Pandemic?

[legalsea]

Good article about this new strain of flu:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3821888.story

 

[EMom]

http://www.wftv.com/news/19311020/detail.html#-

What is going on in Florida?

I am distrustful of the whole State because I am getting the feeling there is a cover-up going on.

Yes, a great deal of money is on the line but I'd like to think people are more important. I wonder, do the conversations in that state go on like the one in Jaws where everyone meets in the town hall to decide too much money would be lost to be honest with everyone?

THIS is EXACTLY the sort of doublespeak I was talking about. So the doctor seems to think the WDW Mexican tourist had Swine flu and sent samples to the CDC for testing, but somehow.....someway......they don't have any such samples? They just cannot seem to locate them? So they cannot run tests on said samples from the Mexican tourist? Hhhhmmmm......

Aaaahhh. As The Church Lady would say, "How conveeeeenient." Now they can keep repeating the line they have been using since this story broke, "This was not confirmed as Swine flu." Okay, techincally true. You cannot confirm (or rule out, for that matter) a sample or rather, multiple samples that have magically disappeared.

So the Florida Tourist Bureau (or whatever it's called) and WDW can rest easy, because officially, there is no confirmed Swine flu at WDW. And maybe there never will be....... Confirmed, that is.

 

[mommy*RN]

Good article about this new strain of flu:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3821888.story

I just clicked on your link and read the headline and I'm already happy. It's so nice not to see PANDEMIC or KILLER FLU or whatever sensationalistic (I may have made this word up) words they are using. I'm off to read the article now. Thanks for sharing!!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Oops, my post is a reply to post #679 Planogirl

Maybe so, but if its a choice between the loss of a human life and an industry my vote goes with the human life.

If all life is precious how exactly does private industry trump it? I don't mean to be brisk but I don't see the room for a conflict in this scenario. Not everyone is worried. Some are. But if generous postponement provisions are made these companies could very well make off with double the sales because some people see the current environment as a good deal.

For example:
Say Continental would allow me to change my travel dates to a future date. They didn't lose my money because they still have it, and they still have me as a future customer. Once I walk away from my flights they have an opportunity to RE-SELL the same seats to another person eager to get a break on last minute travel and judging by the number of people here saying they'd still go I can't imagine they couldn't find a willing replacement. SO I win because I can go when I'm more comfortable, the healthy person buying my seat wins because he/she isn't worried and gets a good deal and Continental wins because they get to sell a $180 seat twice reporting earnings of $360 instead of $180.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Good article about this new strain of flu:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3821888.story

sounds like promising news so far!

 

[java]

You tell them Bloomberg. He calmly told us that he's riding the subway still and doesn't think you need to avoid it at this time. TAKE THAT BIDEN! Bloomberg is a calming voice in the midst of this all.
(although when he speaks spanish I have to )

 

[LuvOrlando]

Good article about this new strain of flu:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3821888.story

Thanks for posting this

 

[IluvKingLouis]

they just announced two confirmed cases in Colorado. Glad school will be out soon.

We haven't changed our behavior yet, but I am thinking about having a bit more food in that pantry. Also debating about trip to Disneyland this June.

I was glad to read the article saying this is a weak strain, but the fact it can mutate means we should all keep a close eye on it.

 

[Brianne]

http://www.wftv.com/news/19311020/detail.html#-

What is going on in Florida?

I am distrustful of the whole State because I am getting the feeling there is a cover-up going on.

Yes, a great deal of money is on the line but I'd like to think people are more important. I wonder, do the conversations in that state go on like the one in Jaws where everyone meets in the town hall to decide too much money would be lost to be honest with everyone?

I was just saying this to DH this morning. First there's samples being sent, then there's not, back & forth & so on. Health officers saying it's definitely in Central FL, but other people saying it's definitely not?

I'm not too concerned about the flu right now except that I personally have a lowered immune system and the thought of 4 kids bringing that germ home to me? Yuck. Actually I'm more concerned about the lice letter the elementary school sent home to all students the other day. ::cue everyone scratching their head now::

But I am irritated about our officials out here & the news stations, etc. Either it's here or it isn't, but they need to stop playing these games with the residents of this state because it's making them all look like freaking idiots. Of course, this is Florida, so what did I expect?

 

[praline3001]

Anyone interested in this flu talk here is something for you



http://www.hhs.gov/
HHS Secretary Sebelius and DHS Secretary Napolitano will host a Webcast to answer questions from the American people regarding the H1N1 flu on Thursday at 1:00 PM EDT. They will be joined by Acting Director of CDC, Dr. Besser. The Webcast can be viewed at www.hhs.gov and www.cdc.gov. Submit questions for the webcast by emailing hhsstudio@hhs.gov.

 

[wvjules]

Let me get this straight...

The state can test a sample and it can be positive for swine flu but it is not confirmed until the CDC tests the sample which can take up to 5 days or more?

 

[praline3001]

Let me get this straight...

The state can test a sample and it can be positive for swine flu but it is not confirmed until the CDC tests the sample which can take up to 5 days or more?

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my big problem with the current system! I was posting on that other thread but here is where I might need to be!

The biggest part to this is some states are NOT sending the samples AT ALL to the CDC but are telling everyone there are no confirmed cases in their state!
Well of course not dummies cause your not sending in the samples

 

[EMom]

Let me get this straight...

The state can test a sample and it can be positive for swine flu but it is not confirmed until the CDC tests the sample which can take up to 5 days or more?

First, let me say I could have this wrong because it came from TV...

I think locally they test a sample and it may tell them you have flu this, that or the other. If so, no need to send it on to the CDC.


But if they test it and you do not have flu this, that or the other, but have all the symptoms of flu, etc., then they send it on to the CDC to let them test it for swine flu. At the CDC, you may be confirmed as having swine flu or they may find it is something else.

Another reason a sample may be sent to the CDC is if the sample results are inconclusive.

I am sure there's more to it, but that's some.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I was just saying this to DH this morning. First there's samples being sent, then there's not, back & forth & so on. Health officers saying it's definitely in Central FL, but other people saying it's definitely not?

I'm not too concerned about the flu right now except that I personally have a lowered immune system and the thought of 4 kids bringing that germ home to me? Yuck. Actually I'm more concerned about the lice letter the elementary school sent home to all students the other day. ::cue everyone scratching their head now::

But I am irritated about our officials out here & the news stations, etc. Either it's here or it isn't, but they need to stop playing these games with the residents of this state because it's making them all look like freaking idiots. Of course, this is Florida, so what did I expect?

I have started to notice something similar here - on a smaller scale.

 

[praline3001]

Its all in the double speak manner of our local leaders

"There are no confirmed cases at this time"

But how many cases are waiting to be confirmed at the CDC lab? How many cases were tested positive at the state lab and the leadership decided NOT to send those test to the CDC?

The politics are ruling who's samples actually get tested and who's do not. This is an important fact when tracking the flu in your area. If your leaders are saying "No confirmed cases" and they are being careful in their speech about it and repeating that particular statement ~ then be more careful. If your leaders are saying there is no flu ... well then still be careful
But there is a definite speech pattern here.

 

[flying_babyb]

3 possible cases in Milukee (ok i cant spell) Wisconsin
www.madison.com/wsjs/mad/449243

 

[mommy*RN]

First, let me say I could have this wrong because it came from TV...

I think locally they test a sample and it may tell them you have flu this, that or the other. If so, no need to send it on to the CDC.


But if they test it and you do not have flu this, that or the other, but have all the symptoms of flu, etc., then they send it on to the CDC to let them test it for swine flu. At the CDC, you may be confirmed as having swine flu or they may find it is something else.

Another reason a sample may be sent to the CDC is if the sample results are inconclusive.

I am sure there's more to it, but that's some.

Thanks EMom...your post made sense to me...and you are right. If the test is positive for HUMAN influenza no further testing is done.

Here is the info from the CDC website:

Interim Guidance for Screening for Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) by State and Local Health Departments, Hospitals, and Clinicians in Regions with Few or no Reported Cases of Swine Influenza A (H1N1)
April 29, 2009 12:30 PM ET

This document provides interim guidance for state and local health departments, hospitals, and clinicians in regions with few or no reported cases of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) (S-OIV) regarding which patients to evaluate for possible infection with swine influenza A (H1N1). As of April 29 1:00 PM, there were 91 laboratory confirmed cases of S-OIV infection identified in 10 states in the United States. Human cases of S-OIV infection also have been identified internationally. Based on the rapid spread of the S-OIV thus far, public health officials believe that more cases will be identified over the next several weeks, including in regions that currently have few or no reported cases.

CDC recommends that state and local health departments, hospitals, and clinicians in regions with few or no reported cases of S-OIV consider the following recommendations for testing of the following persons for S-OIV infection with a nasopharyngeal swab by PCR:

Patients presenting to providers participating in the US Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) who meet the case definition of influenza-like illness (ILI), or
Patients with an ILI who have traveled within 7 days to a community either within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases, or
Patients admitted to the hospital with an ILI.
ILI is defined as fever (temperature of 100°F [37.8°C] or greater) and a cough and/or a sore throat in the absence of a KNOWN cause other than influenza.

Specimen Collection and Testing
If swine flu is suspected, clinicians should obtain a respiratory swab for S-OIV testing and place it in a refrigerator (not a freezer). Once collected, the clinician should contact their state or local health department to facilitate transport and timely diagnosis at a state public health laboratory. State public health laboratories should perform subtype testing on all influenza A positive samples identified. State public health laboratories should submit all specimens that cannot be subtyped as human influenza A (H1N1) or (H3N2) to CDC for identification. Please notify CDC of all pending shipments by email at eocsciresource@cdc.gov or if email is not available, by phone at 404-553-7724. Please include shipment tracking information.


Investigation of Cases
Officials should conduct thorough case and contact investigations to determine the source of the swine influenza virus, extent of community illness and the need for timely control measures.


Interim Guidance


Interim Guidance is available, including:
Case definitions to be used for swine influenza A (H1N1) cases
Antiviral recommendations for patients with confirmed or suspected S-OIV infection and close contacts
Infection control for care of persons with confirmed or suspected S-OIV infection in a healthcare setting
S-OIV biosafety guidelines for laboratory workers.

 

[mommy*RN]

3 possible cases in Milukee (ok i cant spell) Wisconsin
www.madison.com/wsjs/mad/449243

Hi fellow Wisconsinite!

They closed 4 Milwaukee schools because of these suspect cases. I'll be curious to see what they have. The three suspect cases we had earlier this week all turned out to be nothing.

 

[redshoes]

I have a question that I was hoping that someone could answer for me.

I was reading an article about flu vaccines. In the article it was discussed that even if there was a vaccine developed for this flu strain, it would be difficult for the USA to obtain the numbers of those vaccines we would need because we don't manufacture vaccines here (I believe the article said that Sweden is where most are made at, but I could be wrong). The article went on to state that if something was developed in another country that works, that country would first take care of their own citizens which stands to reason. I guess what my question is, why don't we develop and create vaccines here? Is it fear of legal issues, government regulations, or another reason? Or did I totally miss the point of the article and we develop vaccines here all the time?

Just as a side note, I know that vaccines carry with them all kinds of problems in themselves and that previous vaccines had side effects that were in some cases worse than developing the flu and recovering from it with proper medical care. I'm not debating whether a vaccine is the way to go in this case, at this point I'm not sure what the correct answer is. I'm just trying to understand, more clearly, why we would be dependent on another country to protect us if that ended up being the best course of action.

 

[C.Ann]

Examples of what you can do:
- frequent handwashing and follow good hygiene practices (cough and sneeze into your elbow as an example)
- call your doctor if you have any flu symptoms
- stay out of very crowded areas if at all possible
- stay informed
- don't panic
- understand that the "people doing the work" are still trying to figure things out from a genetic standpoint. It appears that this virus is different than anything most of us have been exposed to and therefore why it it has been elevated to phase 5 by the WHO (our immune systems are naive to this particular virus, it seems).

All of which we as a family have been doing - and which I have repeatedly stated in pretty much every post or thread.. I am totally confused as to where you are seeing/reading anything else..

I disagree that knowing that a virus mutates is cause for alarm. It is simply what it does. A virus does not want to kill its host (that's you and me), it can only live using our body to manufacture its DNA or RNA. It can not do it on its own. Having said that, often times when a virus jumps species (pigs to humans, birds to humans, etc) it does just that (becomes more virulent). That appears to be what is happening now, however no one will be sure for quite a while what the impact of this particular influenza will be. The good news is that science has come a long way since 1918 and many good and smart people are working this problem 24/7.

Very good points - very educational.. Again, I am confused though.. It is just that - "information".. It doesn't in any way "change" what I "should" be doing - or what I "have" been doing.. Follow the guidelines on the CDC site - updated daily - and don't panic..




I think you hit the nail on the head here!

And again, you are confused with my perception of this entire situation.. I personally don't feel the need to panic, but if I do, I will certainly make it well known..

More than anything, this morning I am annoyed.. The two "confirmed" cases and 1 "suspected" case in the county that my DD and her family lives in - that was announced on the local news last night - has today been changed to only 2 "suspected" cases and no "confirmed" cases.. So - the local news is spreading inaccurate information; the national news is spreading inaccurate information; and message boards such as this are spreading inaccurate information.. While it's interesting (and yes - sometimes amusing) to read, I think I will stick to monitoring the CDC site on a daily basis and following their common sense, no-nonsense, accurate suggestions - the ones I have been following from the start of this entire "pandemic" situation..

Thanks for taking the time for explaining - even though there are no "list of things to do" in your post that are any different than what we have been doing..