Pandemic?

[ElizK]

Has anyone been watching the flu news? This is the link to our local ABC news, but the information is on national news sites, too, like fox and cnn:
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/d...es/wfaa090424_wz_apmexswineflu.107d124f3.html All the schools/universities, state-run theatres, libraries, and museums are closed in Mexico City.

They're actually saying this could become pandemic. My husband is more than a little freakish about this kind of stuff. He's already talking about taking kids out of school, etc. I'm not ready to panic, and we've already gotten in arguements about this today. He is very well read when it comes to this kind of stuff, and he says that this is exactly how the 1918 flu pandemic started. I tend to be bury-my-head-in-the-sand kind of person, so I don't know nearly as much as he does.

Your thoughts, please?

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

From the looks of the article, the government seems to be doing what they can. The article even states "U.S. health officials said it's not yet a reason for alarm in the United States." So, unless the CDC starts warning issues, you should be fine.

Proceed with caution, and stay up to date with this.

 

[crs7568]

I read about it earlier. It sounds like it has the potential to be scary. We will have to see what happens.

 

[ElizK]

Will you take any extra precautions or planning, like stocking up on groceries?

 

[Nancy]

I'm not too worried about it...in reading the article they are not even sure if the same strain of flu has killed some of the people. They are not even advising Americans to stay away from there...just use common sense and wash your hands.

 

[DawnCt1]

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.

 

[golfgal]

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 their emergency operation center. Not a common occurrance.

I was hoping you would come here and say your DH wasn't worried-not you have me a little concerned.

 

[DawnCt1]

I was hoping you would come here and say your DH wasn't worried-not you have me a little concerned.

"Its a matter of deep concern at the CDC, there is no call for activating emergency responses right now. That could change. It will take about a week to get a better picture on it. All the cases in the US are sensitive to Tamiflu."

those are quotes while he is flipping hamburgers.

 

[december]

I just saw this, on our local news and then again on NBC Nightly News. I'm more than a little nervous. I teach, and 20% of our population is Hispanic, many from Mexico. Many of our kids take long weekends to visit family members-one of my girls just got back from a funeral in Mexico. I'm worried about what I may be exposed to. I have 2 kids, and I'm due in 3 1/2 wks. It is scary to think about!

 

[Cindyluwho]

My cousin lives at Teotihuacan, just outside of Mexico city. She says the whole state is at full alert; face masks, all schools and public buildings closed, being told to stay indoors, etc.

She is also saying that the numbers are much higher than English speaking media is reporting. As of three hours ago 60 confirmed dead and 900 infected. And yes, she is very scared!

She did say that as a Mormon she is fully prepared for emergency. She just had to throw that one in there!! At least she did it with a wink and was still able to joke about the situation.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention as I missed the news tonight.

DH travels the country a lot for work and this stuff always worries me. Being in airplanes with all the recirculated air. Meetings, training and conventions with people from across the country too. This is how things like this spread fast.

Of course, he's off to Colorado week after next also.

 

[AmazingGrace]

We've had like six cases here in San Antonio.

 

[KristinBelle]

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

 

[kinntj]

I wasn't too concerned about it yet. Then Dawn came on...Thanks Dawn.

I guess we just keep our ears open and our eyes peeled and see where this goes. We always have food in the freezer, so we're as stockpiled as we can go for a couple of weeks. That's normal for us though, so it's not because of the potential pandemic.

I'm sure the scientists will work round the clock if its a true threat.

 

[DawnCt1]

I just saw this, on our local news and then again on NBC Nightly News. I'm more than a little nervous. I teach, and 20% of our population is Hispanic, many from Mexico. Many of our kids take long weekends to visit family members-one of my girls just got back from a funeral in Mexico. I'm worried about what I may be exposed to. I have 2 kids, and I'm due in 3 1/2 wks. It is scary to think about!

I would suggest (based on DH's opinion) that you should start your maternity leave now. Pregnant women are much more at risk more than any other group.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I would suggest (based on DH's opinion) that you should start your maternity leave now. Pregnant women are much more at risk more than any other group.

Dawn, would be comfortable sharing with us whether or not you have Tamiflu on hand at your home? It's OK if that's too personal, I'm just curious if I should do the same.

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn, would be comfortable sharing with us whether or not you have Tamiflu on hand at your home? It's OK if that's too personal, I'm just curious if I should do the same.

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.

 

[ElizK]

Dawn, if at any point your DH says "they ought to be closing schools", would you let us know? I'm hoping I can hold DH off on pulling the kids. I have a Junior in HS who has already missed 3 weeks due to mono. All of our standardized tests - the one DD17 is required to pass in order to graduate next year - are this coming week. I am completely unprepared to home school, and do NOT want to go that route unless I absolutely have to. There are only 5 weeks of school left... here's keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[RyeCrimsonMoon]

All of our standardized tests - the one DD17 is required to pass in order to graduate next year - are this coming week. I am completely unprepared to home school, and do NOT want to go that route unless I absolutely have to. There are only 5 weeks of school left... here's keeping my fingers crossed.

As far as I remember, you can retake those test in the summer or in the fall, especially if you have a doctor's note saying they are sick. I know a lot of people who failed that test in my high school and got a second chance to pass. Don't worry, the government won't let a kid miss those pointless things!



I love how this pops up right after my dad leaves the Press Department at the CDC and goes to GSK.

 

[SeaSpray]

So many times I see the news here first on the DIS, and it's true of this, too.

I just turned on CNN and they were interviewing a doctor from the CDC. I didn't catch much of it, but the headline at the bottom of the screen said something like "CDC unable to control virus" or something similar to that.

I hope that those in charge can do their best to keep this virus as contained as possible. I guess the best thing for the rest of us is to keep as informed as possible.