anyone worried about swine flu?

[lesleyd75]

We're a little worried about crossing the border with the swine flu outbreak. My husband is thinking about cancelling our trip. I'm thinking its just as risky as being here, especially since my husband's company sends people abroad a lot. I read they are now considering Orange County high risk as there are many Mexican tourists visiting Disney. They have even sent in samples to the CDC from a Mexican tourist who recently showed up at the hospital with flu symptoms, awaiting results. Anyone one else worried?

 

[michelle1]

I wouldn't be travelling to Mexico but have no problem going to Orlando. I worked at a hospital in Toronto during the SARS outbreak so this really doesn't phase me. There is treatment for this flu and there are cases now in Canada with probably more to come...Mexico was (until now) a very popular tourist destination so you're just as likely to be around someone who might have been exposed here as you are in the U.S. During the time of SARS people entering Canada were screened at the airport which is something they should be doing again.

 

[Disney Ontario]

I was a little worried today that over 100 cases in New York, DD16 was in New York from last Wednesday until Sat. night, But they said that symptoms would be in 48 hours so I think we are safe.

 

[Bowman1]

I admit - I am worried. I am pregnant and I have a 4 year old. We are planning to spend 3 weeks at Disney in May and June. I plan to bring plenty of hand sanitizer. I also asked Disney customer service if they were planning to make sanitizer available throughout the parks.

Please post if Disney has an official statement on their preparations. SO far I have not found one.

Thx,

Stephanie

 

[Tabetha]

Not worried.

We're going to Disney in June.

 

[Winue]

not worried at all, and we are going on friday. will take the precautions whether I am at home or at Disney, so really, I don't see much of a difference. except that I would rather be at Disney than at home.

 

[MikeyNS]

Like CNN said this morning, the "normal" flu kills thousands around the world each year.. so definitely not worried about this relatively small outbreak.

 

[murcor]

Yes, I am worried and I dont even have an upcoming trip! All bookings for my family are on hold for now

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

No worries here. I think this is another issue that the media has put to much hype into. I can't see where this flu is any different than the "average" flu of which many people die every day from (as someone else stated in an earleier post). Canada AM reported this morning that the flu kills more than 4,000 Canadians every year and I refuse to live in a bubble. I will continue to take normal precautions, ie. hand washing/sanitizers, etc. but it will in no way affect my daily routine or future travel.
JMO

 

[brooker]

I just booked flights today for October. While any new virus or disease can be scary, I refuse to let it run my life. I mean seriously we would never do anything. Does it stop people from travelling to the Dominincan because of malari worries, no. Did everyone stop eating beef because of the mad cow worries? I know I never. Now if the US govt issues serious warnings for travellers not to come to the US unless necessary, then I guess that will be a different story.

 

[Ham Ham]

Not to underplay the danger of of a virus but I'm pretty sure more people have been killed in automobile accidents than succumbing to the swine flu.

Personally I would not change any travel plans at the moment to except to certain regions Mexico.

Reuters article from the UK examining the coverage.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUKN28351698

We need information not a 24 hour news cycle of hype.

 

[P&L@WDW]

Not worried in the slightest. The only place I wouldn't travel to right now would be Mexico itself. Other than that, I can't wait for my trip in September.

I agree with previous posters - I refuse to live in a bubble. I'm more likely to be killed in my car on my drive home (knock on wood!) than I am by swine flu or any other virus out there.

 

[lisalonglash]

Not worried in the slightest. The only place I wouldn't travel to right now would be Mexico itself. Other than that, I can't wait for my trip in September.

I agree with previous posters - I refuse to live in a bubble. I'm more likely to be killed in my car on my drive home (knock on wood!) than I am by swine flu or any other virus out there.

Well said - I wholeheartedly agree!

 

[LSmith]

I am surprised that people think this is media hype. It is the World Health Organization that has raised the pandemic level to 5 out of 6 not the media.

Yes, the flu kills many people every year but not many young healthy adults. Mostly people with immune problems to begin with or the elderly.

The 1918 pandemic killed 50 million people. My great grandparents were among them. Most of the victims were young healthy adults. It started off slowly but by the following Fall it really hit the world hard.

No I am not panicing but I am taking it seriously.

 

[lisalonglash]

I am surprised that people think this is media hype. It is the World Health Organization that has raised the pandemic level to 5 out of 6 not the media.

Yes, the flu kills many people every year but not many young healthy adults. Mostly people with immune problems to begin with or the elderly.

The 1918 pandemic killed 50 million people. My great grandparents were among them. Most of the victims were young healthy adults. It started off slowly but by the following Fall it really hit the world hard.

No I am not panicing but I am taking it seriously.

I don't think anyone is advising not taking it seriously However, allowing yourself to panic (cancelling trips to places other than Mexico, etc.) is unneccessary, don't you think?

 

[LSmith]

I don't think anyone is advising not taking it seriously However, allowing yourself to panic (cancelling trips to places other than Mexico, etc.) is unneccessary, don't you think?

I was only addressing the "news hype" quote.

I think to each his/her own if they feel comfortable to travel. I am going to Southwestern US on Saturday for 2 weeks. It hasn't stopped me from my current travel plans but I am concerned nevertheless.

I am not in a position to tell other people whether cancelling their trips is necessary or not. We are not a bunch of experts on here!

 

[TheZue]

I don't see any point in cancelling anything. We've got three cases around BC that they know of. It'll make the rounds here just like everywhere else. We leave for New York on the 20th so hopefully we won't get it before that.

I think the one thing that is going to make it interesting is that we've had the flu vaccine for so long that ussually there is a herd immunity most years even for those of us that don't get it. We won't have that here so it might make more people sick over and above the fact that people won't have a natural immunity. It's just going to be an anoying summer flu season.....and aparently with added diarhea for added fun. Really I just don't want diarhea lol.

 

[CanadianPaco]

Most people don't even know what the flu really is! I hear it all the time (I work in Public Health) .... oh "I got the flu shot and I still got the "flu" - meaning the 48hr stomach virus with vomiting and diaarhea.

The real flu, what is spreading now and what we see ever fall/winter, is a severe respiratory disease... body aches, fever, cough, weakness. But x100 what the cold could ever feel like. In the fall, we get a flu shot to protect us against the annual flu that circulates. Butthere is no vaccine for this strain. So we wash our hands, use hand sanitizer, keep our hands away from our faces and hope for the best.

 

[LSmith]

Most people don't even know what the flu really is! I hear it all the time (I work in Public Health) .... oh "I got the flu shot and I still got the "flu" - meaning the 48hr stomach virus with vomiting and diaarhea.

The real flu, what is spreading now and what we see ever fall/winter, is a severe respiratory disease... body aches, fever, cough, weakness. But x100 what the cold could ever feel like. In the fall, we get a flu shot to protect us against the annual flu that circulates. Butthere is no vaccine for this strain. So we wash our hands, use hand sanitizer, keep our hands away from our faces and hope for the best.

It's so true. Many people throw around the term "flu" for any virus that they have. As well, the flu vaccine is not the same year after year. There are many different strains. For this particular strain that is going around there is no current vaccine.

This is a quote from wikipedia to explain the difference of certain flu's. "The Spanish flu of 1918 kills via a cytokine storm (overreaction of the body's immune system) which explains its unusually severe nature and the concentrated age profile of its victims. The strong immune systems of young adults ravaged the body, whereas the weaker immune systems of children and middle-aged adults caused fewer deaths."

This quote is not to cause mass hysteria but just to say that the WHO think this flu is of more concern than what you and I are used to going around every year. I hope they are wrong. Two years ago they were extremely concerned about the "bird flu". I hope that they are wrong about this too.

 

[minnie56]

I am just beginning to get a little un-nerved. I am supposed to be heading to New York City this coming Tues and re-thinking that and going to Scottsdale, AZ May 17...guess I will wait and see.