Pandemic?

[LuvOrlando]

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[dawgsgirl]

Hi D L & K's Mom, thanks for your kind words. Kids with special circumstances can be hard to manage. On the one hand they have to be extra careful but on the other hand, they are just kids who want to be like everyone else and make terrible decisions on a daily basis. As parents we can only manage so much of the risk on their behalf and that's a hard thing to balance Technically no-one here is sick however, there is obviously an increase in risk to my kids because the Government says so...how is it that this isn't relevant??????

We're not quite sold on giving up the vacation yet. We still have time left and are hoping that once Monday comes and the world is fully staffed, information will start flowing with more speed and accuracy. We also hope that by the end of next weekend we'll all have a better idea of the big picture and can make our decision responsibly.

I feel the same way. I am planning on taking my 75 year old mother for Mother's Day. I'm getting very antsy about this. I would not want her to get this stuff!

 

[twinklebug]

Thanks....but I think I could've slept better tonight NOT knowing that....

Too much info?

From what they've said so far it sounds as though the confirmed US cases of this new flu are mild and not as severe as those showing up in the Mexican citizens. I'm inclined to believe it has something to do with the mandatory immunizations we've been given since children if we grew up here.

I'm not worried, but I have mentioned the flu to my kids (12 & 15) so they're not shocked when they hear of people panicking because there's always someone who panics (my mom comes to mind... she's called me no less than 5 times today. Oiy.) I told them just to use normal common sense. Stay clear of those coughing into the air, don't share anything that might carry germs with friends (chewed pencils anyone?) and keep their hands clean, just like any other time of year.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Sorry if this has been asked already but is there a specific test (blood I would think) that would indicate it is the swine flu? How long would it be in your body after you become sick....do you have immunity to it after you have it so it would show?

Hope this made sense.

From the CDC
"To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing."

 

[C.Ann]

I'm all ready very cautious due to other health issues I have, so nothing will really change for me..

 

[SeaSpray]

Too much info?

Definitely too much info! "Drowning in their own fluids..."

I actually remember that exact line from a M*A*S*H episode!! Just the idea of it impacted me enough that I've never forgotten it!


(Sorry, I don't mean to make light of this, by mentioning the M*A*S*H episode).



DS21 and his girlfriend were here today for dinner, and I asked them if they'd heard about this or not. They work nights/weekends, so they hadn't watched any tv yesterday or today so didn't know anything about it. I asked DS18 if he had heard about the outbreak (he's been away on spring break and just got back home last night) and he said he read about it on the internet today. I think that being aware and informed is a great benefit at this point.

 

[TheZue]

Too much info?

From what they've said so far it sounds as though the confirmed US cases of this new flu are mild and not as severe as those showing up in the Mexican citizens. I'm inclined to believe it has something to do with the mandatory immunizations we've been given since children if we grew up here.

I'm not worried, but I have mentioned the flu to my kids (12 & 15) so they're not shocked when they hear of people panicking because there's always someone who panics (my mom comes to mind... she's called me no less than 5 times today. Oiy.) I told them just to use normal common sense. Stay clear of those coughing into the air, don't share anything that might carry germs with friends (chewed pencils anyone?) and keep their hands clean, just like any other time of year.

One theory on why it's worse in Mexico I heard today is that their air quality is just so awful that they already had weakened lungs and immune systems. So basically they were already run down before they even got it.

 

[DVCLiz]

"...animal attacks on overwhelmed communities..." - good Lord!!! What in the world would have happened in that case?

 

[twinklebug]

One theory on why it's worse in Mexico I heard today is that their air quality is just so awful that they already had weakened lungs and immune systems. So basically they were already run down before they even got it.

That's possible too, I suppose even the experts don't know enough about this yet to know what's going on, how it started or what to expect.

One question I have is the ban on pork products that I read Russia has put in place. I don't quite understand this. It seems apparent now that the flu is being spread from person to person (8 NY cases in one school - only 2 of which can be linked to Mexico) It is highly doubtful it's being passed through the pork products. Are the meat products an actual concern, or do you suppose it's simply the government's knee jerk reaction to a situation to quiet the public fears and show that they're trying to do something to protect them?

 

[minnie56]

There's a ban on Pork???
The grocery store I was in this afternoon had miles of it on sale?

 

[twinklebug]

There's a ban on Pork???
The grocery store I was in this afternoon had miles of it on sale?

I'm sorry - I shouldn't have said there's a ban on the import of pork to Canada.
Found the link and I'm embarrassed to say - I read it wrong, looks like it was Russia that has banned pork products from the americas.

 

[Northstar]

4 confirmed cases in Nova Scotia, all at one private school. 2 of the kids had been on a trip to Mexico.

 

[minnie56]

Ahhhh....whew ok
Glad I had Canadian Bacon for breakfast this morning!

 

[ilovepcot]

"...animal attacks on overwhelmed communities..." - good Lord!!! What in the world would have happened in that case?

I read that and did a double take. Just when we think we've seen and heard it all. This world has seen horrors that we will never begin to understand.

 

[JimFitz]

One theory on why it's worse in Mexico I heard today is that their air quality is just so awful that they already had weakened lungs and immune systems. So basically they were already run down before they even got it.

The reason it attacks 25-45 year olds worse is because we actually have better immune systems which overreacts to the virus thus killing us. That's why the young and old are not dying with this one.....very similar to 1918.

From the Spanish Flu pandemic (similar virus)........"On January 18, 2007, Kobasa et al. reported that monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) infected with the recreated strain exhibited classic symptoms of the 1918 pandemic and died from a cytokine storm[40] – an overreaction of the immune system. This may explain why the 1918 flu had its surprising effect on younger, healthier people, as a person with a stronger immune system would potentially have a stronger overreaction.[41]"

Here is the link....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu#Patterns_of_fatality

 

[Chris2597]

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

The school district in Schertz where the cases have been found is closing for an entire week in hopes of stopping any possible spread.

I am wondering if other districts will follow suit. I am dreading making up days in the summer.

 

[AmazingGrace]

My son goes to judson. I seriously wonder if he didn't have this a wekk or two back. the bad thing is, that he was saying how many kids in his class were absent with the same symptoms. And as far as make up days, go, if judson has to close, then make it up in the summer, then they'll have to do it without my kids. I've paid $500 dolloars for their camps this year and they are not missing them.

 

[disney kid at heart]

I haven't read all the posts yet, but can someone tell me if Tamiflu can be given to type 1 diabetics? I am very worried about this flu.

 

[MoniqueU]

I am nor panicked at all. But my Dd 12 has the flu and will be going into the Dr when ordinarily I wouldn't bother with that. I am sure it is just regular case of the flut but since we are in one of the states affected I thought I would get it checked out.

 

[wehavesix]

My 11 year old son is supposed to go on a school trip to Houston at the end of this week. Have there been any cases in Houston? Should I be concerned about letting him go? I'll talk to him about washing hands and keeping his hands away from his mouth, eyes and nose but he's a typical boy. It'll go in one ear and out the other, I'm afraid. WWYD?