Swine Flu!! Anyone else worried?!?!

[RowdysMom]

Another aspect to know - yes, it is affecting healthy adults more IN MEXICO and this is due to the hyper immune system response which causes the lungs to fill with fluid = pneumonia, and more serious illness/death.

BUT, this flu has a type A component which apparently was in the flu shot we (U.S.) got last fall and that's why it is not as bad in the U.S. (deaths) as in Mexico.

I think everyone is being overly cautious - but again, this is s new type of flu and even if it turns out to be relatively mild in the U.S., it still could make lots of people sick.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by RowdysMom

Another aspect to know - yes, it is affecting healthy adults more IN MEXICO and this is due to the hyper immune system response which causes the lungs to fill with fluid = pneumonia, and more serious illness/death.

BUT, this flu has a type A component which apparently was in the flu shot we (U.S.) got last fall and that's why it is not as bad in the U.S. (deaths) as in Mexico.

I think everyone is being overly cautious - but again, this is s new type of flu and even if it turns out to be relatively mild in the U.S., it still could make lots of people sick.

Interesting. I didn't get my flu shot this year because we didn't have insurance in the fall (come on...healthcare! sorry, anyway) I'm going to the doctor tomorrow maybe I should ask for one...

[oopsmyhalofello]

I'm concerned about this flu, and am taking precautions as far as being aware of not touching my face and doorknobs, railings and such.

I do think the media is dramatizing it, but there is the potential for this to be a very serious health so I'm glad that we are hearing about where it is and what it being done to try to slow it down. Even if it isn't any worse the the strain of the seasonal flu it is seeming to be something that will effect many more people. I just read something that helped me understand, i'll just quote it because I can't explain what i'm trying to say. I do get concerned about illness because my husband has lung disease and one of my children has a really poor immune system so i have done a lot of reading about it.

The spanish flu that caused so much trouble in 1918 was not a particularly lethal strain, the problem is that it spread amazingly fast to large numbers of people. What this meant is that even though it only had a 1% kill rate, it infected enough people that that 1% kill rate translated into a significant number of people. The other thing about that flu is that it killed otherwise healthy young adults. Another similarity with this new swine flu strain.
What this means is that for you personally, this flu might not mean much. You might not get it. If you do you might feel ill for a few days and nothing more. But it is a nightmare for public officials, because even though most people who get it will be fine, if it keeps spreading the way it is now, eventually enough people are going to get infected and the number of deaths will start to rise. H1N1 flu: past (spanish flu) and present (Swine flu) « LIP SERVICE

[wemple2]

I am concerned, but not panicked. The public needs to be aware of the possibilities...it's the media's job to do so. I've watched the news broadcast...I think they are doing everything they can to keep it in perspective. Wash your hands people...stay home if your sick...consult your doctor.

[jenfur4]

I'll admit I'm getting a little concerned. We're really far south in Texas, only about 10 miles away from the border, and to make it a little more interesting my fiance is a Border Patrol agent, so he's in contact with people coming from Mexico quite frequently. I had heard a couple reports that they were thinking about shutting down the ports of entry from Mexico into the US.

I haven't heard anything about schools being closed or anything like that here though, but I have seen quite a few people in masks walking around our apartment complex!

[Patti]

I wasn't too concerned, then an hour ago, my dtr's best friend texted her that she just had a patient that tested positive for swine flu. She works at a 24 hour immediate care facility 10 minutes away. I want more details.

[cheeselover8481]

Originally Posted by Erin

I tried to explain it. They are concerned because this is a new strain of flu to which no one has any immunity, and it is showing signs of being deadly to healthy, robust adults. They don't know how viciously it will spread but since it is a new strain they have to take stronger precautions than they would normally take with the seasonal flu. The seasonal flu stinks but typically a healthy individual would recover without treatment... They think this is different.

Don't they have 2 medications that help it? I guess I'm just real confused about it. Where is a map that shows where all they found cases? I know cnn had one, but can't find it.

[mimimomo]

Map: Swine flu cases in the U.S. - Swine flu- msnbc.com

[cheeselover8481]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Map: Swine flu cases in the U.S. - Swine flu- msnbc.com

Thanks1 Btw, my parents live in Alabama and their schools are closed through monday. There are two uncofirmed cases (probably explains why the map doesn't show it yet), but they're taking the precautions and closing schools. You would think NM would have confirmed cases since it's on the border.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

I don't know if I should be too worried. I use to work for a pediatrician, my roommate still does, and they have been having so many calls and people come in about this flu. The doctor assured her and all his patients that it is only a different strain of the flu, but it's still the flu. As long as you wash your hands and take care like any other flu outbreak then you should be fine.
As far as Mexico... The one place I think keeps getting mentioned on the news is Mexico City, and as I remember it, these are the odds...
1400 cases are known of people who got sick, in a city of 80000000 people. So, 0.00175% of the population in Mexico city have gotten sick by that strain. It sounds a lot more scary if the news just keeps saying "1400 documented cases." People have gotten sick, and even died by other strains of the flu, of which according to my bio classes are many!!! There are more strains of the flu than there are vaccines for them. I'm not saying people shouldn't be careful, I'm just questioning how much it's blown out of proportion by fear brought on by the news. It is smart to be cautious and to stay away from sick people, or if you're sick stay at home instead of bringing the illness to the office. Wash your hands and take any other precautions that you would take during any other flu season.

I feel really weird quoting my own post, but I don't think some people have read it. The advice given to me was by a pediatrician, who works with some of the people in this world that are the most susceptible to any potential infections, babies and small children. As for healthy adults being the victims to this virus, I feel really bad for their families, but we have to remember complications do happen. Being healthy is not a guarantee that things won't go bad, the odds are in your favor if your healthy and you take the right precautions. If your immune system is compromised then your chances of things going really bad are higher.

Oh, and some have confused bacterial infections with viruses. A bacteria is alive whereas a virus... is hard to define. It needs a host in order to replicate itself, and it doesn't really require food either. While it is important to be cautious and be informed it does not help anyone for the media to do nothing but report on this strain of the flu.
It has gotten so bad that my cousin is sitting at home crying because the news thinks that there might be signs of the swine flu in her area. What good is the media doing us now? If the news just want to paralyze us with fear, then what? I think they've gone to far.

[linda44]

Originally Posted by juliaw04

If I may ask, why are you avoiding fast food places? Is it because of pork in their products? This is a respiratory illness, not bacterial. Eating pork will not make you sick....

Anything animal related, mad cow disease and now this, makes me fear for the farmer. Overreactions of the media can have drastic negative consequences on the agricultural industry.

no more so because of people going in possibly sick, say sitting and eating then we come along and sit at same table, use restroom etc after the infected person. A virus can stay active on hard surfaces at least 2 hours, and in ideal conditions sometimes 10 hours. One of my departments Im in charge of is Sanitation/housekeeping, were wiping down high touch places more than normal now for prevention

[IluvLucy]

I believe the media creates a lot of the world's problems today!

With that said - the "normal" flu season is nearing its end in the Northern Hemisphere, but just beginning in the Southern Hemisphere. The fear is that this particular flu will strengthen in the Southern Hemisphere during their flu season and return to the Northern Hemisphere in the fall in a stronger, more deadly version.

The scary thing about this flu is that it strikes normally healthy, younger people. Check out past flu pandemics on the 'net - it'll give a lot of information about what CAN happen. Especially, check out the "Spanish flu" outbreak in the 19teens.

I believe everyone should take precautions - but not panic. The advice given here to wash, wash, wash and keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes is the best advice out there right now. But, those are things we should be doing anyway.

[IluvLucy]

1918 flu pandemic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[celstu1]

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

the news just said they have new cases in Massachusetts

Yes, I found out there are 4 cases REALLY close to where I live and work. They did close a school for a week in Kennibunkport ME. All the cases so far have been children, which is so sad The 2 cases in Lowell MA are 2 little boys ages 9 & 13 that went to Mexico on school vacation with their family.

[tsurc]

Originally Posted by Erin

It's a precaution, not a scare tactic. Limiting contact is the best way to prevent the spread.

I worked in a school for a while and when we would have winter bugs going around we would have low attendance anyway - or during freak-outs like when some kid got MRSA and half the parents kept their kids home. It makes more sense to just close and clean the school because otherwise you have 6 kids sitting in a classroom with a sub because the teacher is sick or the teacher's kids are sick. Schools are the worst for passing around this kind of stuff. Kids switch classes, share desks, locker rooms, etc. I would clean my desk every morning and throughout the day and I STILL got sick, I had a cold or strep or something about every 2 weeks. Since I have stopped working there (last summer) I have had nothing contagious! Amazing how that works.

Since taking my kids out of public school over 2 years ago they haven't been sick *knock on wood*. That's saying alot since my youngest would have chronic ear infections.