Pandemic?

[Wonderlandmom]

IF the swine flu that is making the rounds in the states is no more deadly than regular influenza, will people really quarantine themselves? So many people won't even get a flu shot each year and blow off influenza threats. If this is nothing more, why such a strong reaction?

This is all hypothetical since we really don't know about this strain. But they are saying the cases here have been "mild". And many people die from regular flu each year. Just wondering why everyone will react differently to this one vs regular flu that can kill?

 

[flying_babyb]

fox news is having a lady speak fro the cdc (i think). shes talking about how they have alot of tamiflu and how there not closing the mexican borded but passivlly screaning people. The guy on there now says there hoping this will end since flu season is ending

 

[ClareH37]

fox news is having a lady speak fro the cdc (i think). shes talking about how they have alot of tamiflu and how there not closing the mexican borded but passivlly screaning people. The guy on there now says there hoping this will end since flu season is ending

Makes me think that with the new cases springing up after people returning from Mexico - most of which are described as 'mild' and no fatalities - that hopefully this is not so fatalastic as what the media hype would have us believe
(certainly the media in the UK). If things were really that 'bad' surely the Mexican border would be closed and WHO would announce a 'pandemic'?

 

[AustinTink]

The CDC guy on the White House briefing just said it has a 48 hr. incubation period. I thought I read on here earlier that it could be an incubation period of up to 14 days. I wonder if they are giving out misinformation just to keep people calm. They also said the president is out of the woods now since he's been back 9 days. An architect he met with while in Mex. is now dead from the flu. Scary stuff!!

 

[Brit17]

The CDC guy on the White House briefing just said it has a 48 hr. incubation period. I thought I read on here earlier that it could be an incubation period of up to 14 days. I wonder if they are giving out misinformation just to keep people calm. They also said the president is out of the woods now since he's been back 9 days. An architect he met with while in Mex. is now dead from the flu. Scary stuff!!

I was just about ready to ask the same question ... I have also read conflicting info regarding the incubation period ... I've read 2 - 5 days, up to 14 days ... and now they just said 24 -48 hours ... does anyone really know? ...

 

[flying_babyb]

Yes austin! I heard that too but thought I was just sleepy. I hear alot on this breifing that seems wrong compaired to what I know. At least they say its not bioterrorism

 

[SeaSpray]

Speakers from Homeland Security and the CDC are now live on C-SPAN. I don't think that the media is causing a hype...I think they're simply providing information. Nothing they're saying is making me feel too worried at this point. But I do agree with all of the preparedness that a lot of people on this thread have mentioned. Nothing wrong with having emergency supplies on hand.

 

[DVCLiz]

The CDC guy on the White House briefing just said it has a 48 hr. incubation period. I thought I read on here earlier that it could be an incubation period of up to 14 days. I wonder if they are giving out misinformation just to keep people calm. They also said the president is out of the woods now since he's been back 9 days. An architect he met with while in Mex. is now dead from the flu. Scary stuff!!

OK, this is how rumors start. The person who toured with the President and later died DID NOT HAVE THE FLU - the report is that he died from an unrelated pre-existing illness or condition. The President was not exposed to the flu in that way.

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

2 suspected cases in Scotland now.

Starting to wish I hadn't been following this all day because I feel so ill now, tired, dizzy, vomiting, headache! Just a regular bug I'm sure, especially as I live across the atlantic form Mexico

 

[Feralpeg]

IF the swine flu that is making the rounds in the states is no more deadly than regular influenza, will people really quarantine themselves?

Unless it gets really bad, I would not quarantine myself. I would, however, stay away from areas that I consider "Meccas For Germs". Sadly, one of those places is WDW. While I love spending time there, I wouldn't if a lot of people were getting sick.

A few months ago, there was a nasty stomach bug going around. I made it a point to avoid going near the resort areas and was very careful the few times I did go to the parks. Since I can go any time I want, I won't go if I think the probability of picking up an illness there is high.

 

[RLccweems]

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.

this is good to know

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I'm going to try and think positively here, and assume since our borders are still open, things aren't so bad.

Surely we wouldn't let our citizens keep traveling to Mexico and theirs to here, if there was a real threat. Right? Wishful thinking?

And I've got to hope that Obama won't let things get too out of hand before jumping to action. Katrina comes to mind. I'm thinking our new President wants to be as pro-active as he can so he isn't compared to the Katrina awfulness that Bush went through.

And no, I don't want to turn this thread political.......

 

[AustinTink]

OK, this is how rumors start. The person who toured with the President and later died DID NOT HAVE THE FLU - the report is that he died from an unrelated pre-existing illness or condition. The President was not exposed to the flu in that way.

I was just reporting what I read online at Bloomberg.com "Obama was received at Mexico’s anthropology museum in Mexico City by Felipe Solis, a distinguished archeologist who died the following day from symptoms similar to flu"

I just read in the Houston Chronicle that they are saying it was pneumonia.

 

[ClareH37]

Just been watching the news here in the UK and a senior government health guy was on. Apparently this was first reported in Mexico in March, he's also saying it's encouraging that cases outside Mexico have so far been 'mild', but it will be another 2-3 weeks before the full extent is known and if it will be classed as a pandemic.

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm going to try and think positively here, and assume since our borders are still open, things aren't so bad.

Surely we wouldn't let our citizens keep traveling to Mexico and theirs to here, if there was a real threat. Right? Wishful thinking?

And I've got to hope that Obama won't let things get too out of hand before jumping to action. Katrina comes to mind. I'm thinking our new President wants to be as pro-active as he can so he isn't compared to the Katrina awfulness that Bush went through.

And no, I don't want to turn this thread political.......

The news report I heard today basically said it wouldn't be effective to close the borders - it wouldn't work to halt the spread of the flu. Too many people already have it or will develop it in the next couple of days/weeks and border closings would not help.


From the response of the government today I do not think they will be ignoring this or delaying a federal response.

 

[ophelia]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/26/swine.flu/index.html

The US has declared a public health emergency. This is serious folks.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Sunday, April 26, 2009 -- 1:47 PM ET
-----

Swine Flu Prompts U.S. to Declare Public Health Emergency

American health officials on Sunday declared a public health
emergency over increasing cases of swine flu, saying that
they had confirmed 20 cases of the disease in the United
States and expected to see more as investigators fan out to
track down the path of the outbreak.

Although officials said that most of the cases had been mild
and urged Americans not to panic, the emergency declaration
frees resources to be used toward diagnosing or preventing
additional cases and releases money for more antiviral drugs.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na

 

[Cindyluwho]

I was just about ready to ask the same question ... I have also read conflicting info regarding the incubation period ... I've read 2 - 5 days, up to 14 days ... and now they just said 24 -48 hours ... does anyone really know? ...

From what I've read, and at this point it's getting all jumbled up, but I think what they've said is:
The "normal" flu has an incubation period of 7-14 days and ends with the end of winter/beginning of Spring. This particular flu is worrisome because it has an incubation period of 24-48 hours and is just getting started, much as the flu of 1917. It is more similar to the outbreak of 1917 than our regular flu. BUT, and it is a big but, this is very mild "at this time". The flu of 1917 was also very mild to begin with, it was known as "grippe". When it resurfaced 12-18 weeks later it was a killer. That is NOT to say that is what's going to happen, it's just the similarities are noted and makes it more worrisome. No need to panic, just watch closely.

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

The news report I heard today basically said it wouldn't be effective to close the borders - it wouldn't work to halt the spread of the flu. Too many people already have it or will develop it in the next couple of days/weeks and border closings would not help.


From the response of the government today I do not think they will be ignoring this or delaying a federal response.

I agree. I think shutting the borders now will do no good - and will instead just prompt a mass panic

 

[LuvOrlando]

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