I live close to the area in NY where the first cases here appeared, just a few miles away.

So far, I'm fine, except for allergies, but on the cautious side.  Got my can of lysol instead of mace as a weapon.  

Have you or anyone you know of come down with it?  Scary news today as one infant in Houston has died from it, though as I read it, this child traveled from Mexico to the states with it, as did the students at St. Francis Prep. Still haven't been able to reach my family in Mexico City, which I've heard now is practically ghost town.

Take all pre-cautions and stay safe out there!

That's all that's on the news today.... CDC says they're coming up with a vaccine for it, but it will be a while. Still haven't figured out what's causing it. One station says one thing - the next says another.

Heard about that infant that died - sad. My grandson had an ucler on his gums and his parents totally panicked (and his mother is an RN). He's fine - just an ucler (salt water would have probably cured it up, but they rushed him to the doc).

I've got a feeling this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Right now everyone is getting summer colds (tis the season) and the doctor's offices are totally booked up. Then the news said it will probably hit big time when flu season hits in the fall and winter. Geezz, what's going on?

Hope everyone is staying well and will stay that way....

Hugs BD :-*

Keep yourself alert and don't be stupid, but *please* don't buy into this panic BS that is starting to spread.

The CDC estimates that about 36,000 Americans are kill by flu and complications from flu every year.  That's about 100 per day.  Of course, you can argue with the numbers, but the point is a lot of people die from the flu every year.  Worldwide, the yearly number is somewhere around 500,000.

Now, this flu (H1N1) has killed 1 person (a Mexican, btw) in America.

Is it time to panic?  Seriously?  Do you not feel a little bit manipulated by the media?  This is not a pandemic (yet).

I'm not saying ignore it, just try to keep it in perspective.

Be sure to get a Flu shot in the Fall.... Hopefully it will include the H1N1 strain.

I echo Shawn's words. I'm encouraging my family to wash hands frequently and be aware of symptoms, but that is simply common knowledge.

Business as usual Cathi.

There's no cause to panic as I see it - just taking precautions as I said.  

I don't let the media manipulate me, you have to learn how to take things others say, such as politicians and the media in particular, with a grain of salt.  Period.  Skepticism and cynicism rule in my world.  

HOWEVER, considering I live well within 10 minutes of the school, swine or not, I don't want to get the flu and be sick with all the stuff happening in my life!

signed,
always been a lysol freak

We were just released from isolation today. 2 suspected cases showed up in our county and then I had 2 teens come down with flu symptoms - who had both already had influenza B.  It wasn't til I called to make an appt for them that I was told we had to stay in isolation until we knew.

Both cases in this county were negative, and we were released from isolation.

This is now my 3rd isolation - first for SARS (my kids were in Toronto when it broke out) then for mumps - kids were safe, I was not, now this.

Sheesh.

They just want to stimulate the economy with latex glove and face mask purchases :P

Cat

Every year in America, 37,000 people die of Flu related complications.

Nobody seems to give a hoot about that until they name it something new and different - or in this case something recycled.  The swine flu last went around with gusto in the 70's.




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The BBC reports that the symptoms of swine flu are intense sweating, incoherent speech, pungent body odour and fatigue.


Who'da thunk the Beeb would have confirmed I married a pig???

Supposedly there are two cases in Chautauqua Co.....where I live. Not sure yet. My advice is to stay out of hospitals...about the most dangerous place there is for this kind of thing.

Damn. I had my flu about 3 weeks ago. I'm not looking forward to battling another. >:( Hopefully, this one will turn out a bit exaggerated.

It's the 1918 flu that really clobbered us. Look in a cemetery sometime and note how many markers...often side by side, from 1918. Whole families, even. Scary thing killed millions.

Heading for a better puter place to get a new hard drive so maybe I can be back permanently. I'm still at the library. It's a long story. I'll take ideas for getting even with creepy business kids. Nothing like Tony Soprano though....... :o

Charlie

Drinks lots of orange juice and stay away from people... Granny's home remedy. And I agree - stay out of hospitals and away from doctor's offices.. people are SICK there and you could catch somethin' ;).

Now if someone would just come up with a vaccine for ALERGIES!!!

Hugs BD :-*

They may or may not have the H1N1 vaccine ready by the fall flu season.  It takes 4-6 months, at a minimum, to have a flu vaccine ready for the market.  Most likely, it would not be part of the regular flu shot even if it were ready.

Unless you want to shut yourself up in a completely steralized room with it's own purified air supply, the best thing you can do is keep your hands washed!  If you cough or sneeze, either cover your mouth or cough or sneeze into your sleeve (although that's not feasible down here, given that we're in the mid to upper 80's, so no long sleeves).  Carry hand sanitizer with you if you have to go to the store or out in public.

Wearing a mask won't do you much good, give than just *breathing* the air won't transmit the disease.  You could wear a surgical mask, but that's not feasible, given that moisture accumulates on the inside of the mask and you'd have to change it every so offten.


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[quote author=4F6D71636B6175676C616A020 link=1241014729/7#7 date=1241019692]Every year in America, 37,000 people die of Flu related complications.

Nobody seems to give a hoot about that until they name it something new and different - or in this case something recycled.  The swine flu last went around with gusto in the 70's.




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I believe the difference here is that this version of the flu is attacking and killing young healthy people.  The 37,000 people you mention are typically elderly and/or immunodeficient.  This strain also has no vaccinations available as of yet, which is why people are giving more of a hoot about this than the usual push to get vaccinated.  I don't think being overly cautious is a bad thing.  I think people are just being proactive in their approach to this trying to prevent it from becoming something more.  What is the harm in that?

Thomas

I heard on the radio today that hand sanitizer doesn't kill it. You have to do the soap and water thing.

I don't know for a fact, I just heard.

Brew wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 1:58pm:

I heard on the radio today that hand sanitizer doesn't kill it. You have to do the soap and water thing. I don't know for a fact, I just heard.

That is probably a rumor...  Reading the CDC website: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE , it states that alcohol based sanitizers are effective.  I would probably try to use products with the higher alcohol concentrations though.  

Brew, that is a good point, I am glad you brought it up.

Thomas

This is from Twitter Breaking News:

Quote:

GENEVA (BNO NEWS) – The World Health Organization has decided to raise its pandemic alert level to a phase 5, declaring swine flu a global pandemic, BNO News has exclusively learned. The new phase will be announced at 2000 GMT during an international telephone news conference, which was earlier announced by the World Health Organization. It is unclear if there has been an emergency meeting of the committee tonight, but BNO News earlier reported that a meeting was expected either late today or early on Thursday. The announcement follows a WHO conference call with a group of scientists from around the world who gave their view on the new H1N1 virus. It will be the first time the World Health Organization used phase 5 since they introduced the 6-phase system several years ago. According to BNO News sources at the World Health Organization, they do not know if they are dealing with "a very mild or a very severe pandemic." A number of actions to be taken will also be announced. It will be the first influenza pandemic since the Hong Kong Flu in 1968 which killed up to 1 million people.

There are 868 variations of flu, and the flu shot can only protect against 8 of them each year.  They try to make a best guess and distribute a shot that covers the 'expected' strains.  Usually, they get 1-2 right, and still they estimate about 36,000 deaths in America due to flu-related complications.

The flu that is spreading right now does not have a vaccine yet, and one can not possibly be made for months, but more to the point, the problem ISN'T the current strain.  The big worry from the CDC is that every time this strain is transmitted from person-person, there is a small chance it could BECOME (mutate into) a strain that is more virulent or deadly.

So, think about this for a minute... ALL of this worry is about something that HAS NOT HAPPENED.  It didn't happen with SARS.  It didn't happen with Avian flue.  It hasn't happened with Swine flu (yet).  There is no reason to freak out at all yet, and the number of people who have gotten sick is infinitesimal right now.

Relax.  Nobody anywhere has said this particular flu is anything like the 1918 flu which did kill mostly healthy people between the ages of 18 and 35.  According to some accounts, the mortality rate for infected people in that age group was about 95%.  The mortality rate for the whole population was something like 35%.

It is simply unreasonable to be in any kind of a panic over this nonsense.  I personally think this is just another attempt to get us all worried so that we can all feel good about how safe our government has made us when it turns out to be 'under control' (when in fact nothing is out of control yet)

No panic here - just passing along a relevant news item.

Hello,

Re alcohol sanitizers...must be a minimum of 62% (ethyl) alcohol...don't buy the cheap stuff   AND, just before it dries,
scrub your hands with a paper towel... the friction improves effective removal of bacteria by 20%...otherwise you're just smearing them around..

best,

Jon

jon019 wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 4:25pm:

Hello, Re alcohol sanitizers...must be a minimum of 62% (ethyl) alcohol...don't buy the cheap stuff   AND, just before it dries, scrub your hands with a paper towel... the friction improves effective removal of bacteria by 20%...otherwise you're just smearing them around.. best, Jon

But I thought it was a virus we were concerned about here - not bacteria.

wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 1:57pm:

The 37,000 people you mention are typically elderly and/or immunodeficient.

Huh?  

37,000 people (perhaps elderly or immune-suppressed, demographics unknown to me ) still died from flu related complications last year.  Are you saying that since they might have been elderly or immune-suppressed that they are somehow less than human? That no one mourned their passing?  That they were somehow less valued than the young and the healthy?

Dead is dead.  There is no qualifier.

I agree Pat, I have to have the flu injection because of my complete lack of immunity to anything. I kind of read that and winced too.

The average 35,000 that die each flu season from flu and complications are the very young (ie:babies), elderly, immune defficient and other health poblems. The cdc.gov site is updated about 3 times daily and has the best info. The same precautions as normal flu season work so far. The 1918 pandemic was complicated by the huge military camps and troop movements in WW 1. Also that virus caused the bodys immune system to attack itself, therefore, they drowned, the lungs filled up with fluid.
I won't even go into the stupidity of state governments in dealing with this. Enuff to say I am embaressed to work for them.
And less not forget the stupid media. The space time concept is now null and void. The national media reports it has located case number "0".
Computers use the binary system of 1 and 0. Now they have the same value. No mathematical formula is now valid.

JIm

Quote:

the new H1N1 virus.

H1N1, pronounced high-knee.  From now on it shall be referred to as the HINI flu!

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Wonder how many people died today in car accidents while dialing their cell phones...?  How many per month...how many per year?

Steve G

My company put out an email today saying if anyone had just returned from Mexico they were to take a week off before returning to the office.  It will be with pay.

Carol

Grandma_Sweet_Boy wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 8:11pm:

My company put out an email today saying if anyone had just returned from Mexico they were to take a week off before returning to the office.  It will be with pay. Carol

What company would that be, Carol? The one that you own? Because I seem to remember you retired a little while back....

Hmmmm.....

;)

We had a confirmed case here in Indiana today.  A Notre Dame student in South Bend.  That's only about 30 minutes from us.  They can't figure out where he picked it up as he hadn't been off campus for several weeks.  So far it's the only case.

Let's hope this thing doesn't turn into what they think it might.

The plant I work in just ordered over $2K worth of hand sanitizer for desks, hand sanitizer refills to be used in the dispensers we installed all over the plant, more dispensers, and antibacterial wipes to be used in the break areas, due to swine flu. They also cleaned me out of all forms of sanitizer I had in stock today.

I had to place an order with my supplier, and they told me to write SWINE FLU on my purchase order before I sent it, and they'd get it out right away.

The plant is stopping all trucks coming in and asking the drivers if they've been in Mexico in the last 10 days. If so, they are being turned away.

They are also not allowing anyone in the plant who has been to Mexico in the last 10 days, if they have business with someone in the plant, they are expected to do it on the phone in the foyer(s). If any employees have been to Mexico, they are being sent home.

Posters from the CDC on hand washing and using the hand sanitizer have appeared everywhere overnight. They are taking this seriously.

I still don't get it. I heard that hand sanitizer, while doing a good number on bacteria, doesn't kill the H1N1 influenza virus. The report I heard was that only vigorous hand washing will do the trick.

Panic!!!run for the hills, well i would if it wasn't reported there were cases in Derbyshire.Are there any more hills out there,
"Swine flu", pigs fly, they're not kidding us??
Last time I saw pigs fly was at the end of a bottle
Shouldn't joke should I.

[/quote]
But I thought it was a virus we were concerned about here - not bacteria.
[/quote]


sorry brew...in a hurry (logged in at work and not supposed to be)...bacteria AND viruses...

BTW, since I have more time now...a few soapbox comments:

given the CHOICE between soap and water or alcohol sanitizer for hand cleaning, I HIGHLY recommend the soap and water (minimum 20 secs of VIGOROUS scrubbing, hand over hand not piston-like, even better, add a fingernail brush too). A good way to gauge time is to sing the Happy BD song twice...

Basis of my opinion:

hand washing AND towel drying (and nail brush scrubbing)  removes bacteria/viruses by emulsion and friction, alcohol gels smear them around...

alcohol dries the skin, leading to cracks and fissures where bugs can grow unimpeded...

alcohol gels kill bad AND good bugs alike ...and that's definitely NOT a good thing. The human skin is populated by millions of bacteria which are ESSENTIAL to maintaining health...they out-compete the bad ones that can come along. Remove too many and anything that comes along can grow...

as long as I'm at this...I would also suggest just plain regular soap. The new antibacterials (w/triclosan) have been shown in studies to be no more effective than regular soap. The concern is that bacteria will develop an immunity...and that there is REAL scary...

Best,

Jon

jon019 wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 9:12pm:

as long as I'm at this...I would also suggest just plain regular soap. The new antibacterials (w/triclosan) have been shown in studies to be no more effective than regular soap. The concern is that bacteria will develop an immunity...and that there is REAL scary...

Like the antibiotic resistant staph infections found mainly in hospitals . . . . . scary indeed!

Not to be snide, but isn't ALL soap by its very nature anti-bacterial?  I've never heard of one that was purported to be pro-biotic . . . .  ::)

Mosaicwench wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 9:26pm:

jon019 wrote on Apr 29th, 2009 at 9:12pm: as long as I'm at this...I would also suggest just plain regular soap. The new antibacterials (w/triclosan) have been shown in studies to be no more effective than regular soap. The concern is that bacteria will develop an immunity...and that there is REAL scary... Not to be snide, but isn't ALL soap by its very nature anti-bacterial?  I've never heard of one that was purported to be pro-biotic . . . .  ::)

NOT snide at all...a VERY good question...and the answer is surprisingly NO! Bacteria can live just fine and dandy on your "clean" soap. Which is why your soap dish should have one of those pointy scalp scrub looking thingies to let it DRY... the bugs hate THAT...

Well I just learned all kinds of stuff tonight. Gonna go wash my hands.

Looks like the students picked a bad time to go to Mexico on spring break.

PL259 wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 7:09pm:

The national media reports it has located case number "0". Computers use the binary system of 1 and 0. Now they have the same value. No mathematical formula is now valid. JIm

Computers and people who program them usually start counting with 0 (zero) as it is the first digit in our decimal counting system. This seems to have rubbed off on the scientists that use the same counting method now. Zero means "nothing" in math but is the first digit in our number system so starting with 0 in a count is valid.

Paul [smiley=smokin.gif]

Mosaicwench wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 6:53pm:

wrote on Apr 29th, 2009 at 1:57pm: The 37,000 people you mention are typically elderly and/or immunodeficient.   Huh?   37,000 people (perhaps elderly or immune-suppressed, demographics unknown to me ) still died from flu related complications last year.  Are you saying that since they might have been elderly or immune-suppressed that they are somehow less than human? That no one mourned their passing?  That they were somehow less valued than the young and the healthy? Dead is dead.  There is no qualifier.

Really?  That is what you took from that?

You mentioned people don't give a hoot.  I was pointing out that people actually do give a hoot, but they are probably making a bigger deal out of this for the reasons I already mentioned.  

You are taking one line out of my statement, and using it out of context.  You were the one that implied nobody gave a hoot, Right?

Brew wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 8:45pm:

I still don't get it. I heard that hand sanitizer, while doing a good number on bacteria, doesn't kill the H1N1 influenza virus. The report I heard was that only vigorous hand washing will do the trick.

I am not saying that it is wrong, but I am curious to whom you heard say this?  Of course, washing your hands is going to be better, but the CDC is saying that alcohol based sanitizers are also effective.  

There are also products out there that have pretty convincing studies on the effectiveness of such sanitizers against a variety of viruses, such as this one: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
Not saying that this one is effective against swine flu but just curious...

Whatever happened to Mad Cow disease or the Bird Flu?
Why do we sit around worrying ourselves sick over something we have no control over?

              Potter

Jimi wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 10:45pm:

Well I just learned all kinds of stuff tonight. Gonna go wash my hands. Looks like the students picked a bad time to go to Mexico on spring break.

The're walking Pitri dishes I tell ya!  Want to spread something you have an absolute perfect delivery system in the college students!   :o

-P.

So far here in Finland we can feel quite safe: two suspected patients, no panic and the government has promised that we already have the plenty of necessary treatments in stock.

But we are, naturally, following what is going on around us and hope that the two current "maybe" patients will have only regular flu.

I, for one, am down with regular cold and allergies - for the first time since Spring 2000. Although this has been the worst flu I've ever had, it's nothing in comparison to the swine flu, so my thoughts certainly are with those who suffer from that.

Sanna

I have three courses of Tamiflu on hand.

So... while you folks are hunkered down in your basements during the worst of it, my family and I will be walking among the infected undead with impunity.

We will bring you our leftover Chinese if we go out to eat, being careful to not let the zombies in.  

wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 1:57pm:

[quote author=4F6D71636B6175676C616A020 link=1241014729/7#7 date=1241019692]Every year in America, 37,000 people die of Flu related complications. Nobody seems to give a hoot about that until they name it something new and different - or in this case something recycled.  The swine flu last went around with gusto in the 70's. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE I believe the difference here is that this version of the flu is attacking and killing young healthy people.  The 37,000 people you mention are typically elderly and/or immunodeficient.  This strain also has no vaccinations available as of yet, which is why people are giving more of a hoot about this than the usual push to get vaccinated.  I don't think being overly cautious is a bad thing.  I think people are just being proactive in their approach to this trying to prevent it from becoming something more.  What is the harm in that? Thomas

Any data to back the bolded statement up?  Yes, young *healthy* (and how do we know that they were healthy) people are getting the virus, but dying?  Where did you find this information?  BTW, in any particular flu season, young healthy people can get the flu if they are not immunized.

WHO has not raised the alert to pandemic as of this morning.  They are now at stage 5, which is still one level below being pandemic.

Hand sanitizers do work.  The hand sanitizer I use has aloe in it and does not cause drying or chapping.  Hell, I'm a merchandiser in Wal Mart, there is no possible way that I can stop every few minutes and go wash my hands.  BTW, overwashing of the hands will also cause dry, chapped hands.

And I stand corrected about adding the vaccine to the currect flu shot.  If developed in time, it probably would be added.  PL259 was kind enough to correct my misassumption  ;D.

One theory as to why the elderly are not getting hit is due to similarities between this flu and the 1957 pandemic.  Older folks may have some immunity to this strain.  I do not understand that, as 1957 was an H2N2.  

The broad reaction to any variant of Swine Flu (1976, 2009) is attributed to similarity of the Swine Flu virus to the 1918 Spanish Flu virus, which killed 50million.  Both are H1N1's.    

First, let me just say, I don't think anyone here is "panicking", or "buying into" anything.  I do think, however slanted the media may be, it's important to pay attention and stay on the alert to what is being said, filter at your own discretion if you will.

As far as what Icedragon said (Thomas), there are many reports, on radio and internet that allude to what he suggested, here are a few:

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Also, this year's flu vaccine offers no protection against swine flu, to which people have no natural immunity. And unlike seasonal flu, which typically affects the very old and very young, initial reports from Mexico suggested that swine flu was affecting young, healthy people.

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Investigators also want to know why the disease has killed young adults, who should have the greatest resistance.

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That’s what investigators from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control are investigating very actively, because a lot more needs to be understood about the deaths before we can understand the threat. The age of the victims has been reportedly been people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, which is one of the most frightening things about it, because flu usually strikes and kills the very old and frail, and sometimes the very young. In 1918, the ultimate pandemic we know about killed healthy young adults. That’s one of the reasons why this outbreak is potentially frightening. We still have to understand more

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Swine flu and deaths in healthy adults--cytokine storm?
Category: General Epidemiology • General biology • Infectious disease • Influenza • Outbreak • Public health • Various viruses
Posted on: April 26, 2009 9:00 AM, by Tara C. Smith
Over the last 24 hours, I've received a few comments and even more emails asking about or discussing the possibility of a "cytokine storm" triggered by the H1N1 swine flu reassortant. Is this what's happening in the cases from Mexico? Discussion after the jump...
Let me begin with a bit of background on what's meant by a "cytokine storm." In response to infection, the body has a number of ways to fight back against the invading microbe. Cytokines are one part of this defense. These are molecules produced by a number of different types of cells in response to infection that act as signals to other cells in the body--telling them to divide, or to produce certain proteins, or to cease their production. They assist, basically, in orchestrating portions of the immune response. A "cytokine storm" occurs when this regulation goes haywire--the very molecules that are supposed to be protecting the body end up causing it harm by responding too strongly to the infection. (Note that this is quite over-simplified; the cytokine response itself is incompletely understood, and other players in addition to cytokines are also involved).

[See each link for the complete stories]

This last "story" from a science blog, was also brought up in completely separate radio report by 1010WINS in NY this morning.  Interestingly, my daughter is studying this in science class, and wondered a theory on it last night.  There seems to be a combination of factors that are being discussed in ref. to why the Mexican citizens are being affected more severely.  

By the way, it wasn't college students that went to Cancun, St. Francis Prep is a Catholic Preparatory High school.  

Pepp

My nurse relatives say that often the filthiest thing in a bathroom is a bar of soap. Use the liquid, I guess.

Charlie

Potter wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 11:35pm:

Whatever happened to Mad Cow disease or the Bird Flu? Why do we sit around worrying ourselves sick over something we have no control over?               Potter

Mad Cow disease was brought under control after it induced fatal CJD in 164 Brits.  We actually do have control over that - not as individuals, but as a society.  Culling infected animals and ending cow cannibalism ended that episode.

Bird flu is still simmering - might go pandemic any time. Again, as individuals, we can't do more than not kissing parrots (whenever possible). But as a society, research and changes to agriculture (including vaccinating poultry on farms) ... that can save lives.

I think this might be the study on soap and water vs. alcohol gel that has been bandied about:

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As I read it, both soap and hand gels are very effective at reducing the number of active viruses on the hands.  The study said soap was technically the winner, but the difference is not really important ... all of the hygiene measures resulted in complete inactivation of the virus.  It is not surprising that people using the gels had slightly more virus DNA remaining on their hands- the gels killed the virus in place, while the soap/water treatment led to more being removed.

Bottom line - both soap and gels are effective.

Also, the idea that soap bars can contain bacteria is true, but it is unlikely to be a problem - the soap neutralizes most bacteria (and probably viruses, which are generally more fragile than bacteria).

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Either - soap or gel - beats the livin' shit out of that guy in the public restroom who does his thing and doesn't wash his hands.

And believe me, ladies - more of that guy exists than you would even want to think about.

deltadarlin wrote on Apr 30^th, 2009 at 8:35am:

wrote on Apr 29th, 2009 at 1:57pm: I believe the difference here is that this version of the flu is attacking and killing young healthy people.  The 37,000 people you mention are typically elderly and/or immunodeficient.  This strain also has no vaccinations available as of yet, which is why people are giving more of a hoot about this than the usual push to get vaccinated.  I don't think being overly cautious is a bad thing.  I think people are just being proactive in their approach to this trying to prevent it from becoming something more.  What is the harm in that? Thomas Any data to back the bolded statement up?  Yes, young *healthy* (and how do we know that they were healthy) people are getting the virus, but dying?  Where did you find this information?  BTW, in any particular flu season, young healthy people can get the flu if they are not immunized.

As Peppermint has pointed out, the info is everywhere, but you are right.  There is no solid data confirming that at the moment.  As this thing moves on, the info seems to change from day to day; and all the information coming out of Mexico could be inaccurate, but that has yet to be determined.


Quote:

WHO has not raised the alert to pandemic as of this morning.  They are now at stage 5, which is still one level below being pandemic.

WHO has not yet, but it is only a matter of time before they declare a level 6.  The current situation meets all the requirements of a level 6, and if it is not declared by the end of the day it will by the weekend.
However, this is not anything to panic about.  The current antivirals have shown positive results in the lab against this strain of the virus.  Also, with the instantaneous global communication we have today, people are being made aware of the precautions they should take, and being told what to do if they present with symptoms.  

I believe we are in a very fortunate situation and should fair well in the long run with this thing.  That is, of course, if thing does not mutate into something crazy and turn into something out of a movie.

Thomas

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2 Counties away, nothing reported in my county as of yet.

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But the School system has sent letters home today asking that students who have specific symptoms be kept home from school.

:), Is ''swine flu'' the present tense of ''pigs might fly'' ? Andrew.

andrewjb wrote on Apr 30^th, 2009 at 4:36pm:

:), Is ''swine flu'' the present tense of ''pigs might fly'' ? Andrew.

Wattsa matta, didn't the Queen's English teach you how to conjumagate your verbs??  It's Past Tense.

I flu
he flu
she flu
bird flu
swine flu

Brew wrote on Apr 29^th, 2009 at 8:17pm:

Grandma_Sweet_Boy wrote on Apr 29th, 2009 at 8:11pm: My company put out an email today saying if anyone had just returned from Mexico they were to take a week off before returning to the office.  It will be with pay. Carol What company would that be, Carol? The one that you own? Because I seem to remember you retired a little while back.... Hmmmm..... ;)

I did retire the end of February - went back in September for an 8 week contract which finally ended yesterday!  Apparently we all thought 8 weeks meant 7 months! ;)

Well -

It wasn't of MUCH concern was it..
The FLU is spreading like crazy in NYC, and more specifically, Queens. Both my daughter and I were sick since last Wed./Thurs.  Unfortunately, the only way be tested for the swine flu is at the hospital, which we were discouraged from going to unless absolutely necessary.  So my daughter got Tamiflu from her pediatrician, and I got Biaxin - because my doc said he thought I had bronchitis.  By Thursday night, I had exactly the same symptoms though...

She improved markedly in two days and I've been in my own nightmare up until yesterday.  Still not 100% but fever was gone on Sunday.  All I can say is it was the most painful (in terms of headache, body & joint aches) flu I can remember, dreaming about being sick through the fevers.  

Not saying I had swine flu, but the number of students sick at my daughter's school (in Long Island) was 41.  The school is very small, so this is a big number, there are only 12 kids per class max.  

Hopefully, the warmer weather will kill it, before it makes more people sick.  

Pepp

The most recent reports have Wisconsin being the state with the most confirmed cases.

The vast majority in and around the Milwaukee area, though there have been a few isolated confirmation in the surrounding counties here in central WI.

Very little is being reported on a local level for 2 weeks now.

We've been healthy here. but for a pretty nasty allergy season.

Wow, Pepp.  That's a bit scary.  I'm glad you are both feeling better.    

Jeannie

Apparently flu comes in two "waves" so there should be one now and one in the autumn from stuff I've been hearing.

Whether there is any substance in that or not I don't know but if there is then vigilance almost needs to be greater once the initial outbreak is over.

It just gets so hard to tell what is scaremongering, who is the drama llama (with reporting authorities I mean, not individuals) and who is the one to listen to *sigh*

The authorities will use a second wave if needed - to divert attention.

Getting there Jeannie thanks.  

Helen, it did seem like exaggeration in the media, but now that we're in the full throttle midst of it, I don't think it's too far fetched.  The regular flu season comes and goes around and people get very sick, but it's been ridiculous around here.  I was asked to stay out of work, they prefered 7-8 days but I just couldn't take being home after yesterday.

The good news is, even though this round of flu was bad, most cases do not seem to be admitted to the hospital.  So far - 2 people have died, one teacher at a school, and an infant yesterday.  Not a big number, but personally, I didn't think anyone would die of it after all this time.

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Today's map shows that IL has bumped ahead of WI in confirmed cases.

But we aren't all that far behind.  

Celebrity Swine Flu Fatality....!

And we all know who gave it to him....... ;D



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Lefty...!

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So it's hit home!!!!!

Ok now what?  Pandemic on campus?

Redd wrote on May 29^th, 2009 at 3:55pm:

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I don't see where it'll come to that.

It is al around us Henry county, and spaulden county thats where I had my surgery. They had a sign at the hospital that says "If you have flu like symptoms do not come through these doors call and it had a number."

Redd wrote on May 29^th, 2009 at 3:55pm:

Pandemic on campus?

'splain please.  

Looks like it's hit the McCracken household.  Emma (6) and I yesterday.  Molly (8), Liam (10) and Kallen (11) today.  Quick mover this one.  

I'm a bit worried about Molly as she has some chronic respiratory issues complicating things.  We'll keep an eye on her.

I'm still feeling a bit under the weather today but my fever never broke 100 and my stomach recovered quickly.  Of course it's playing hell with my head but I've plenty of O2 on hand.

All in all pretty mild as flu virus' go.

-Dennis-

deltadarlin wrote on May 30^th, 2009 at 11:04am:

Redd wrote on May 29th, 2009 at 3:55pm:  Pandemic on campus? 'splain please.

It was a snarky inside joke actually.  One report at one web site said the gal was a UWSP student (campus if just blocks away from me) and another  (by the same author) Said she was a Marquette Student. (Campus in in the Milwaukee area I believe)

Pandemic of a  Campus was really my  snarky way to say...Pandemic of incompetance of a copy editors desk...

Sorry... didn't intend to confuse.