Pandemic?

[Disneycrazymom]

Don't you need a prescription for Tamiflu? I think the DR gave us a script for it when DS had the flu. It was REALLY REALLY expensive.

 

[flying_babyb]

DH just got home from work. He is an ID physician and an expert in influenza, and he feels it could be very serious. The CDC just activated their emergency operation center. Not a common occurrance.

Oh great!! wacth someone at my daycare get it and take us all out.

 

[MoniqueU]

While I agree that this particular influenza strain is worrisome, I think it's prudent to just follow the CDC website and try to stay away from the news sources on this. As we all well know, the media seems to enjoy scaring people and sensationalizing this type of stuff to keep up their ratings. I do think this is worth watching but I'm hoping not worth following the lead of the media and causing panic.

I agree. I watch the news nearly 24 hours a day unle ss the kids or my DH hijack it. I will be watching this through a cynical eye unless they bring out official from the CDC that tell me to worry. Although the possibility of my kids getting out of school for any reason lifts my spirits. But imagine the further damage something like this would do to our already troubled economy. My husbands desimated business can't take much more. Let's hope mexico gets this under control fast.

 

[honugirl]

From what I read, the incubation is 7-14 days. You're risk is VERY small, so don't worry too much.

Thanks for the info! We're completely outside that window now.

I just worry because of the tumor surgery I had, my adrenal glands have completely shut down and I'm on cortisol replacement. This illness would be devastating and probably deadly to someone in my condition because I can't make enough stress hormones to help my body fight off disease. I have to be so careful not to get a cold, the flu, anything. If I get any sort of infection, I have to jump on it immediately, even a simple UTI can land me in the hospital. I will be watching this closely and battening down the hatches if anything starts to come near me.

 

[TheGoofster]

There's a Diser from Mexico City, The Goofster I think. Hope they're OK.

Thanks for the kind wishes. We are all doing fine down here, but let me tell you, it is rather interesting to see all that is going on.
The Government has requested (insisted) that pretty much all public gathering places be shut down until further notice. That includes Movie theaters, discos, bars, meetings, churches, etc... In fact they have said that the Government itself will be meeting outside while the main Government buildings are thoroughly disinfected. All the shcools and universities are also closed until further notice. It's really pretty eerie right now driving around here, there are almost no cars on the road. The main grocery stores are still open, but besides that, most other places are closed. About 1 out of every 5 people are wearing a mask over their mouths when they do go out.
They have also requested avoiding the hospitals unless you really need to go.
In a city of 25 - 30 million people, a few hundred is such a small drop in the bucket, but I do appreciate what the city is doing to try and keep this from becoming something serious.
As for us, we will be spending most of the day tomorrow disinfecting our own house (Bleach, Lysol, cleaning agents, etc...), and we will be canceling our own church service on Sunday in compliance with the Government's request (we were planning on having a special Children's day service on Sunday, but we'll just have to post-pone that until a later day).
From what I understand from the media down here, the 60 or so people who have died were all people who waited far too long before going to the doctor. They seem to think that if you start getting some of the systems of this disease, that if you get medical treatment soon enough, it is quite treatable.
I'll try and keep you updated as to what is happening down here. In the 10 years we've been here, this is one of the most unusual things we've ever seen.

 

[Christine]

Thanks for the kind wishes. We are all doing fine down here, but let me tell you, it is rather interesting to see all that is going on.
The Government has requested (insisted) that pretty much all public gathering places be shut down until further notice. That includes Movie theaters, discos, bars, meetings, churches, etc... In fact they have said that the Government itself will be meeting outside while the main Government buildings are thoroughly disinfected. All the shcools and universities are also closed until further notice. It's really pretty eerie right now driving around here, there are almost no cars on the road. The main grocery stores are still open, but besides that, most other places are closed. About 1 out of every 5 people are wearing a mask over their mouths when they do go out.
They have also requested avoiding the hospitals unless you really need to go.
In a city of 25 - 30 million people, a few hundred is such a small drop in the bucket, but I do appreciate what the city is doing to try and keep this from becoming something serious.
As for us, we will be spending most of the day tomorrow disinfecting our own house (Bleach, Lysol, cleaning agents, etc...), and we will be canceling our own church service on Sunday in compliance with the Government's request (we were planning on having a special Children's day service on Sunday, but we'll just have to post-pone that until a later day).
From what I understand from the media down here, the 60 or so people who have died were all people who waited far too long before going to the doctor. They seem to think that if you start getting some of the systems of this disease, that if you get medical treatment soon enough, it is quite treatable.
I'll try and keep you updated as to what is happening down here. In the 10 years we've been here, this is one of the most unusual things we've ever seen.

I think that everything the government is doing is very prudent. A good way to slow down the spread.

Also good to hear that this flu isn't like the Spanish flu which seemed to kill within 12 hours. Now that was an interesting strain of influenza.

 

[Buckalew11]

Did I see they were testing for the swine flu in NY today? *ugh* Hoping for the best. Goofster you all take care for sure. You'll be in my prayers.

Honugirl, you will also for what yoou are facing. Keep strong, girl!

 

[DawnCt1]

Is the current flu shot offering any protection?

They are studying that now but they are antigenically different. There may be partial protection.

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn, does your husband know of any cases in any other Latin or South American cities? DD20 is still in Ecuador for 6 more weeks - just want to keep myself up to date as she is traveling extensively around the country now and I'd like to make sure she has the best information possible.

None that we know of, but he said that if they really had 1000 cases in Mexico, its a good possibility that it will spread. The southern hemisphere will be entering their winter/flu season in the next few weeks.

 

[DawnCt1]

Is this the same flu that was going around a couple months ago? DS and DD both tested positive for it and were really sick for about 10 days! Could that make us lucky enough not to get it again? Wishful thinking I am sure!

No, this is brand new with swine flu gene segments, bird and human flu segments.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Dawn, does your husband feel enough steps are being taken at this time to try and prevent the spead of this strain of flu? It does seem that the Mexican government is trying to take early measures to warn and educate the public. What additional information and safty measures should the public know about and follow?

 

[golfgal]

I do have it, but only because DH has it so he can dispense it as needed, so I don't have it personally. I wouldn't stock up. If you develop symptoms of the flu, then call your primary doctor, get a rapid flu test and then a prescription for Tamiflu. It is not a good idea to stockpile medication that may be needed by those who really do develop the flu. What is unusual is that this flu has gene segments from swine in the US and swine from Eurasia, it also has avian genes and human flu genes. This is the first time that a mixture like this has been identified.

Not to add to they hysteria but can genes from pigs, birds and humans naturally mix like that? It seems somewhat genetically impossible without assistance--but then I am certainly not a geneticist either.

I understand what you're saying, but my "panic" is coming from my cousin who lives just outside of Mexico City. The Mexico City and state of Mexico are taking extreme measures at this time and they seem to think they have real reason to panic. They have already shut down public schools, public buildings, etc. So while I understand getting your info from the CDC, right now the CDC is really just quoting the "confirmed" cases which is almost nil. I'm afraid they'd be behind the 8 ball in getting the word out.

Every number I have heard matches your previous posts for numbers, 60 dead, 1000 confirmed cases. What other numbers are you hearing? How else do you expect them to report, "well, there are 20 million people in Mexico City so there are 20 million unconfirmed cases and 1000 confirmed."?? It sounds to me like the government is being prudent and cautious and limited interaction to slow the spread. I think they are just being proactive and not panicking.

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn, does your husband feel enough steps are being taken at this time to try and prevent the spead of this strain of flu? It does seem that the Mexican government is trying to take early measures to warn and educate the public. What additional information and safty measures should the public know about and follow?

WHO is meeting this weekend to determine if they need to raise the "pandemic alert level for WHO". We have been at level three for three years which means that there is novel flu virus which has occurred but with limited person to person spread. Level four is clusters of human to human transmission of a "novel" flu virus. He thinks that they may raise it to level four this weekend.

Not to add to they hysteria but can genes from pigs, birds and humans naturally mix like that? It seems somewhat genetically impossible without assistance--but then I am certainly not a geneticist either.


Every number I have heard matches your previous posts for numbers, 60 dead, 1000 confirmed cases. What other numbers are you hearing? How else do you expect them to report, "well, there are 20 million people in Mexico City so there are 20 million unconfirmed cases and 1000 confirmed."?? It sounds to me like the government is being prudent and cautious and limited interaction to slow the spread. I think they are just being proactive and not panicking.

Not pig, bird and human genes but pig flu, bird flu and human flu genes. He just gave me a huge, scientific explanation, but pigs are suseptable to swine, bird and human influenza and so the pig can act as a mixing vessel and can create a strain that can 'swap out' genes and create a strain that can infect all three and one that can be transmitted human to human rather than just from pig to human, etc.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Proactive is a good word to use.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Dawn, does your husband know what the incubation time seems to be from time of contact with an infected person to the time of showing symptoms? Are there any symptoms that are different than most "normal flu" symptoms?

If it goes from level 3 to level 4, what does that mean on a national and world level? What steps and measures are taken at that point?

 

[honugirl]

Honugirl, you will also for what yoou are facing. Keep strong, girl!

Thanks! Will do. We'll just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.

 

[Lisa_M]

Could meat be infected and carry the illness?

 

[crazyme5kids]

WHO is meeting this weekend to determine if they need to raise the "pandemic alert level for WHO". We have been at level three for three years which means that there is novel flu virus which has occurred but with limited person to person spread. Level four is clusters of human to human transmission of a "novel" flu virus. He thinks that they may raise it to level four this weekend.


What does "novel flu virus" mean? How is a cluster determined versus just a person to person (it isn't the same thing?), a person to person being for example 10 cases in a school or 50 in a school being a cluster?

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn, does your husband know what the incubation time seems to be from time of contact with an infected person to the time of showing symptoms? Are there any symptoms that are different than most "normal flu" symptoms?

If it goes from level 3 to level 4, what does that mean on a national and world level? What steps and measures are taken at that point?

(he is still reading the paper and drinking his coffee so I have him here)
The incubation period is 2 to 5 days. There is more diarrhea with this flu, otherwise it is similar.
Going from level 3 to level 4: It has little meaning for the public but it has meaning for public healthcare, hospitals and businesses. They need to start looking at their pandemic flu plans and organizing the elements that they may need to put into effect.

 

[golfgal]

(he is still reading the paper and drinking his coffee so I have him here)
The incubation period is 2 to 5 days. There is more diarrhea with this flu, otherwise it is similar.
Going from level 3 to level 4: It has little meaning for the public but it has meaning for public healthcare, hospitals and businesses. They need to start looking at their pandemic flu plans and organizing the elements that they may need to put into effect.

It is so nice having a resident expert to ask all of these questions!!

Ok, I get the pig/bird/human thing. I know pigs are susceptible to all kinds of human illnesses. I know many hog farmers that won't allow people in their hog barns at all.