Swine Flu - General Discussion and how it affects Disney

[Toad_Passenger]

Ok, so I am a HUGE hypochondriac.....and am a bit worried about our trip coming up on May 23rd. But, not worried enough to cancel!

The government said they are in the process of working with the drug-companies to make a Tamiflu-like drug to work to combat it as well as a vaccine against it. From what I've read and heard on tv, the reason why this is such a huge deal is simply because we have no course of action against it at this point. A doctor also said that in order to be infected while on a plane, you would have to be sitting within 3 rows of an infected person on a flight 5 hours or longer.

I plan on taking regular precautions while down in Disney....and I'm sure Disney is working on a plan themselves as we speak!!

I'm right there with you about being a hypochondriac, but, for some reason, I'm not really phased by this outbreak. I don't know why, exactly, but I just get the feeling we've seen this "panic" before with SARS, avian flu, etc. I'm still going to do the handwashing thing and take some precautions, but I'm not canceling no way, no how! My trip is also set for the week of the 23rd!

 

[lenshanem]

I wonder if WDW will keep Tamiflu on stock or will we all have to go to Celebration or the few immediate cares around there. Can you imagine the wait?!?

We leave in less than four weeks. Personally, I wish our trip was sooner than later. It will have had more time to spread by then.

 

[hockeymomNS]

First of all, I am in Nova Scotia.......4 confirmed cases.

My friend is a doctor, whom I help out every now and again. This morning her secretary called because the phone was ringing off the wall and some people were upset and getting rude.

I went in and helped out the girls, by then they had walk in people as well.

Here is what she was advising as per provincial regulations:

Mild flu symtoms, stay home, isolate yourself from your family.
DO NOT GO TO YOUR DOCTOR OR EMERGENCY
If symtoms become worse or don't subside, call public health and someone will come to see you.

In her opinion, there is alot of unknowns yet. We did have a patient who's daughter is getting married in Mexico next week and the doc told her to follow her gut and stay home.

 

[Cruella 66]

 

[chigirl]

There are 333 million people in America...there are, what, 40 confirmed cases?
Please....

...this reminds me of when the Bush administration told us to cover our windows with plastic and duct tape! The media is blowing this up...what, did they get tired of the 24 hour "economic crisis" coverage?

The average American had more of a chance of winning a night in the castle during "The Year of a Million Dreams" than they have of contracting swine flu...

 

[hockeymomNS]

There are 333 million people in America...there are, what, 40 confirmed cases?
Please....

...this reminds me of when the Bush administration told us to cover our windows with plastic and duct tape! The media is blowing this up...what, did they get tired of the 24 hour "economic crisis" coverage?

The average American had more of a chance of winning a night in the castle during "The Year of a Million Dreams" than they have of contracting swine flu...

I wish I had you with me this morning!!!!

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Even if they make a vaccine the Government cant cant force the american people to take it. And what would Disney do? Require you to bring proof that you had the vaccine before entering the park? EHHH,,,WRONG!!!!

 

[ModestMouse]

There are 333 million people in America...there are, what, 40 confirmed cases?
Please....

Those interested can get non-sensational coverage of the new swine flu outbreak at the CDC website:
http://www.cdc.gov/

 

[maroo]

Those interested can get non-sensational coverage of the new swine flu outbreak at the CDC website (I compressed the address):
http://is.gd/uWo5

The World Health Organization is also a reliable source.

www.who.int

 

[kellyf2626]

There are 333 million people in America...there are, what, 40 confirmed cases?
Please....

...this reminds me of when the Bush administration told us to cover our windows with plastic and duct tape! The media is blowing this up...what, did they get tired of the 24 hour "economic crisis" coverage?

The average American had more of a chance of winning a night in the castle during "The Year of a Million Dreams" than they have of contracting swine flu...

Great post!! LOVE the bolded part!

 

[arrdee11462]

I'm home today b/c of a hacking horrible cough...I called the school this morning and I got as far as "Hi it's..." and the secretary said "EW, do NOT come in!"

I don't feel like I have the flu...I've had it before...but it's still scary that this bug is all over.

I hope everyone who is traveling soon has a wonderful and illness free trip! Bring a big bottle of hand sanitizer and use it all up! Oprah's favorite doctor Mehmet Oz was on The View this morning and he said that hand sanitizer is KEY. I always thought it was useless against a virus...but if Dr. Oz says so...who am I to question?

Dr. Sanje Gupta is carrying a large bottle with him in Mexico city and says it is key also! Everyone here keeps saying it does not work but I am following the Dr. advice and brining several bottles.

 

[pennymom]

As another poster said, just make sure the active ingredient in the hand sanitizer is at least 60% alcohol. There is another type without alcohol that is not as effective.

I'm not really worried (yet), but I did go to BJs today and get boxes of 'Sani Kids' hand wipes for my kids to pack in their lunch boxes and school snacks. They're 60+% alcohol, and I'd rather they had wipes than gel at their ages.

Wash your hands lots, use some common sense, and if someone in the house gets sick, follow the CDC's guidelines. That's all anyone can do right now.

 

[thorphin]

Did you know the common seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people every year? Just trying to shed a little perspective here....

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/27/swine.flu.qanda/

 

[sandym718]

I agree with those talking about keeping kids home from school when they're sick. It's ridiculous how many get sent in sick. This boy in Ohio, in 2 separate reports, we heard this: he came down with cold-like symptoms Wed. night. Went to school Thurs and Fri, went to Dr. Friday night and that's when it was found. Another report indicated he had a fever of 102, 103 on both Thursday and Friday. If that's true, why on earth was he in school????? The family will pull him out for a trip to Mexico, but not keep him home when he's clearly ill?? Not that anyone would know he had swine flu of course, but a child with a temp like that does NOT belong in school.

 

[ModestMouse]

Did you know the common seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people every year? Just trying to shed a little perspective here....

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/27/swine.flu.qanda/

Note that the 250K-500K death figure is worldwide deaths; in the US, it's about 36,000 deaths a year, usually of the elderly and immunocompromised. What has been concerning in this case is the number of healthy, prime-age (15-45) patients who have succumbed in Mexico, which is reminiscent of the 1918 pandemic.

Normal flu mortality is less than a tenth of 1% of those who are ill
1918 Spanish flu mortality was 2.5% of those who were ill
right now, the swine flu mortality is higher: 6% of those sickened (in Mexico--81 deaths out of 1300 suspected cases), but that may not be a statistically important number yet. I think we can be sure that all deaths are being reported, but not all cases. So the mortality rate could be lower if there are many more cases yet no additional deaths, or if early intervention with Tamiflu makes a difference.

There is really no reason to panic yet, but at the same time it's a good idea to stay aware of the situation (don't be dismissive about it), and to understand that a new strain of swine flu could be more virulent than a "normal" year flu.

 

[kadesha]

Note that the 250K-500K death figure is worldwide deaths; in the US, it's about 36,000 deaths a year.

And on top of that, there is a vaccine for the seasonal flu, which MANY people get. There is no vaccine for the swine flu so that leaves many more people susceptible.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

We're all going to die... dang it.

The peak of this will be on December 21, 2012 I bet... along with other crazy stuff.

 

[starbox]

Dr. Sanje Gupta is carrying a large bottle with him in Mexico city and says it is key also! Everyone here keeps saying it does not work but I am following the Dr. advice and brining several bottles.

This is because alcohol based sanitizer kills viruses and bacteria - it is NOT a antibacteria agent like Triclosan. Purell is rubbing alcohol, it's like bleach.

The only reason the bottle does not say "anti-viral' is that the FDA does not allow anyone to put that on a bottle. Not even Clorox. They can say "germicidal" - and you'll notice that Purell says kills 99.9% of GERMS not "bacteria".

Use the hand sanitizer.

We have many friends that work w/CDC and they all say the same thing - alcohol-based hand sanitizers are more effective than the sloppy hand washing most people do.

 

[praline3001]

::wondering if the the travel warnings extend to the Mexican Pavilion in W/S :::

 

[Disney Fanatic]

I just wanted to let everyone who is thinking about buying cancellation insurance to cover this siuation...it is now too late.

It doesn't matter who you get to cover you, they all have pre-existing clauses in their polices. The insurance starts from the day you purchase it so if there is a reason you know of that may cause you to cancel, you are not covered.

You are basically wasting your money to purchase it now for only that reason.

However, best advice is to buy now to cover anthing else that may come up and cause you to cancel, if indeed you do choose to still travel.

Insurance covers the unforseen and the unknown.

Basically, you do not buy house insurance once the house has burned down, it is too late.

Next time, listen to your travel agents or who ever booked your trip and buy the coverage, you never know when you may need to use it.