Ama]

DH is on immuno-suppresants but has always been dilligent about his hand washing long before he was on them. So concerned but not panicking in our house.

[GLC1968]

Okay, I hadn't read this morning's news yet where the virologists and geneticists are saying that preliminary indications are that this is not a particularly lethal strain. (Which BTW that news comes from the "MSM," not from the CDC or WHO.)

Nevertheless I stand by what I said to begin with... epidemiologists have been saying for years that it's a matter of when not if. Just as people dismiss climate change because their house isn't underwater yet, people dismiss the near-certainty of pandemic flu whenever the latest suspicious strain doesn't turn out to be "the one."

We all need to be prepared for emergencies. I'm not talking about panic - I'm talking about the same kind of attitude that causes us to wear helmets when we ride. We hope it will never happen, but the likelihood is that it will, and when and if it does, there's no substitute for having the proper preparations in place ahead of time. Seven days' food and water, a way to cook, heat and dispose of waste if the electric goes down, a plan to locate loved ones... those are things we all should have in case of hurricane, tornado, earthquake, pandemic or whatever.

Ditto. Personally, I'm not concerned that my husband or I will get it. He works from home and I rarely go anywhere public except for work. Hell, I've never even bothered with a FLU shot - I think it's silly. In fact, my brother is a pilot for Continental and was just in Mexico three weeks ago for an overnight and he's totally healthy. That said, that doesn't mean that my lack of personal fear keeps me from being prepared. What happens if there is a quarantine...warranted or not? Do you have enough food and Rx to last a week or two? What about pet food? Do you have a plan for home entertainment should your kids be forced to remain home for a week or two? Just simple things to be prepared for...whether or not they ever happen.

That said, I did hear that they are planning on killing all the pigs in Cairo (I think it was Cairo) this week. Something like 400,000 of them because of fear. So sad.

[maillotpois]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/30/winnie-the-pooh-on-swine_n_193624.html

[Zen]

Oh, poor Piglet :o

Last night I was wondering if there was a possible correlation between the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic) and this current pandemic when low and behold I stumbled upon
this (http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-30-2009/0005016730&EDATE=)

I was also thinking I wish I had asked my granny what that was like. She was born in 1897 and probably would have remembered something about it.

[GLC1968]

Omg, MP - that made me snort so loudly that I'm sure my coworkers now think I have swine flu! :p

[kathybiker]

I am shopping today for items that could prevent contracting the flu or lessen its impact. Being prepared is the best defense at this stage.

The remarks of Dr. Margaret Chan, Director of the World Health Organization have motivated me to respond by buying items that will help avoid or lessen illness.

Dr. Chan said, "Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world."

She also said, "No matter what the situation is, the international community should treat this as a window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and response."

For the latest WHO updates, see:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

Here is my shopping list:

Food items:
Two weeks worth of usual groceries, with emphasis on less perishable items
Also:

Bottled water
Gatorade
7Up
Ginger Ale
Tonic Water
Progresso canned soups
Healthy Choice canned soups
Crackers
Bottled juices high in vitamin C content


For cleanliness:
Hand sanitizer
Liquid antibacterial soap
Antibacterial wipes
Antibacterial dishwashing liquid
Antibacterial spray cleaner
Disposable latex gloves
Face masks
Bleach
Paper towels
Kleenex
Toilet paper


Miscellaneous medical products:
Aspirin
Tylenol
Kaopectate or Imodium
Ice
Cimetidine (Tagamet) -- boosts immune system
Elderberry extract
Usual multivitamins including high dosages of B, C and E


Influenza tips from the Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.1a019a978f421296e81ec89e43181aa0/?vgnextoid=099ba3cdcc8e0210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

See also Life Extension Foundation pages on flu:
http://www.lef.org/protocols/infections/influenza_01.htm


.

[Pedal Wench]

My thoughts: http://dvice.com/archives/2009/04/a-lighter-look.php

[Zen]

I still have a case of duct tape left from the anthrax panic.
Probably some Spam from Y2K too ;)

[ny biker]

I still have a case of duct tape left from the anthrax panic.
Probably some Spam from Y2K too ;)

Is it the original silver-gray, or one of the newer colors? (The duct tape, I mean, not the spam. :eek:)

[Zen]

Silver.
I'm old-school :p

[GLC1968]

Is it the original silver-gray, or one of the newer colors? (The duct tape, I mean, not the spam. :eek:)

Mmmm, silver Spam. That's a delicacy in some cultures! ;)

[maillotpois]

These are kind of funny - especially the second one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk

[kathybiker]

MIT has an hour-long video conversation with John M. Barry, author of "The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague In History":
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/499

As of 4 p.m. April 30, Barry's 2004 book has jumped to number 101 on Amazon's bestseller list:
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Influenza-Deadliest-Plague-History/dp/0670894737

[roadie gal]

I work in an ER. I've been getting almost HOURLY emal updates from the CDC, the California Health Dept and the hospital infectious disease committee. For the life of me I can't understand the panic.

The incidence is lower than the regular flu. The case fatality rate is low. The disease, if you get it, is relatively mild. There's no specific treatment unless you are really sick, and then you get treated the same as any other respiratory illness. WHAT IS THE ISSUE? You'd think that smallpox had resurfaced or that Ebola was rampant if you listen to the news.

My county had not had any positive cases as of yesterday. But now there are a few in Reno, less than an hour from here. I go in to work in a few hours. I bet I spend the entire shift counselling the worried well. What a waste of resources.

[ttaylor508]

Sister-in-law just emailed a memo she received from her school here in Seattle that several kids have flu like symptoms and were sent home and won't be allowed to come back for 7 days (even though none have tested positive). I am glad they are being a bit cautious without overreacting and closing down the entire school. I figure if the kids are sick, whether it is with the swine flu or another virus, they shouldn't be at school anyways.

[IvonaDestroi]

Oh God, I knew this one was coming!

I think it's so incredibly overblown that it's just ridiculous. The news companies are making bank off of this story and that is why they are milking it as much as possible.

From what I've heard, it's not even as deadly as the regular flu! Older folks and children have always been more suseptible to every virus, this one included. I don't think it's the end of the world or that we're all going to die.

On a sort of creepy side note, this happened in 1976. I found this super creepy PSA from that "epidemic". It's funny... and really creepy at the same time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk :eek:


What really worries me is this:

-When this happened in the 70's, president Ford created a plan requiring Mandatory vaccinations for all Americans.

-A major company that is working on the new vaccine is Baxter. Last December, Baxter was caught shipping live and dangerous strains of avian
flu globally, and it was inside their avian flu vaccine! These are the guys making the swine flu vaccine now??? How are they even still in bussiness???!!!

I certainly hope we don't get a repeat of the mandatory vaccination measures they tried the first time this happened, and from Baxter none the less!!!

[roadie gal]

Oh God, I knew this one was coming!

I think it's so incredibly overblown that it's just ridiculous. The news companies are making bank off of this story and that is why they are milking it as much as possible.

From what I've heard, it's not even as deadly as the regular flu! Older folks and children have always been more suseptible to every virus, this one included. I don't think it's the end of the world or that we're all going to die.

On a sort of creepy side note, this happened in 1976. I found this super creepy PSA from that "epidemic". It's funny... and really creepy at the same time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk :eek:


What really worries me is this:

-When this happened in the 70's, president Ford created a plan requiring Mandatory vaccinations for all Americans.

-A major company that is working on the new vaccine is Baxter. Last December, Baxter was caught shipping live and dangerous strains of avian
flu globally, and it was inside their avian flu vaccine! These are the guys making the swine flu vaccine now??? How are they even still in bussiness???!!!

I certainly hope we don't get a repeat of the mandatory vaccination measures they tried the first time this happened, and from Baxter none the less!!!

The swine flu of 1976 killed ONE person. The vaccine induced Guillian-Barre syndrome in hundreds and killed over 50. There were millions of dollars in lawsuits over than vaccine, which the US government covered. But it put a huge damper on the companies which make vaccines. Many refused to make any more because of liability. So the technology that we have to make vaccines now is decades old. It can be traced back to the last swine flu scare.

[OakLeaf]

Older folks and children have always been more suseptible to every virus, this one included.

Most viruses, this one included, and "this one included" is what the virologists have just deduced in the past couple of days. Initial reports were that it was killing predominantly healthy adults with strong immune systems. That was the hallmark of Spanish flu. The virus provoked such a strong immune response that healthy individuals died of pneumonia. Children, the elderly, and those with otherwise weakened immune systems disproportionately survived Spanish flu. That's the characteristic that has them so wary of avian flu, as well.

It's true that it's unknown how many people died of secondary bacterial infections in the 1918 epidemic. However, just as this isn't 1918, it isn't 1965 either. We now have lots of antibiotic-resistant organisms, and I'm reading that flu viruses are already becoming resistant to over-used antivirals as well. Whether or not this is "the one," and it's increasingly appearing that it isn't, IMO it's silly to think it's not coming.

[PamNY]

This article (http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/SwineFlu/13989)discusses the issue of immune response in younger people.

Ivona, I don't think the vaccine was mandatory in the earlier swine flu scare. It was strongly encouraged, but I didn't get one and I don't think many of my friends did either. I did know someone who developed Guillain Barre syndrome, and it put me off getting flu shots for years.

Pam

[ACG]

In the Y2k scare I had a rosary as my back up plan. I'm going to go look for it now.

[Zen]

not touchin' that one...:rolleyes:

[kathybiker]

My understanding of the threat comes by comparing seasonal flu with this current virus, which is swine flu and now designated "Influenza A(H1N1)" by the World Health Organization.

Seasonal flu is a common respiratory illness that is spread from person to person. A healthy person might contract it, but usually their immune system is strong enough to fight off serious complications. Vaccinations also can protect us from seasonal flu.

In contrast, we have no natural immunity to Influenza A(H1N1). It too is spread from person to person, but there is no vaccine for it.

CDC statistics for the U.S. indicate seasonal flu-related causes most often kill the elderly and children under five years old. See: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm

In comparison, WHO said many of the Influenza A(H1N1) deaths "have occurred in otherwise healthy young adults". See: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_24/en/index.html

Medical professionals are familiar with diagnosing and treating seasonal flu. On the other hand, no one really knows how severe or mild Influenza A(H1N1) will be.

"Let me remind you. New diseases are, by definition, poorly understood. Influenza viruses are notorious for their rapid mutation and unpredictable behaviour," said Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, in her April 29 press statement.
See:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_20090429/en/index.html

We do know that in recent days Influenza A(H1N1) is spreading rapidly. This fact, plus our lack of immunity and lack of a vaccine, are sources of anxiety and give us reasons to practice risk prevention.

The Center for Disease Control's web site says, "In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported." See:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm

As of April 30, swine flu Influenza A(H1N1) numbers for 2009 in the U.S. have grown to 109 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Mexico had 97 human cases of infection and seven deaths . See:
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_30_a/en/index.html

These numbers show the spread of Influenza A(H1N1) is much more rapid than swine flu has been in recent times.

When the World Health Organization upped their alert status for a pandemic, i.e. global outbreak, of Influenza A(H1N1) to Phase 5 yesterday, they were signaling a high probablity of worldwide swine flu outbreak. See:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html

Right now the World Health Organization doesn't know how debilitating or deadly this outbreak of swine flu might be. CDC doesn't know. The media doesn't know.

Yes, maybe Influenza A(H1N1) will turn out to be a mild disease that most people will recover from quickly, but it can't hurt to:

* Stock up on food, health items, sanitation and comfort items
* Avoid contact with people in public places
* Wash your hands more often

[WindingRoad]

I've been reading everyone's responses to this and entertained by a few :D. I think there are reasons to be concerned but not to flip out about it. The only thing has me even slightly concerned is that I'm running the Mini Marathon in Indianapolis with 35,000 other runners from many different countries. I don't know if I should be worried about contracting the Swine flu and dying or just simply having a heart attack and dying trying to run 13.1 miles. It begs the question :rolleyes:.

On a serious note though, I am a little worried about being in such close proximity with that many people. :(

[Aggie_Ama]

My company has been taking the normal precautions. Sending us helpful information, asking us to go to the doctor if sick and limiting outside visitors to our office. No panic though. My mother works for the state health agency, haven't had a chance to see how that is different.

[crazycanuck]

I saw a great word today to describe the reaction to this..

PANICDEMIC..

The media should be ashamed.

[pfunk12]

I received an automated call yesterday afternoon from my daughter's school informing us that a student was sent home from school because one of the student's parents had the swine flu. The student's father, a World Bank employee, had just traveled to Mexico. One of my daughter's friends called last night to say that her mom was keeping her home from school today as a precaution. I respect her decision but I don't think it's necessary. Much to my daughter's dismay, she will be going to school today :) On the other hand, when my ex-husband finds out, my daughter might be quarantined :D

[Veronica]

I had another kid convince his mom that he needed to stay home yesterday. That's after the superintendent called using our automated system saying our district has no cases of swine flu. The mom called in his absence and our clerk told her it would be unexcused. The mom realized then that her boy had played her. Yeah, this is one of my difficult kids.

I would understand parents keeping their kids home if there was someone anywhere in the district who had it.

The girl who stayed home on Wed. because of flu worries fell off her dad's motorcycle. She's got a lot of road rash, but no flu.

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

The girl who stayed home on Wed. because of flu worries fell off her dad's motorcycle.

!@#%W#$%^#$%^&@#$%!@!~#$%^&$%&^*%^&(^&*(


(I really don't have anything more useful than the above to say about parents who allow their children to ride motorcycles [or bicycles!] without proper gear on, especially after they've expressed some kind of concern for their health.)

[maillotpois]

Yeah, seriously. DD hates the moto boots and gear but she has to wear them. Even so, her chances of being injured on the moto are higher than dying from swine flu I suspect.

[Fujichants]

I'm quite worried about swine flu. I sure as heck stay away from people who cough or sneeze without covering their mouth (seriously why on earth do you think it's OK to spread your nasty germs??)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a55/chants84/swineflu.jpg

[Eden]

I'm really glad I finally have allergy meds that work this year...... I'd have to wear a sign around my neck saying "its just allergies you can't catch it" otherwise...

[Crankin]

There's a case in the town next to me.

[crazycanuck]

Has it been confirmed or is everyone SUSPECTING it's the virus? I really hope people aren't barricading themselves in thier homes & blaming it on the sky falling.

I'm glad i'm not the only one who sees the disbelief in everyone in panicking...http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/swine-flu-a-health-warning-1677640.html

I no longer believe mainstream media & am questioning everything that's reported about it.

Reminds me of "The Blob"

[tctrek]

Media hype... they love to scare us to death. Be reasonable, wash your hands, don't kiss any pigs and live your life.

[roadie gal]

I emailed the county health department doctor and asked him to explain to me why everyone was panicking over a virus that essentially gave bad cold symptoms. I understand that the CDC and WHO have to monitor the spread of new viruses. But WHY the panic and other extreme reactions. He basically answered that, yes, a more reasonable response was in order and agreed that it was mostly media hype.

[Crankin]

The case (actually there are 2) in Bedford, MA has been confirmed. Both are kids and they are recovering.
I don't panic easily, but this is getting to me a little. In fact, I am rather laissez-faire about germs, etc. Normally, I live a pretty quiet existence in a small town, but I do take the subway to grad school and I have 3 class days left. Generally, I agree with what CC said; media hype.

[snapdragen]

I heard a news report yesterday, more people have died in the United States from regular flu this season than from the H1N1 virus. Too bad it was buried in the middle of the newscast, after the PANIC FEAR reports.

Since I work at a hospital, we get regular updates. We also all been through a "Pandemic Flu" training. (In other words, office drones like me would be recruited for washing bed pans if it got really bad....) This is from the latest update:

INFECTION CONTROL FOR COUNTY STAFF
In an effort to keep you safe and to protect the public we serve would like to provide some guidance regarding the use of masks and other personal protective equipment. County staff encountering clients with signs and symptoms of influenza (including fever of 100º F or higher and head and body aches, cough, sore throat, chills, trouble breathing or vomiting and/or diarrhea) should follow the instructions below to limit the spread of infection and to protect them.
At this time, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department recommends the following precautions for County staff in contact with patients, clients and visitors with influenza like symptoms:
•Apply surgical mask to the individual. If you are in a non-clinical area, masks can be obtained through Product Management.
•Use good hand washing technique.
•Advise the individual to contact physician for further instructions. A medical provider will need to determine if the patient needs to come in for an appointment and/or a test for influenza. Likewise, a medical provider will determine the whether influenza antiviral treatment is needed.
Unless you are sick, routine use of masks is not necessary.
Please follow the below instructions to protect yourself and the community we serve.
1.Masks should be used only for those persons with symptoms to prevent the spread of disease.
2.If you are not sick, you do not need to see a physician or wear a mask.
3.Respiratory etiquette should be implemented to protect staff and patients alike.
4.We need to be sure that masks are available in adequate supply should the number of cases escalate.
5.If you have a patient with flu symptoms, please offer the patient a respiratory hygiene kit.
6.If you have any questions or concerns about these instructions, please contact your manager.

GENERAL FLU ADVICE FOR EMPLOYEES AND FAMILIES
What should I do if I think I am sick?
•If you have a fever of 100°F or higher and one of the symptoms listed above, call your doctor or medical provider. Your doctor may have you come in for an appointment and test you for influenza. Your physician will decide whether influenza antiviral treatment is needed.
•If you're sick - stay home from work or school. It is important to limit contact with other people, so you don’t spread germs to others.
•If you have flu symptoms and need to go to a medical appointment, use a surgical mask or cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, and throw the tissue in the trash afterward.
•If you are feeling sick and you don’t have a fever, its best to stay home from work or school, get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. If your symptoms get worse, call your physician or medical provider.

What can I do to prevent getting sick?
•Wash your hands with soap and hot water to get rid of germs and prevent the spread of disease, especially after coughing and sneezing. If you do not have soap and water, use a waterless hand gel with an alcohol base of at least 60%.
•Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue whenever you sneeze and cough. Throw the tissue away in a waste basket. If you do not have a tissue, sneeze or cough into the fold of your elbow, without using your hands.
•Avoid kissing or shaking hands when greeting people, and do not share food, drinks or utensils.
•Keep common areas clean; places such as kitchen counters, bathrooms, door handles, toys, telephones and other household items.
•Allow fresh air to flow into your home or at work by opening screened windows and doors.
•Only those who are sick and experiencing flu symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, vomiting and diarrhea should call their doctor or seek medical care. Healthy people, with no flu symptoms and not in need of medical care, should stay away from medical offices, clinics and hospitals in order to limit exposure to those who may be ill. In very specific circumstances, Tamiflu or Relenza, may be prescribed to sick people with certain health conditions and healthcare workers who may have been exposed to the swine flu.

[maillotpois]

I had a little bit of sore throat, fever and nausea early in the week. we made the mistake of joking that I had Swine Flu to my super hypochondriac sister in law. So... she didn't let her kid to go a movie with my kid today. my kid is perfectly healthy and the reason it would have been nice for my kid to go to the movie w/the grandparents and her kid is because I was doing a 200k in the rain. in other word I mostly recovered from my SIMPLE UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION. sheesh people. (last time we try to out hypochondriac a true hypochondriac).

[Blueberry]

I've had a sore throat and a drippy nose for a couple of weeks. Maybe I should run to the doc for an antiviral...or wait...maybe it's allergies:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

(In case it doesn't come across, that's a joke. I have allergies, not swine flu. And I'm not rushing to the doctor.)

Yes, it could be serious. It's not time to panic yet. They haven't even confirmed it in my state, and people are running around in face masks:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Tuckervill]

Maybe there are no confirmed cases in your state, but they're nearby! Check this map:

http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/

I don't think there's any need to panic, but there are good reasons to take precautions.

Karen

[sundial]

Here's my favorite map:

http://www.idemc.org/

While this flu strain my not be as devastating, I think it will bring in the next wave of a more dangerous virus. :(

[Tuckervill]

That map is SCARIER, even though it shows fewer cases than the one I posted. Something about the red and yellow banner scrolling by at the bottom! lol.

Yep, I don't think this is a laughing matter...but it would seem that, as opposed to other pandemics in prior centuries, we're better informed and can be better prepared on an individual basis to do what is necessary to mitigate the effects.

Karen

[Blueberry]

Maybe there are no confirmed cases in your state, but they're nearby! Check this map:

http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/

I don't think there's any need to panic, but there are good reasons to take precautions.

Karen

True - but I'm not sure what precautions I can take that I don't already take (other than stopping riding public transit, which I'm not planning to do unless things get worse). I already wash my hands, try to keep my distance from those who appear sick, etc.

CA

[PamNY]

The Five Boro Bike Tour started near my home this morning. I saw lots of people in cotton sweatshirts. I'm sure flu will be the least of their worries since it's likely to rain all day.

If people are staying home, it's certainly not apparent to me. I've been to a wine tasting, restaurants, the farmer's market and on the subway, and everything seems crowded and noisy as usual.

Pam

[Geonz]

I emailed the county health department doctor and asked him to explain to me why everyone was panicking over a virus that essentially gave bad cold symptoms. I understand that the CDC and WHO have to monitor the spread of new viruses. But WHY the panic and other extreme reactions. He basically answered that, yes, a more reasonable response was in order and agreed that it was mostly media hype.

THat's my thinking. What is behind the hysteria? The flu goes around! People get sick! I *do* wish people washed their hands more, and that they could stay home when they were sick. (NY TImes had an op-ed about the folks in the food serivce industry who don't *get* sick leave.) Why is this flu different? I'm thinking weird media pimples, since it takes less to make a "critical mass" effect... is there a Michael Crichton factor - an unknown menace like a propensity for mutation that a few folks know about, you know, in their secret little offices? But somebody leaked out that this flu is "important" and counted on our fear whle they work on saving the planet ? Or... is the pimple a group xenophobes? Or a plot by the medical industry to boost Tamiflu? Or... is it part of an ongoing attempt by underground anarchists to bring down our "society" and its evil dependence on capitalism? (I'm afraid I could never be a sincere conspiracy theorist because I'd think of twelve more possibilities...)

The local bishop says we should try smiles and nods instead of handshakes at the "sign of peace" and distribution of the Sacred WIne and tongue distribution of the host have been temporarily suspended. Other than that, nobody 'round here has made changes (except that our admin. assistant came out from her desk to hit me when I told that joke about pigs flying and swine flu... then, probably, went to wash her hands.)

[Geonz]

Here's my favorite map:

http://www.idemc.org/

While this flu strain my not be as devastating, I think it will bring in the next wave of a more dangerous virus. :(

And the hysteria about this one could easily lead to complacency about the next.

[shootingstar]

And the hysteria about this one could easily lead to complacency about the next.

This is precisely what the problem could become later on.

Yesterday, I did see the rare person here and there who wore face masks. I live downtown where there are tourists in certain areas.

[roadie gal]

This is a test of the Early Panic System. It is only a test. Should there be something real to panic about you will be notified by the Nearest Government Agency That Is There To Help (NGATITTH).

REPEAT! DO NOT PANIC!!

feh

There are only so many times that you can hear "The sky is falling" before you don't even bother to look up...

[redrhodie]

I worked at an outdoor art show yesterday. It rained a little, and was tented. I can't help but think of the tent as a dome over a giant petri dish. It was very crowded. I didn't see any obviously sick people, but I used a lot of Purell anyway. I'm feeling good so far, but I often get a little sick after these events.

It seems to me there's always a flu epidemic when I work a show. :rolleyes:

[Mr. Bloom]

Maybe there are no confirmed cases in your state, but they're nearby! Check this map:

http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/

I don't think there's any need to panic, but there are good reasons to take precautions.

Karen

I agree.

I don't think there is any panic or overreaction except from people who are naturally prone to panic or overreact. I think there's been a lot more panic coverage of the economy than the swine flu.

As a consumer, I felt that there was adequate coverage of the facts, including the potential concern, and that I was free to make my own assessment and conclusion of what was right to do. I, for one, will not wait on the government to tell me when I have a problem or count on them to provide me what I need to respond to it.

I made sure that we had what we needed if the situation escalated...and that gave me peace of mind.

[Skierchickie]

Maybe it's just because I live in the country, near a tiny little town, near other, not very big towns, in a part of the state that other people consider to be extraordinarily remote (it isn't really all that remote), but I don't seem to be too worried. Yes, the flu can cause death. Yes, this is a new kind that we don't have a vaccine for or immunity to. Just because it can spread easily because we don't have an immunity to it, does NOT mean we are all going to die. On the other hand, I don't want my parents, in their 70s, or DH's parents, in their 80s & 90s, to get it.

I really can't believe the whole spectrum of misinformation floating around. People who think you can get it from eating pork (DH got some pork chops pretty cheap today!), and other people who think it is totally unrelated to pigs. People who think it is only young, fit, healthy people who are dying from it. Even the 1 US fatality, which in reality was a kid who had gone to Texas from Mexico City for treatment - personally, I don't think that counts as a US fatality.

[Mr. Bloom]

I've researched the issue and determined that I'm safe. I understand that this is the means of transmission:

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa201/MrSilver1963/swine.jpg

[PamNY]

I agree.

I don't think there is any panic or overreaction except from people who are naturally prone to panic or overreact. I think there's been a lot more panic coverage of the economy than the swine flu.

As a consumer, I felt that there was adequate coverage of the facts, including the potential concern, and that I was free to make my own assessment and conclusion of what was right to do. I, for one, will not wait on the government to tell me when I have a problem or count on them to provide me what I need to respond to it.

I made sure that we had what we needed if the situation escalated...and that gave me peace of mind.

Best post in this thread. I've been bemused at the hysteria over the hysteria. And I agree about coverage of the economy.

Interesting that you characterize yourself as a consumer. I'd agree with that; I'm an active consumer of news from sources that I choose, not a passive victim of "media hype."

Pam

[OakLeaf]

Last night I overheard a snippet of conversation about the whooping cough outbreak in my area. I'd forgotten about it since I just returned home and I don't go into town every day.

(great pic MrS :D)

[Dianyla]

I just have one word for you:

Aporkalypse!!!

:rolleyes:

[Eden]

Rotfl!

[maillotpois]

HAMTHRAX!!!

[bikerz]

Mp - Ouch! :d

[Aggie_Ama]

My mom works for our state health agency, I sent her a message yesterday "Is the sky falling or is the media just needing some story?" She said "Wash your hands, take your allergy meds, tell sick people not to come to work but the sky is intact." Good enough for me. ;)

[CarefreeSpirit]

That picture is too cute! I think the flu is a concern but why should I let it affect the way I live my life? I'm still going to go out and enjoy every minute of my life and not be in a state of panic everytime someone coughs.

[Tuckervill]

I went into a Wal-Mart in Harrison Arkansas this morning (about 80 miles from my house). I saw a woman with a mask on, using antibacterial wipes on the cart before she went in the store.

I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she's immuno-compromised. But there are some whackos in Harrison.

Karen

[crazycanuck]

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/swine-flu-plc-cashing-in-on-the-pandemic-1761478.html

just a thought