swine flu

[cypressgirl]

I still say nothing, or no one, is going to stop a sick Mexican from crossing the border illegally. Yes, we can stop going to Mexico, but that's really not the problem. Inforcing our laws would certainly help, but that hasn't happened in umteen years, an it's not going to start now.

[Robin in NC]

My hope is that when we go to St. John next week, the U.S. Government will be so concerned about swine flu that we wouldn't be allowed to fly back for, oh, a month. Yeah. Or two.

[mindehankins]

My hope is that when we go to St. John next week, the U.S. Government will be so concerned about swine flu that we wouldn't be allowed to fly back for, oh, a month. Yeah. Or two.

YES! That's it! We'll be quarantined in paradise! Actually, this situation is going to make it so I have to WORK some, on my vacation. That's a pain, but I'd rather work from St. John than from here!

[lprof]

My hope is that when we go to St. John next week, the U.S. Government will be so concerned about swine flu that we wouldn't be allowed to fly back for, oh, a month. Yeah. Or two.

YES! That's it! We'll be quarantined in paradise! Actually, this situation is going to make it so I have to WORK some, on my vacation. That's a pain, but I'd rather work from St. John than from here!

...sounds like you are going...that is such good news! Hope all is better with your hubby. Go, relax and enjoy.

[mindehankins]

We are! Thanks for the well wishes

[soxfan22]

hmmmm, if history serves as any lesson (and if i remember correctly) the great flu epidemic of 1918 started off as a 'mild' flu in the spring and then came back in a much more aggressive flu that fall.

Yeah, except that back in 1918 we didn't have evil pharmaceutical companies developing products such as Tamiflu (Roche Pharma) to help control a possible pandemic. And the good news is, this flu responds well to Tamiflu.

I will also throw a shout-out to George W. Bush who ordered the stockpile of 50 million courses (not doses) of Flu meds while preparing for a possible Avian Flu outbreak.

[loria]

hmmmm, if history serves as any lesson (and if i remember correctly) the great flu epidemic of 1918 started off as a 'mild' flu in the spring and then came back in a much more aggressive flu that fall.

Yeah, except that back in 1918 we didn't have evil pharmaceutical companies developing products such as Tamiflu (Roche Pharma) to help control a possible pandemic. And the good news is, this flu responds well to Tamiflu.

I will also throw a shout-out to George W. Bush who ordered the stockpile of 50 million courses (not doses) of Flu meds while preparing for a possible Avian Flu outbreak.

you get no arguement from me, you are absolutely correct, however, another var to keep in mind is that in 1918 the world was a much larger place--but tamiflu and it's bretheren are indeed very good things to be able to take advantage of.

[soxfan22]

Loria - I agree with your premise that in general, the world was a larger place in 1918 than in 2009. However, the flu pandemic of 1918 was greatly exacerbated by World War I, as troops traveled to and from Europe carrying that Flu with them. I heard last night that they have actually traced the genesis for that flu back to Kansas.

We have a Disney trip planned for May 13-20. I'm a little uneasy about it, but what can you do? Gotta live life!

[Maggy]

My hope is that when we go to St. John next week, the U.S. Government will be so concerned about swine flu that we wouldn't be allowed to fly back for, oh, a month. Yeah. Or two.

Good comment. Go and have fun!

[Mippy]

I want to do a news report titled:
SETTLE DOWN FOLKS!

CDC estimates about 36,000 people die from regular flu each year. We have ONE confirmed swine flu death in the US; and 7-150 confirmed deaths in Mexico (WHO changing numbers). Any swine flu death is sad, but it is statistically insignificant. Tamiflu treats it very well if given during the first 48 hrs of symptoms.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us ... deaths.htm

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[djmom]

I want to do a news report titled:
SETTLE DOWN FOLKS!

CDC estimates about 36,000 people die from regular flu each year. We have ONE confirmed swine flu death in the US; and 7-150 confirmed deaths in Mexico (WHO changing numbers). Any swine flu death is sad, but it is statistically insignificant. Tamiflu treats it very well if given during the first 48 hrs of symptoms.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us ... deaths.htm

Sorry Mippy-

I'm not in a panic, but I think it is way too early to be quoting "safety" statistics. It hasn't had time to spread so we have no idea how many will get infected...now or later. Even if this is equally potent to the regular flu it will be tragic.

That doesn't mean I think it will be horrible, but I for one am glad it is getting attention and people are aware of it.

[Mippy]

Facts, not emotion.

Only 7 confirmed deaths in Mexico now and only 26 confirmed cases in Mexico. They suspected 2000 cases in Mexico at first reports, but only confirmed 26 as compared to the 91 confirmed cases in US.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/29/sw ... index.html

"There are 148 confirmed cases in 11 countries, the majority in the United States, according to the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control. Those figures include seven deaths in Mexico and one in the United States."

I'm a person who goes by facts instead of hyped up media sound bites for ratings. And I'm in Texas.

I don't understand people who are freaking out saying close the borders! It reminds me of Henny Penny with "the sky is falling!" First, how exactly do we do this? Do we deny entry for all persons flying into the US? Do we leave our relatives stuck in other countries? Do we deny entry to healthy individuals who cross daily (both ways) for their jobs? Does the US Gov pay for their hotels, food, flights, time missed from work?

With this line of thinking, we should close the US internally as we have 91 confirmed cases (3x as many as Mexico) & not let anyone travel out of the USA. Now, what would that do to our STJ trip?

Just use common sense. Wash your hands, avoid contact with sick people, stay home if sick, go to doctor asap if you have flu symptoms. IE: exactly everything you do during regular flu season.

[Mippy]

Oh, I don't have any problem with it getting attention so people are more dilligent about handwashing. I'm also aware this could grow into something bigger in a few months.

My gripe is that the media has overblown this & reporting speculation instead of waiting for testing to report facts. People who have the sniffles are stockpiling Tamiflu causing those who need it to be without. BTW: Tamiflu can have very bad side effects, especially in kids.

I'm not hearing news reports every 10 min about how many are dying from malaria. Why? Because it's not a sexy story. American high-schoolers going to tropical Cancun on spring break & getting a disease in paradise gives better ratings.

[djmom]

Mippy, they haven't even interviewed the families of the dead in Mexico. So of course they haven't confirmed the cases. Have they tested the 2000 and found out only 26 were swine flu? Were the 2000 negative? I don't think so. They probably haven't done the testing.

I am not going to trust anything coming out of a third world country as "fact".

If you think it is barely around in Mexico, why has the MEXICAN government closed the restaurants?

Would you prefer to just keep quiet and not tell anyone this is going around. Wait till people die and then get the word out? That is pretty much what Mexico did and now the virus has spread outside the country.

I think this has been an EXTREMELY low key response. Personally I think too low key, but time will tell.

I haven't heard of tamiflu stockpiling and I don't think it is necessary. There is a ton of it, and only an irresponsible doctor would prescribe it.