CDC Estimates that H1N1 Will be a Catagory 2 Pandemic

[Explodo]

"There may or may not be a hurricane, but if there "is" a severe hurricane, the people who did not "prepare" for it are the first ones to be raked over the coals by everyone from the media to the folks right here on the DIS..
"

And I agree with this statement completely.

 

[C.Ann]

That's not fear mongering...that's straight out of the pandemic reduction and limitation handbook that comes from the CDC.

Sheeze.

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/health/cargo_trucking.html

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/checklist.html


I'm not a nut or anything, but once the WHO decided to up the level to 6, I started figuring out what that meant to My family and myself. I suggest you read a little bit, without getting freaked out.

Thanks for those links.. They're worth reading - just in case..

 

[Tinijocaro]

This is standard procedure. The doctor is trying to limit the amount of exposure to himself and others to the virus. It's standard procedure pretty much everywhere that I'm aware of. If a patient is highly suspected of having the swine flu, they should be masked while in the office or emergecy room (or other treatment location).

Our pediatricians wore neither masks or gloves when dealing with my two boys-one had a confirmed case, the other currently has a probable case.

 

[Tinijocaro]

BTW, have any of you good folks put together an emergency store of stuff in case they have to limit activity here in the future.

MOst Floridians call this a huricane survival store...IN the Midwest they call it a disaster store...On the west Coast it's Earthquake survival..

So what about you?

Yes- I bought a new set of shelves and when I go grocery shopping, I'm buying two or more of everything. Lots of water, tylenol, gatoraid, canned foods, toilet paper, bleach, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, M&M's, frozen foods-foods that are easy to prepare when you have a sick household. If me and/or dh are sick, someone still has to care for our four kids so I got the easiest, healthiest stuff I could find.

Also, if it gets really bad in the fall, I want to protect my family and not have to go out in public places such as the supermarket. I want to have everything I need for several weeks right in my house. The CDC is recommending at least 3 weeks, but the average pandemic wave lasts 6-8 weeks. It's expensive but how would I feel if this thing got really bad and I had to go shopping-I'd be worried sick.

None of the stuff I'm buying will go to waste-it's all stuff we use anyways. So if the virus just shrivels up and dies, no harm done. How anyone can cal this fearmongering is beyond me. At least I was prepared. It's a good feeling knowing that I can protect my family in this way if need be.

 

[C.Ann]

Yes- I bought a new set of shelves and when I go grocery shopping, I'm buying two or more of everything. Lots of water, tylenol, gatoraid, canned foods, toilet paper, bleach, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, M&M's, frozen foods-foods that are easy to prepare when you have a sick household. If me and/or dh are sick, someone still has to care for our four kids so I got the easiest, healthiest stuff I could find.

Also, if it gets really bad in the fall, I want to protect my family and not have to go out in public places such as the supermarket. I want to have everything I need for several weeks right in my house. The CDC is recommending at least 3 weeks, but the average pandemic wave lasts 6-8 weeks. It's expensive but how would I feel if this thing got really bad and I had to go shopping-I'd be worried sick.

None of the stuff I'm buying will go to waste-it's all stuff we use anyways. So if the virus just shrivels up and dies, no harm done. How anyone can cal this fearmongering is beyond me. At least I was prepared. It's a good feeling knowing that I can protect my family in this way if need be.

I don't see anything unreasonable about that - and you're doing it now - before there is a possibility that the prices will sky rocket on some of these things or suddenly become unavailable "if" the situation gets bad..

I take it someone in your household likes M&M's?? Had to smile when I saw that..

I tend to always "stock up" here at the lake anyhow - because the reasonably priced grocery stores are so far away - and then on Thursday nights my son-in-law calls to get a grocery list of items to pick up when he does their shopping before heading up here each weekend..

I think I should "beef up" on more sugar, coffee, and evaporated milk than I currently have though.. C.Ann without coffee is much, much worse than any type of flu!!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I take it someone in your household likes M&M's?? Had to smile when I saw that..


I think I should "beef up" on more sugar, coffee, and evaporated milk than I currently have though.. C.Ann without coffee is much, much worse than any type of flu!!

Can you imagine being stuck in the house for 2-8 weeks without chocolate? OMG!! So far I have two big bags of plain, and one of peanut.

You just reminded me to get coffee and creamer, and more dog food.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[AlexWyattMommy]

Add Dove chocolate instead of M&Ms and some of those Campbell microwaveable soup in a cups things and you have my pantry. My boys are old enough to handle hot food out of the microwave, but I'm not so sure I want them cooking on a stove or in an oven if I too sick to move.

I'm not as worried about things not being at the stores as I am about ME not being able to get to the store because my children are sick or I am sick. I don't do sick well. Takes me forever to get over a cold, the flu would knock me out for over a week and then some to get the strength back.

We are currently rotating our stock. I only buy what we really eat, so none of it will go to waste.

I am not a fear monger. I think everyone should educate themselves to the best of their ability about anything that might harm them or their families.

Here is the link to the latest update from the CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/media/transcripts/2009/t090626.htm

Press Briefing Transcripts
CDC Telebriefing on Investigation of Human Cases of Novel Influenza A (H1N1)
June 26, 2009, 1 p.m. ET

See for yourself if think you need to prep or take a wait and see. It's up to you. Not me.

 

[sbell111]

Yeah...and what do you do when Publix closes down or can't get food and essentials shipped in?

I guess in that case that I would drive the extra block or two to Kroger or Aldi or Food Lion or Target or WalMart or the other Kroger or the other WalMart or the other Publix or the other other Publix... Honestly, I would just stop and get something on my way home from work. (Some of us would still have to go to work, even if there's flu about.)

Seriously, I do think that the suggestion that everyone should buy an extra month supply of everything because we might get the flu is a little beyond overreacting.

That being said, if some true emergency were to happen, I suspect that just about all of us would have enough in our freezers and pantries to get by for several weeks (months?). We no doubt would be eating junk that we would normally pass over, but it would be fine.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Your overreacting is someone else's preparing for an emergency.

And it's okay.

We each have to make our own decisions, but we should also be respectful of the person's decision, no matter how different from our own.

Not that I'm saying anyone is being disrespectful, I just want to keep it from turning into that.

 

[sbell111]

Your overreacting is someone else's preparing for an emergency.

Agreed, but I think it's important to remember that there are different levels of 'emergency'. I seriously doubt that the flu is going to close down the country for a month, so I refuse to act as if it will.

 

[AustinTink]

One of the teachers at my son's day camp has a confirmed case of H1N1. I'm livid! She knew she had been exposed by members of her family yet still worked. The directors didn't even tell the parents. We had to find out from a loose lipped member of the staff.

My son has severe asthma and would be at great risk if exposed. I'm so incredibly worried right now.

 

[luvmy3]

One of the teachers at my son's day camp has a confirmed case of H1N1. I'm livid! She knew she had been exposed by members of her family yet still worked. The directors didn't even tell the parents. We had to find out from a loose lipped member of the staff.

My son has severe asthma and would be at great risk if exposed. I'm so incredibly worried right now.

As the mom of an asthmatic, I understand your worry and anger. However, we cannot expect everyone who may have been exposed to stop working. It would be different if she had symptoms herself and continued to come to work but being exposed to someone with the flu isn't a guarantee that you will get it and I don't think its fair that someone isolate themselves because they may have caught it but aren't showing any symptoms yet.

If you are very concerned, call your ped and see if you can get a script for Tamiflu. You can take that as a preventative and if your ds has severe asthma and he has been exposed to someone with a confirmed case there shouldn't be any problem getting it.

 

[AustinTink]

As the mom of an asthmatic, I understand your worry and anger. However, we cannot expect everyone who may have been exposed to stop working. It would be different if she had symptoms herself and continued to come to work but being exposed to someone with the flu isn't a guarantee that you will get it and I don't think its fair that someone isolate themselves because they may have caught it but aren't showing any symptoms yet.

If you are very concerned, call your ped and see if you can get a script for Tamiflu. You can take that as a preventative and if your ds has severe asthma and he has been exposed to someone with a confirmed case there shouldn't be any problem getting it.

The thing is the teacher does has H1N1. She did had flu-like symptoms, knew she herself had been exposed. And yet, still came to camp. It wasn't until her doc said yes it is indeed the swine flu that she left camp. That's just plain mean.

 

[luvmy3]

The thing is the teacher does has H1N1. She did had flu-like symptoms, knew she herself had been exposed. And yet, still came to camp. It wasn't until her doc said yes it is indeed the swine flu that she left camp. That's just plain mean.

I thought you meant she had no idea that she was even sick and worked until she showed symptoms and then stopped to get herself checked.If she knew she was ill and that it was a good chance it was H1N1 thats just wrong to come to work. I can totally understand you being pi$$ed that she was symptomatic and still working. I think it goes much farther than just being mean, she was very irresponsible choosing to come to work and knowingly expose children, some at risk like yours. I would speak to her supervisor about that.

 

[C.Ann]

Add Dove chocolate instead of M&Ms and some of those Campbell microwaveable soup in a cups things and you have my pantry. My boys are old enough to handle hot food out of the microwave, but I'm not so sure I want them cooking on a stove or in an oven if I too sick to move.

I'm not as worried about things not being at the stores as I am about ME not being able to get to the store because my children are sick or I am sick. I don't do sick well. Takes me forever to get over a cold, the flu would knock me out for over a week and then some to get the strength back.

We are currently rotating our stock. I only buy what we really eat, so none of it will go to waste.

I am not a fear monger. I think everyone should educate themselves to the best of their ability about anything that might harm them or their families.

Here is the link to the latest update from the CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/media/transcripts/2009/t090626.htm

Press Briefing Transcripts
CDC Telebriefing on Investigation of Human Cases of Novel Influenza A (H1N1)
June 26, 2009, 1 p.m. ET

See for yourself if think you need to prep or take a wait and see. It's up to you. Not me.

All of what you say makes perfect sense.. Let's say that I came down with this - while I'm here at the lake alone until November.. With the exception of weekends, basically there is no one around here all week.. The nearest "town" with a severely overpriced supermarket and drug store is about 15 to 18 miles round-trip.. Obviously, if I were sick, I couldn't make that trip even if I wanted to.. Sure - I could call my DD - and expose her to my "active" infection.. Not a good situation and I am sure there are plenty of other people who live alone or have no one who could watch their children while they went out to the store..

I appreciate the link - although in all honesty, I "almost" wish I didn't read it.. However, I/we should stay informed, so it's best that I "did" read it..

I think it's time to have a family meeting to decide how we are going to deal with this vaccine situation once I return to live at my DD's for the winter.. I don't have a choice - I'm one of those "at risk" people and will have to get it whether I like it or not.. They have a "choice" - one that I don't feel I should force on them - but they also aren't aware of this new information that is coming out daily.. Once they are made aware of it, they may decide on their own that everyone in the household should receive the vaccine..

I was very, very surprised by that link.. If what they are saying is correct, this flu "should" have simmered down by now and hasn't - not in the least.. It does make me wonder what will happen when the "traditional" flu season returns..

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[Minnie_me]

My 8-year old DD has it right now. Took her to the dr this morning. She felt so poorly last night that I let her sleep in my bed. The dr laughed when I told him that and said, "I can't say much for your chances right now!" He said that my other DD and I will probably have it by the end of the week. Told us to rest, drink plenty of fluids and take Advil for pain/fever if needed.

I'm not too upset by this. I'm actually really relieved that it happened now rather than last week, when I was finishing up the end of the school year and had report cards, graduation, etc. hanging over my head. We have nothing planned right now, except to ride this flu out and then start our summer vacation.

 

[C.Ann]

My 8-year old DD has it right now. Took her to the dr this morning. She felt so poorly last night that I let her sleep in my bed. The dr laughed when I told him that and said, "I can't say much for your chances right now!" He said that my other DD and I will probably have it by the end of the week. Told us to rest, drink plenty of fluids and take Advil for pain/fever if needed.

I'm not too upset by this. I'm actually really relieved that it happened now rather than last week, when I was finishing up the end of the school year and had report cards, graduation, etc. hanging over my head. We have nothing planned right now, except to ride this flu out and then start our summer vacation.

Poor thing.. Hope she feels better soon - and by some miracle, the rest of you don't catch it!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Thankfully it is a "mild" flu in that it still feels like you were hit with a truck, but that the complications are not severe for most people. Here are some warning signs to look out for though:

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Severe or persistent vomiting
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Also, it seems like they are sick, get better and then have relapse, so keep an eye on her even after she feels better so she doesn't over do it.


Hope she feels better and nobody else gets it. There is a very good chance that you all WON'T get it too.