Pandemic?

[weswife]

Hi,

I agree this flu is a worry! I have a spcial needs child as well! I worry about germs all the time. We did noy get a flu shot this year. Our Dr. called and made us get one today. She explained the shot takes 21 days to get fully into your system BUT it will decrease the degree to which you get the flu. She also explained the swine flu is not in the shot BUT once again it offers some protection. So, of course all 5 of us got one today! Hopefully it stays away from Disney! Take care all!

 

[Poppinsme]

I think she was referring to the anti viral drugs like Tamiflu and not immunizations. But yes, pregnant women should get the flu shot, when its available.

We are taking Tamiflu/Relenza at work and all the pregnant health care workers are taking it also. Tamiflu and Relenza may not work with swine flu but we are still getting it. And Tamiflu and Relenza ARE antivirals which is what im talking about.

 

[S. C.]

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

(As of April 29, 2009, 11:00 AM ET)
States

# of laboratory confirmed cases

Deaths
Arizona 1
California 14
Indiana 1
Kansas 2
Massachusetts 2
Michigan 2
Nevada 1
New York 51
Ohio 1
Texas
16
1
TOTAL COUNTS 91 cases 1 death
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
See: World Health OrganizationExternal Web Site Policy.

 

[C.Ann]

Closing the school district down just makes sense to me. Why wait for confirmation on that one case...or for more suspect cases to crop up. If they are going to try and "beat" it (and yes I know they will never beat it) being proactive just makes sense to me.

-----------------------

We now have 2 confirmed cases and 1 suspected case in the county my DD's family lives in.. No information in regards to the ages of the patients - or where they contracted this flu - but we have a very large medical center in our area that has stated that Tamiflu - when given early - is effective in treating this flu and preventing deaths..

DD and her DH have to attend a meeting at the Middle School tonight (for parents of children moving up to the MS next year) and no one has called to cancel the meeting, so we're assuming it's not children in DGD's school district.. If it does appear in DGD's school district they will close the schools down in a heart beat.. They are very, very good in regards to things like that..

We've reminded DGD to be vigilent about the precautions she routinely uses - both in and out of school - have gone over the symptoms with her - and have encouraged her to notify mom, dad, me (or any other adult) early on if she isn't feeling well..

All of the necessary precautions are in place - DGD has now been informed of what is going on and what she needs to watch for - so we're comfortable with our present situation..

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Is anyone else worried at the amount of Tamiflu being given out. Here in the UK they seem to be handing them out like sweeties to anyone who might have possibly been in contact with someone with the virus.

Not to mention the fact that supplies aren't endless, but surely this could lead to the virus mutating with some speed to a resistant form which is not going to be good.

 

[mommy*RN]

C.Ann
Your family is doing everything perfectly...without panic and fear. I hope others follow in your families footsteps.

 

[mommy*RN]

Is anyone else worried at the amount of Tamiflu being given out. Here in the UK they seem to be handing them out like sweeties to anyone who might have possibly been in contact with someone with the virus.

Not to mention the fact that supplies aren't endless, but surely this could lead to the virus mutating with some speed to a resistant form which is not going to be good.

If they are handing out Tamiflu like candy there will be a resistant strain.

 

[C.Ann]

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

(As of April 29, 2009, 11:00 AM ET)
States

# of laboratory confirmed cases

Deaths
Arizona 1
California 14
Indiana 1
Kansas 2
Massachusetts 2
Michigan 2
Nevada 1
New York 51
Ohio 1
Texas
16
1
TOTAL COUNTS 91 cases 1 death
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
See: World Health OrganizationExternal Web Site Policy.

--------------------

91 cases and only one death - the poor toddler who traveled here from Mexico City.. That one death is horrible - - but it's also encouraging that there have been no "confirmed" cases of U.S. citizens dying from this flu yet..

 

[C.Ann]

C.Ann
Your family is doing everything perfectly...without panic and fear. I hope others follow in your families footsteps.

---------------

Thanks.. This is not the time to lose ones head and create undue panic and fear - especially when talking to your children about it..

At this point I will go back to watching the local news - so I can stay informed as to any suspected or confirmed cases in the county where I am currently residing - as well as the nearby county where I hope to do my "stocking up for the summer" grocery shopping next week (something I do every year after I get settled in here).. It won't change my plans - but I won't stand around and let someone cough all over me either..

 

[bigmerle1966]

I was just gonna say...now would NOT be the best time to re-read The Stand, even if it is one of my favorite books. Shoot, the first summer I read it, every time I heard somebody cough I wanted to race away & put on a HAZMAT suit.

Every time these pandemic things come up I immediately think about The Stand! I have my plan in place just in case.

 

[Cindyluwho]

In the midst of all this I didn't realize or think about the need to come up with an employer/employee plan for our business! YIKES!! We're going on 4 years as business owners and just hadn't even thought about this kind of thing!!

So, in the last hour, with the help of government sites, I was able to put together a comprehensive plan for our business and our agents. It will go out this afternoon to all employees and agents. We will also post print outs from our health department on how to stay healthy and to stay the heck home if you're sick. We had one gal come in the last two days, sick as a dog, our manager sent her home today and told her not to come back to the office until her cough and congestion is gone. Now it will be in writing, per government guidelines.

I've been one busy gal today!!

 

[donnabc]

Call me a skeptic. It seems like every few years we get another pandemic scare. Swine flu. SARS. Mad Cow Disease. Bird flu. Now swine and bird flu. I'm not saying that it won't be a tragedy for a few and bad for many, but it isn't going to be anything like the doomsayers are predicting. I'll give you 10 to 1 odds that this flu won't crack the top 10 in causes of fatalities in the US this year. Smoking, driving, being fat, being out of shape - those are the things that are far more likely to kill you. Worry about them instead.

Ummm can't speak for the other scares but I nor my family has eaten beef for over 6 months now due to my personal knowledge of 4 cases of CJD (mad cow in humans) over the last year within 30 miles of our home. I can tell you it is not a pleasant way to die.

 

[KSchwagg86]

How long does it take for people do die once they have contracted it?

 

[Christine]

How long does it take for people do die once they have contracted it?

According to my local news report, the 23-month-old child that died in Texas had the illness for 16 days. Methinks, he probably had pneumonia as a secondary infection and probably cause of death.

 

[JimFitz]

How long does it take for people do die once they have contracted it?

Some fatalities in Mexico have been within 72 hours of onset of symptoms.

Small fact......1918 Spanish Flu surfaced in April....went away and then came BACK in August to kill 5% of the population.

Be prepared and get supplies....don't listen to the people who are saying "Media Hype"....these are the people who will be looking for supplies when there are none left.

 

[minkydog]

According to my local news report, the 23-month-old child that died in Texas had the illness for 16 days. Methinks, he probably had pneumonia as a secondary infection and probably cause of death.

And according the the news, the child had some unnamed special health issues which made him susceptible.

 

[Christine]

And according the the news, the child had some unnamed special health issues which made him susceptible.

I wish the media would be more responsible about reporting all of the details surrounding the cause of death. I think they are doing everyone a disservice by obscuring those details.

 

[Nancy]

Is anyone else worried at the amount of Tamiflu being given out. Here in the UK they seem to be handing them out like sweeties to anyone who might have possibly been in contact with someone with the virus.

Not to mention the fact that supplies aren't endless, but surely this could lead to the virus mutating with some speed to a resistant form which is not going to be good.

Yes I am, especially if people are taking it as a preventive measure.

 

[taximomfor4]

I

So, in the last hour, with the help of government sites, I was able to put together a comprehensive plan for our business and our agents. It will go out this afternoon to all employees and agents. We will also post print outs from our health department on how to stay healthy and to stay the heck home if you're sick. We had one gal come in the last two days, sick as a dog, our manager sent her home today and told her not to come back to the office until her cough and congestion is gone. Now it will be in writing, per government guidelines.

I've been one busy gal today!!

Great job, getting that info together. You might not need it now, but at least it's done if you ever do!

As for the employee with cough/congestion, the government's guidelines (which my kids' school is following) specifies a FEBRILE illness. So, my sniffly dd6 is still allowed in school, and has been going each day. She has a sniffly nose and an occasional cough (from the post-nasal drip). NO fever, so doesn't fall in with the government's guidelines to prevent flu transmission. You didn't mention fever, for your employee, so just wanted to point out that it may be unnecessary for her to be staying home.

 

[taximomfor4]

We are taking Tamiflu/Relenza at work and all the pregnant health care workers are taking it also. Tamiflu and Relenza may not work with swine flu but we are still getting it. And Tamiflu and Relenza ARE antivirals which is what im talking about.

Why are you all taking Tamiflu? Did you ALL start getting flu symptoms?