Conflicting reports of Swine flu reported at DisneyWorld

[hockeymom3]

Go read the thread just below this about crowd levels. Read the part about wearing a "Mexico 2009" t-shirt. You'll understand then.

It is posting such things as, well, it looks like others are dying around us, but it hasn't really hit us yet that chills me.

I understand that everyone is here to read, just as I am. I just think some of the postings seem to be at other's expense. Sorry for the troll posting. I'll remove that.

I said it on there and I'll say it here - There are MANY people on here (myself included) who have been mocking the EXCESSIVE reports made by the MEDIA. I have yet to see anybody on here make fun of anybody who actually had the swine flu or have horribly died of it.

I was making a joke, just like MANY others were (those that said the parks were closed during "their" vacation dates, pics of kids kissing pigs, etc.)

If you can't take a joke - thats your problem. If you read too much into it, thats your problem too.

Do I want anybody to die? No
Do I want anybody to be sick? No
Do I hope for small crowds while I'm at Disney? Yes

Again, thanks for being the politically correct Police. What would we all have done without you?

 

[lilpapsgirl]

I also live in Jacksonville and am waiting for the test results to come back on that suspected swine flue case in WDW...They sent it here to our Jacksonville Health Department to be tested...I guess it is just a watch and wait thing....My self, my husband, my parents and sister and his parents are all going to WDW in Late May and I am hoping they can have this controlled by then!

 

[Interpol]

This makes me wonder if there is something about this strain that is harder on hispanics than other races? I'm not trying to sound racist or anything, but there are diseases that only affects certain races different than others (Sickle Cell comes to mind). It is a possibility.

The diseases you're talking about (i.e., Sickle Cell) are inherited diseases - they have a genetic component - the Sickle Cell gene is more prevalent in Blacks. Acquired diseases (such as infections, flu, colds, etc.) pretty much do not affect a certain race more than another.

 

[DisneyHolidayFan]

The diseases you're talking about (i.e., Sickle Cell) are inherited diseases - they have a genetic component - the Sickle Cell gene is more prevalent in Blacks. Acquired diseases (such as infections, flu, colds, etc.) pretty much do not affect a certain race more than another.

Sorry - wrong quote!

 

[DisneyHolidayFan]

I said it on there and I'll say it here - There are MANY people on here (myself included) who have been mocking the EXCESSIVE reports made by the MEDIA. I have yet to see anybody on here make fun of anybody who actually had the swine flu or have horribly died of it.

I was making a joke, just like MANY others were (those that said the parks were closed during "their" vacation dates, pics of kids kissing pigs, etc.)

If you can't take a joke - thats your problem. If you read too much into it, thats your problem too.

Do I want anybody to die? No
Do I want anybody to be sick? No
Do I hope for small crowds while I'm at Disney? Yes

Again, thanks for being the politically correct Police. What would we all have done without you?

Some things are just not funny!!

 

[Crisgw]

I thought I saw that it was confirmed to *not* be the "swine flu"...I'll have to look for that info now!

 

[Toad_Passenger]

I just saw that they still don't have the results back for the mysterious "WDW" case. I did see, though, that it was a female, not a male that was being tested. Unfortunately a lot of people are skeptical that Disney is making an attempt to keep the results secret or change the results to keep people in the parks.

Sad that Disney has gained that reputation.

 

[tessiesevin]

I thought I saw that it was confirmed to *not* be the "swine flu"...I'll have to look for that info now!

If you are talking about the Orlando case It has NOT been determined yet. The test results were supposed to be in at noon but has been delayed.

 

[PebblesMom]

Some things are just not funny!!

I agree!!!!

 

[Joanna & Hunters Mom]

We leave for WDW on Saturday and our plans have not changed about this vacation. I feel that I am just as apt to contact this virus at home, in SC as I am in FL at Disney. I am sure the media is making this a bigger scene, although I am not at all saying that this isn't a scary thing.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family that lost their child...I just can't imagine...

 

[luvthemouse71]

This does not negate or minimize the grief and loss felt by the child's family. How cold of you to post something so crass. This is a small child who has lost a life. I'm sure the family is overwhelmed with grief! They were attempting to get help for the child.

In a crisis like this, unfortunately the baser side of human nature starts to show. Or you get people who can be confronted with all the facts in the world, and they're still in denial. Some people use humor, crass or otherwise to cope.

Scapegoating happens too..not saying anyone here has done this, but I have heard some very ugly things said about Mexicans/Mexico in my area over the past week or so. Not to mention I think people are getting angry at the media for "scaring" people and causing a panic. In most of the things I've seen, they haven't been sensationalizing..they've been putting forth the facts. I don't watch much news on the TV though, so maybe I'm missing something.

The WHO has moved the pandemic threat level to 5 today, with the highest level at 6(full-scale pandemic). This is cold fact..however, they are still saying to live your life, just start being prepared. This is hardly sensationalism to me..

 

[DisneyLover83]

The WHO has moved the pandemic threat level to 5 today

Where did you find that info? I don't see it on the WHO website.

 

[JB2K]

I feel that I am just as apt to contact this virus at home, in SC as I am in FL at Disney.

That is what I call a "false sense of security"...

...that is, unless SC has daily international flights/tourists to/from Mexico/Europe.

 

[avahoneybee]

In a crisis like this, unfortunately the baser side of human nature starts to show. Or you get people who can be confronted with all the facts in the world, and they're still in denial. Some people use humor, crass or otherwise to cope.

Scapegoating happens too..not saying anyone here has done this, but I have heard some very ugly things said about Mexicans/Mexico in my area over the past week or so. Not to mention I think people are getting angry at the media for "scaring" people and causing a panic. In most of the things I've seen, they haven't been sensationalizing..they've been putting forth the facts. I don't watch much news on the TV though, so maybe I'm missing something.

The WHO has moved the pandemic threat level to 5 today, with the highest level at 6(full-scale pandemic). This is cold fact..however, they are still saying to live your life, just start being prepared. This is hardly sensationalism to me..

Great post and I agree.

I can say with the information provided and with the WHO raising the thread level today, if I had a trip planned in the coming weeks I'd probably reschedule. While a person can get this flu anywhere throwing my family into enormous crowds of people at Disney just wouldn't feel right.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

The WHO has moved the pandemic threat level to 5 today, with the highest level at 6(full-scale pandemic). This is cold fact..however, they are still saying to live your life, just start being prepared. This is hardly sensationalism to me..

I think the problem, though, is that they are not adequately explaining what those levels mean. Here in the USA we see things like hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. measured in levels, and each level means something worse than the one before it.

The WHO levels are meant for countries who are not experiencing the virus, yet. In the USA the virus is already here, so the level is completely meaningless. Unfortunately the local news will use "the WHO is raising the worldwide pandemic level to 5" as a way to get people to watch, even though it has no bearing on the severity of the situation in the USA.

 

[avahoneybee]

Where did you find that info? I don't see it on the WHO website.

It's been mentioned on the news stations that the WHO is going to have a press conference to announce it. I haven't seen it on the cdc website though.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Thank you. As an RN I am allowed 3 Sick days Per rolling calendar year.Then Disciplinary action.I don't have the luxury to call off for every sniffle, and people shouldn't presume I can simply find another job either.Every hospital,Dr office, and home health company in my area is on a strict hiring freeze thanks to the economy.Seriously , I see way too many people panicking and getting hysterical ,which is not helping the matter. Our Ed has seen record pts in the past 24 hrs.All paranoid and scared, none even had Flu-like symptoms.Mostly seasonal allergies and colds. This is a HUGE problem because our resources,time, and attention are diverted elsewhere should an actual case of Swine Flu come in.

Unfortunately, there will always be people who don't pay attention to what they're being told. I know our ER (even without Swine Flu), gets people that show up there for stupid stuff. There is no way around this.

I still think I'd rather have people get checked out if they think they are having symptoms rather than dismiss it and have it turn out to be something serious though. And hey, that's job security for you at any rate!

There will always be people who panic..but, being prepared and facing the situation is hardly panic. It's just common sense.

Heck, I want the experts to be proven wrong. I want this thing weeks from now to just be a silly memory. I'm hoping never to need the store of stuff I have put aside(most of it I had for hurricanes, blizzards etc..just added the masks), I want it to gather dust. My trips to WDW keep me happy and sane-and I don't want the flu to be there either.

But, wanting something doesn't always mean it's going to work out that way.

 

[DisneyLover83]

It's been mentioned on the news stations that the WHO is going to have a press conference to announce it. I haven't seen it on the cdc website though.

Thanks, I'm just trying to stay updated as we have our trip coming up

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Great post and I agree.

I can say with the information provided and with the WHO raising the thread level today, if I had a trip planned in the coming weeks I'd probably reschedule. While a person can get this flu anywhere throwing my family into enormous crowds of people at Disney just wouldn't feel right.

I don't necessarily agree about rescheduling a trip. I work in NYC, so I'm around enormous crowds of people every day. I probably have a better chance of contracting it here, while riding the subways, eating in a fast food store, etc. than I would at Disney. Since we live right outside NYC many of the children my daughter goes to school with also have parents who work in NYC, so I'm sure if we're going to get it, there really isn't much I could do to stop it, short of not going to school or work until it all blows over.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I found a link to an article that describes what the WHO levels mean etc There's also a video interview with the director of the CDC.

The article says not to panic but to realize that the numbers are growing, to pay attention to symptoms..Here it is.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30471035

Disclaimer: this particular article mentions that the WHO is looking to raise the level to 5..not that it has done so. I believe this article was from earlier today.