Flu - anyone worried how it will affect vacation

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

Seasonal flu tends to kill approximately 0.1% of the people who get it. The 1918-1919 pandemic flu killed approximately 2.5% of the people who caught it, so it was much more deadly than regular flu, and absolutely nothing to be taken lightly. The bird flu currently circulating has been killing close to 50% of the people it infects, last time I looked.

I didn't mean to imply that if this swine flu becomes widespread, and if, worst case, it claims as many proportional victims as the "Spanish" flu did, that it should be taken lightly. Far from it. I would definitely leave my house only when absolutely necessary until they came up with a vaccine in 4 - 5 months. But society in 1918 continued to function, and would again now.

I'm not going to really worry unless this swine flu mutates into a killer close to the current bird flu, which up until now has not very sucessfully passed from person to person. But swine flu could combine with bird flu, and no one knows how virulent that kind of mix would be. A flu that kills 30%+ of its victims would shut society down, and that's what would really concern me. No one would want to go to work, so food production and distribution, health care, utilities - everything would suffer. But, we're not looking at that at all right now.

 

[AnnaS]

I just heard on Good Morning America that a 23 month old baby from Texas had died from the swine flu.

I am very concerned about this. Not panicking yet. Telling my dd (16) and older sons to keep washing their hands too.

We are seriously thinking and discussing cancelling our July plans to Cancun dh and I. I think dh should also call his caridoligist since he has heart problems. I think I am more concerned about getting sick on the plane that in Cancun. I always get sick when I get home after flying.

 

[wildernessDad]

I've been using copious amounts of hand sanitizer at work. I've also heard that distancing one's self from others when possible helps.

Communications is a lot better now than it was in 1918, so I am hopeful that it will be isolated. Being forwarded is being for-armed.

11 days to go for me until WDW.

 

[bobbiwoz]

DH has cancelled his business trip to Texas/Metamoros which was scheduled for next week. I am happy about that. We're doing what we can to be safe and we are still looking forward to our vacation which is in less than 3 weeks.

Bobbi

 

[Chuck S]

I just heard on Good Morning America that a 23 month old baby from Texas had died from the swine flu.

I am very concerned about this. Not panicking yet. Telling my dd (16) and older sons to keep washing their hands too.

We are seriously thinking and discussing cancelling our July plans to Cancun dh and I. I think dh should also call his caridoligist since he has heart problems. I think I am more concerned about getting sick on the plane that in Cancun. I always get sick when I get home after flying.

While the news is sort of vague here, it sound like the toddler is a Mexican resident who traveled to Brownsville April 4th to visit relatives and became ill April 8th. The child also had other medical problems. Brownsville hospital transferred the young patient to Houston. The rest of the family is showing no signs of infection. This very tragic death is not an indication that the virus is spreading in TX.

 

[Crisgw]

My sister works high up at the PHD here (She's MPH) in our state and today is at a bunker researching and learning about the "swine flu" from the CDC and she isn't worried about our impending trip. She told me to just be aware of any symptoms but that it's highly unlikely to happen and the media is blowing this WAY out of proportion.

 

[CarolA]

I guess we differ on the definition of "national crisis"...no, we are not getting nuked. However, when the CDC invokes an emergency situation which will release necessary funds needed for potential healthcare related financial disasters (extra medications, healthcare equipt. etc), I would put this on the scale of a national crisis. There could be devastating financial ramifications from this should the spread of the virus continue.

So where was the CDC when 36,000 of your fellow citizens were dying from the "non swine" flu?????

Why are these few deaths and illnessness "national crisis" and 36,000 weren't?


Media impact anyone???

 

[JimC]

I recommend that if you want the best information about this that you go to the CDC site. It will have the most up to date and accurate information that is publicly available. Realize that during any disease outbreak conditions evolve and can change rapidly. Be vigilant about following the basic everyday actions to stay healthy.

 

[HsvTeacher]

Well, we just found out that our vacation will probably be affected! There are two "probable" cases of swine flu in a local elementary school, so they are closing all the schools (three school systems!) as a precaution.

Since we were scheduled to leave for Disney on May 24, we are most likely going to have to change our plans. We're hoping they won't extend the school year, since we get out on May 22.

I guess we'll call MS first thing in the morning to see if we can reschedule.

 

[dcamdad]

Wow, this swine flu is really getting out of hand, I hope everyone is beleiving every single word the media is feeding us. Go home, cancel all your WDW ressies immediately, have contact with no one, seal yourself in your home tightly as not to allow any ouside air to infiltrate your home making you run your a/c system until it is over worked and breaks down. That way while I am enjoying my OKW stay from 5/14 - 5/22 the resorts, parks and resturaunts will be empty and when I return all those broken a/c systems will ensure I have plenty of work to make $$$ for our next trip.

In all seriousness its just something else the media has latched onto and I believe have blown way out of proportion. As others have already stated the normal "flu" season kills thousands without a word from the media.

 

[CarolA]

Wow, this swine flu is really getting out of hand, I hope everyone is beleiving every single word the media is feeding us. Go home, cancel all your WDW ressies immediately, have contact with no one, seal yourself in your home tightly as not to allow any ouside air to infiltrate your home making you run your a/c system until it is over worked and breaks down. That way while I am enjoying my OKW stay from 5/14 - 5/22 the resorts, parks and resturaunts will be empty and when I return all those broken a/c systems will ensure I have plenty of work to make $$$ for our next trip.

In all seriousness its just something else the media has latched onto and I believe have blown way out of proportion. As others have already stated the normal "flu" season kills thousands without a word from the media.

I think that I will be there next week.

I am willing to take the risk. So everyone stay home and I will report back for future trips!

 

[jco_direwolf]

I think that I will be there next week.

I am willing to take the risk. So everyone stay home and I will report back for future trips!

Watch out there is a HUGE outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis in Florida, 10 suspected cases reported in Fla the week of 11 April (out of the 80 nationwide.)

Tampa had 9 deaths that same week from Pneumonia and influenza. Miami had 10, and Jax had 8.

FWIW, that week there where 856 deaths!

johno

 

[HsvTeacher]

We're willing to take the risk, too. Unfortunately, our stupid superintendent doesn't feel the same way, and school can't happen without us teachers being there.

What a headache!

 

[ILIKEWDW]

And, it creeps me out that the pandemic flu of 1918 first U.S. cases were in Kansas and New York - two of the four states that are reporting it this time.

That is not the only thing on this new virus that makes it similar to the flu of 1918, here there are some other similar characteristics:

** The flu of 1918 was an Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1
(just like this swine flu).

** Most of its victims were healthy young adults, in contrast to most influenza outbreaks which predominantly affect juvenile, elderly, or otherwise weakened patients. (And that is what people are seeing now in Mexico).

What do you think about it?

 

[ILIKEWDW]

I'm not going to really worry unless this swine flu mutates into a killer close to the current bird flu, which up until now has not very sucessfully passed from person to person. But swine flu could combine with bird flu, and no one knows how virulent that kind of mix would be.

Please tell me I am wrong, but I remember I heard in the news that this new swine flu is actually a combination between the bird flu, human flue and swine flu...... Did I hear right? maybe that is the reason for what people (please read politicians, scientists, doctors) are so worried and taking extreme precautions.

I recommend that if you want the best information about this that you go to the CDC site. It will have the most up to date and accurate information that is publicly available. Realize that during any disease outbreak conditions evolve and can change rapidly. Be vigilant about following the basic everyday actions to stay healthy.

Yes, they change rapidly: Yesterday we were about the 60's infected and today we are aroun the 90´s.

It is time to pray.

 

[CarolA]

That is not the only thing on this new virus that makes it similar to the flu of 1918, here there are some other similar characteristics:

** The flu of 1918 was an Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1
(just like this swine flu).

** Most of its victims were healthy young adults, in contrast to most influenza outbreaks which predominantly affect juvenile, elderly, or otherwise weakened patients. (And that is what people are seeing now in Mexico).

What do you think about it?

What I think is that MOST influseza outbreaks attack EVERYONE.

Reporting of diseases in America is HIGHLY unreliable.

1. Young and healthy often just "tough" out things like the flu
2. Doctor's often diagnosis by "symptom" and not formal testing. Even on this one the "confirmed" vs "reported" has a HUGE gap
3. In the US, Doctors voluntarily report things like flu. Which means the reporting is "spotty" at best.

Actually the way they track outbreaks now.... using prescription data! So if you decide you can't afford Tamiflu and "tough" it out. You never get counted. The truth is that older folks and the very young are more likely to seek medical help and more likely to actually fill the prescription leading to biased numbers. Thanks to "media" panic EVERYONE is seeking medical help right now. That includes folks who have ABSOLUTELY no flu but have managed to "panic" themselves into thinking "I am achy, etc...." Considering the "pollen count" in Atlanta for example everyone I know is sneezing and coughing. (My car has had a lovely "yellow" coating for about a month. While I didn't 'think' I had allergies... I found out that living here means you do no matter WHAT LOL!)

 

[debaudrn]

So where was the CDC when 36,000 of your fellow citizens were dying from the "non swine" flu?????

Why are these few deaths and illnessness "national crisis" and 36,000 weren't?


Media impact anyone???

Carol,
This is exactly what I have been telling people over and over and over. We need to use our heads and practice good handwashing, use hand sanitizer and stay home if you are sick. Call your physician if you have flu like symptoms. If the media reported the number of deaths EVERY winter in the US from the flu people would be paniced all the time.

 

[ILIKEWDW]

What I think is that MOST influseza outbreaks attack EVERYONE.

Reporting of diseases in America is HIGHLY unreliable.

1. Young and healthy often just "tough" out things like the flu
2. Doctor's often diagnosis by "symptom" and not formal testing. Even on this one the "confirmed" vs "reported" has a HUGE gap
3. In the US, Doctors voluntarily report things like flu. Which means the reporting is "spotty" at best.

Actually the way they track outbreaks now.... using prescription data! So if you decide you can't afford Tamiflu and "tough" it out. You never get counted. The truth is that older folks and the very young are more likely to seek medical help and more likely to actually fill the prescription leading to biased numbers. Thanks to "media" panic EVERYONE is seeking medical help right now. That includes folks who have ABSOLUTELY no flu but have managed to "panic" themselves into thinking "I am achy, etc...." Considering the "pollen count" in Atlanta for example everyone I know is sneezing and coughing. (My car has had a lovely "yellow" coating for about a month. While I didn't 'think' I had allergies... I found out that living here means you do no matter WHAT LOL!)

Yes, you are right on that, the problem is that H1N1 is more deadly than the common flu.

Even you can not say with certainty, since it's not just pig virus, but has been combined with the avian and human, so no one can say with sure how it will attack.

And although it is not to panic, we must be aware and take precautions to protect ourselves and others.

Thinking that way we will be contributing to prevent a pandemic.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Yes, you are right on that, the problem is that H1N1 is more deadly than the common flu.

And what is "the common flu"? Flu refers to any "RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae" the H1N1 designation tells you which one based on the viral proteins, H-something and N-something (which I won't attempt to spell.)

Every year it's a slightly different set of antibodies you need to protect yourself. Hence the annual flu shots. And the reason it doesn't always work, the virus mutated or one set of proteins that need to be in there wasn't, the flu shot is a gamble.

This so far hasn't impressed me with anything more than the media hype.

Oh an tracking is done by by the CDC they don't "Just use filled prescriptions." They use a lot of different data, including required reporting from states, which then require doctors to report cases of certain things.

PLEASE take a moment to read the CDC website. They really are the best place in the WORLD to get this sort of information. The US PHS and CDC are absolutely the best in the world. This is why they have teams that go where ever around the world. They have more access to equipment, labs, and specialists than any other organization, public, private, NGO, or other goverments.

johno

 

[Lynn5700]

Nope not worried...mor annoyed by the whole thing.. we leave for Disney on sunday.