Pandemic?

[ElizK]

On a lighter note... a coworker who books cruises came around and said that there is a Mexico cruise that leaves Sunday for $199.00 per person, 7 nights with balcony! Wonder how many takers they'll have on that amazing deal. Oh, and they won't be stopping at any of the planned ports.

 

[C.Ann]

On a lighter note... a coworker who books cruises came around and said that there is a Mexico cruise that leaves Sunday for $199.00 per person, 7 nights with balcony! Wonder how many takers they'll have on that amazing deal. Oh, and they won't be stopping at any of the planned ports.

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I believe they have just officially declared that this should be called the "H1N1 Influenza A" from now on.. Tooooo long.. Can we go with "H1N1"??

Also - a "postive" - that unfortunately has come from a "negative".. Due to huge demand (and subsequent shortage of face masks), the few places that make them in the US (most come from over seas) are going to be hiring thousands of additional workers!! I have no idea where these manufacturers are located though..

Wonder if the same might be said for the hand sanitizer manufacturers?

I guess the "face mask" thing is the "silver lining" here..
Just an FYI for those looking for work..

 

[Cindyluwho]

This has been weighing heavy on my mind, so I'm going to run it by you all:
3 1/2 weeks ago a fellow West Seattle real estate agent fell ill with the flu. According to his son the doctor confirmed it was the flu and sent him home. He rapidly became very ill, his lungs filled up with fluid and he was hospitalized. The put him on life support and until they knew for sure there was no hope. They took him off life support last week and his funeral was Monday. The doctors are saying they think it was a MRSA staph infection from a bad tooth? At the funeral when the son was speaking he sounded overwhelmed, skeptical maybe? I don't know, it just seems so suspicious right now.

This man was one of the most amazing human beings I've ever met, wonderful family, wonderful guy. He will be so missed.

 

[goofy!]

Just jumping in here with a comment about how this disease is being managed. The news reported yesterday that a private school student in our area has tested positive for swine flu. The state requested and the school was immediately closed and all student activites were canceled. I suspect from the limited information that is being provided that his particular individual lives in my immediate neighborhood. (We don't live in a city, just in a subdivision in an unincorporated part of the county.) I am bothered about the possibility that this person could have spread the virus beyond the school but the only concern and actions so far have been directed at this particular school. While I respect the right to privacy, I think that if we are really facing a pandemic that rest of us deserve to know if we might have been exposed. I am a parent and know that schools are breeding grounds for viruses but I also think that the same could be said for restaurants and grocery stores. Closing the school only helps control part of the problem.

Our school district just came back from a 5 day weekend. Many took Thursday too since kids were excused for Take Your Kid To Work Day, which in reality turned into Take Your Kid On Vacation Weekend (we're guilty of this although it was fully disclosed to the school).

A TON of families left for a long weekend in Mexico.

Just got back from car pool a few moments ago and the big talk amongst the boys was that one of their classmates, who went to Mexico, is currently being tested for Swine Flu.

I am not the least bit worried that my child may have been exposed. If my child gets sick, I will keep him home to prevent further spread, take him to the peds and get him Tamiflu. Remember, this flu is right now now no more severe than the seasonal flu. It is a currently a mild disease and is treatable with anti-virals. No need to panic.

This is the bulletin from the Colorado Health Department. Note it says to just continue to do normal health safety things. (Bolding and red mine)

DENVER - Colorado health officials say they have confirmed two cases of H1N1 influenza A, or what's been called the swine flu in the state. The state Department of Public Health and Environment announced the cases Thursday at a press conference. Both cases have links to travel.

Health officials said at a news conference that a man in his 40s from Douglas County was hospitalized for three days with the flu. He was released from the hospital Thursday and recovering. He works as a baggage handler at Denver International Airport.

Officials also said a woman in her 30s from Arapahoe County caught the illness. She was not hospitalized and was recovering at home. Authorities said she went on a cruise in Mexico, and then spent time in San Diego before returning to Colorado.

The Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment established a help line for people to call with questions about the flu outbreak. It is toll free 877-462-2911.

"It's important to understand that, at this time in the United States, the H1N1 flu is acting just like seasonal flu," said Ned Calonge, the state's chief medical officer. "It is a relatively mild disease, though we expect, as with seasonal flu, to see a spectrum of illness. We continue to ask all individuals with mild flu-like illness to stay home. This is regardless of travel history."

"Children and adolescents with fever should not go to day care or school. Adults with fever should not go to work until their symptoms resolve. Individuals with severe illness, such as difficulty breathing, should contact their health-care provider," Calonge said.

The symptoms of H1N1 flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and may include fever greater than 100 F, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache and body aches, and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 flu.

The department advises those who experience influenza symptoms to stay home for seven days after onset of symptoms, or at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.

The state health department also encourages people to take these personal precautions to decrease their chances of getting the flu:

* Wash your hands frequently.
* Cover your sneezes and coughs.
* Avoid others with respiratory illnesses.

Officials say the flu outbreak may be responsible for 170 deaths in Mexico. The number of U.S. cases is nearing 110 in at least 29 states.

Health officials said Wednesday a 2-year-old boy who died in Houston was the first swine flu death in the U.S.

State lawmakers are reviewing their plans to keep the Legislature functioning during an epidemic. They're scheduled to get a briefing from state health officials on swine flu later in the day.

The World Health Organization announced Thursday it would stop using the term "swine flu" in order to stop confusion of any danger associated with pigs, or eating pork products. People cannot catch the virus by eating pork. WHO said it would call the illness by its scientific name: H1N1 influenza A.

 

[Rebelmom67]

This has been weighing heavy on my mind, so I'm going to run it by you all:
3 1/2 weeks ago a fellow West Seattle real estate agent fell ill with the flu. According to his son the doctor confirmed it was the flu and sent him home. He rapidly became very ill, his lungs filled up with fluid and he was hospitalized. The put him on life support and until they knew for sure there was no hope. They took him off life support last week and his funeral was Monday. The doctors are saying they think it was a MRSA staph infection from a bad tooth? At the funeral when the son was speaking he sounded overwhelmed, skeptical maybe? I don't know, it just seems so suspicious right now.

This man was one of the most amazing human beings I've ever met, wonderful family, wonderful guy. He will be so missed.

That is horrible. I don't think the Drs. would lie about it being a staph infection. His immunity was probably very low due to battling the flu and it was "ripe" for MRSA to attack, that is how it works.

 

[a1tinkfans]

my ds came home from school today to say that a girl in his class was sent to a nurse today because her mom is ill and she is a teacher in the school in NYC that "started" (for lack of a better term) the situation.
He then says .......and a girl who just traveled to Mexico with her family is now out ill, another classmate!
Then says, rumors are flying they are going to close school, but he heard they will not do it till after the weekend??????????
Of course our normal routine is to wash hands when you come into house anyway, but Goodness, I am REALLY hoping that it is not in his school, what a scary thought!!! I have to say it spooked me! I am calling another mom who is also a nurse and see if she "heard anything"
If they close school, I'll keep you posted.........

 

[Cindyluwho]

That is horrible. I don't think the Drs. would lie about it being a staph infection. His immunity was probably very low due to battling the flu and it was "ripe" for MRSA to attack, that is how it works.

I didn't mean to make it sound like I thought they were lying, it seems to me the son said the tests for MRSA came back inconclusive, but that MRSA was the doctor's best guess?

 

[Rebelmom67]

I didn't mean to make it sound like I thought they were lying, it seems to me the son said the tests for MRSA came back inconclusive, but that MRSA was the doctor's best guess?

Ohhhh, gotcha.

 

[AnnaS]

Can the flu be spread before you even know you have it?

 

[Cindyluwho]

Can the flu be spread before you even know you have it?

A specialist from the Univ of Washington talked about that today on NPR. You are contageous from the time you have symptoms, but those symptoms usually start out so mild (scritchy throught, just not feeling up to snuff) that you might think it's seasonal allergies, etc. Within 12 hours the aches, high fever, sore throat, cough start.

A pediatric doctor in North Seattle started feeling punky on Monday but was still seeing patients, she now is listed as a "most likely" case of swine flu. Her patients are being contacted.

 

[laurie31]

Can the flu be spread before you even know you have it?

Yes. You are contagious one day before symptoms appear.

 

[DawnCt1]

This has been weighing heavy on my mind, so I'm going to run it by you all:
3 1/2 weeks ago a fellow West Seattle real estate agent fell ill with the flu. According to his son the doctor confirmed it was the flu and sent him home. He rapidly became very ill, his lungs filled up with fluid and he was hospitalized. The put him on life support and until they knew for sure there was no hope. They took him off life support last week and his funeral was Monday. The doctors are saying they think it was a MRSA staph infection from a bad tooth? At the funeral when the son was speaking he sounded overwhelmed, skeptical maybe? I don't know, it just seems so suspicious right now.

This man was one of the most amazing human beings I've ever met, wonderful family, wonderful guy. He will be so missed.

That's sad, but the what you have heard is certainly plausible.

 

[DawnCt1]

That is horrible. I don't think the Drs. would lie about it being a staph infection. His immunity was probably very low due to battling the flu and it was "ripe" for MRSA to attack, that is how it works.

Or he may not have had the flu and had a sepsis from the bad tooth from the beginning.

 

[MelanieC]

I just got one of those recorded messages from DD's HS, I was so sure it was going to be saying something about someone having the flu. Luckily it was about the new schedule for next year.

 

[honugirl]

My world just got a whole heck of a lot smaller. There's supposedly a suspected case in Multnomah county in Oregon. My mom basically is making me stay close to home now. Fun stuff. No more mall, no movies, heck, she's not even really going to let me out to go eat. Good thing the Golden Girls are on several hours a day.

It's a toss up, I told her I'd rather get it now before it mutates and becomes worse if it returns in the Fall. If I get it in the fall and have no immunity to it, I could be in trouble because I may be "normal" with "normal" immunity, if I get it now, I'm in trouble because I'd end up in the hospital. It's a no win situation.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

My world just got a whole heck of a lot smaller. There's supposedly a suspected case in Multnomah county in Oregon. My mom basically is making me stay close to home now. Fun stuff. No more mall, no movies, heck, she's not even really going to let me out to go eat. Good thing the Golden Girls are on several hours a day.

It's a toss up, I told her I'd rather get it now before it mutates and becomes worse if it returns in the Fall. If I get it in the fall and have no immunity to it, I could be in trouble because I may be "normal" with "normal" immunity, if I get it now, I'm in trouble because I'd end up in the hospital. It's a no win situation.

Getting it now is no guarantee that you will have any immunity to a strain that may come back in the fall. Using the 1918 as a history guide, folks who got in the spring still died from it in the fall. Sorry.

 

[golfgal]

I thought that I heard on the news in Ct. the other day that Yale New Haven Hospital has been asked to do testing of samples. When DH gets home, I will ask him if Yale is acting in "stead" of the CDC and can make the confirmations.
I don't know the answer to that yet.

I was listening to the press conference our governor had about the confirmed case in MN and there was a woman from our state dept of health on there as well-she is also the woman I heard on the radio yesterday-she said that they are in the process of setting up regional testing centers to take the load off the CDC and that hopefully they would be operational next week. MN will be one of them according to her.

 

[Planogirl]

I just found out that a child in a neighboring town (Plano-my namesake) has been confirmed.

 

[MommyBoo!]

We have two schools closed in Batavia, two in Aurora and we just got a call from our district (Oswego, IL) stating that three of our schools will be closed tomorrow for suspected cases. The call said that samples were sent to the CDC in Atlanta for the cases in our schools.

My kids' school was not one of the ones closed. I think it's just a matter of time though. My nieces' schools are both closed but my nephew's is still open.

I was in Walgreens yesterday and one of the employees told me that they are selling out of hand sanitizer.

We are being cautious but not paranoid. Or, at least, that is what we are trying for.

 

[honugirl]

Getting it now is no guarantee that you will have any immunity to a strain that may come back in the fall. Using the 1918 as a history guide, folks who got in the spring still died from it in the fall. Sorry.

Thanks for the hug and the info. That's interesting. I would have figured that possibly there would have been some immunity. Oh well. OK then, I guess my goal is not to get it at all then.

Fire up the cable, blue-ray and DVD, here I come!