Swine Flu - General Discussion and how it affects Disney

[MelanieC]

I'm not buying insurance for my Aug trip - don't need it, but this wouldn't be a pre-existing condition if you don't have it yet. It doesn't exlude things you don't have yet.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I understand what point you are trying to make when you say you have a better chance of winning a night in the castle... BUT I don't think that's really true. These things can spread like wildfire that's why the media concerns, etc.

We have 3 confirmed cases in the next county and they closed the school district until next Monday (Schertz School District). I don't know why the CDC website says only a few cases in TX, I suspect that will rise rapidly. I was at a girl scout event on Sat with my daughter and received an email from the TX Health Services Dept this am, seems 2 suspected cases attended the camp and they are urging everyone who attended to voluntarily stay home and wait for symptoms.

How are we supposed to just stop our lives here??? Many people I know are sick and when tested are negative for A & B Flu, so now they are sending samples to CDC for Swine testing, evidently those test results take a while. So my suspicion is that the cases will go up dramatically in the next week. People here are wearing surgical masks and being careful. I am just telling you this so that you too take it seriously so the spread will stop and strain will run itself out rather than spreading further.

Can't be too careful, if you have respiratory symptoms and live in an area with confirmed cases, stay home and stop the spreading of this virus.

Thanks!

 

[praline3001]

You DO bring up a great point. The confirmed cases in the CDC have been ALL recovered! By the time the CDC investigates it ~ a week has gone by!

I was just googling the swine flu cases and it looks like there is a group in SC, Ark, there is one in Shreveport and shoot several other cases of people being hospitalized for the flu... they just can't 100% say its THE swine flu until the test come back.

This flu is spreading quickly... it moves a heck of a lot faster than the CDC website


BUT just keep hand washing and lysol and watch the kids. Its not like there is anything you can DO that we all aren't doing anyway.


The only other thing you could possible due is avoid the Mexican Pavilion in W/S

 

[luvthemouse71]

You know, many people are failing to realize that there is a middle ground in all of this. It seems like here on the DIS there are mainly 2 types..the type that are extremely afraid and those who can't see why others may be concerned.

But, you can prepare for the worst while still hoping for the best. If you think the whole thing is a bunch of hooey, that's fine. But there is no need to mock those who are concerned. There are those that are saying that there are only 40 cases in the US..that's true for now..But realize that at first it was 4, then 8, then 20, now it's 40..See a pattern here?

I'm not planning to cancel my trip in September. I'll be there..I may be there wearing a surgical mask, but I'll be there.

 

[praline3001]

Google news articles of health dept. reporting possible swine flu

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/27/content_11268834.htm

http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/43764637.html

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/042809dnmetswineflu.117f21302.html

http://www.thelocal.se/19112/20090427/


http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/suspected_swine_flu_victim_wor.html

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25397457-401,00.html

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2368393/Swine-flu-ruled-out-for-Northcote-College-group



None of these reports have made it yet to the CDC or WHO websites. I am more concerned what they are NOT telling us.

 

[ntsammy5]

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Its in Canada.

Another NAFTA success story!

 

[Disney Fanatic]

I'm not buying insurance for my Aug trip - don't need it, but this wouldn't be a pre-existing condition if you don't have it yet. It doesn't exlude things you don't have yet.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but most insurance companies do not cover situations you are already aware of.

If this was the case, everyone who has not bought insurance now, would go and buy it, just in case.

They have a pre-existing clause for cancellation and interruption stating that when you purchase your insurance, if there is any reason that you know of that may cause you to cancel, you will not be covered.

Having said that, you should always check around for yourself.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

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

Only when there's pigs present...

 

[famsen]

We are leaving (driving down from Chicago) in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Unless there are military quarantines with roadblocks, we are still going. I figure that you only live once and if it's my fate that I catch this flu, then so be it.
For the record, I am an anxious, hypochondriac and phobia prone person. I have never gotten a flu shot and never have caught the flu (maybe one time about fifteen years ago but it was never officially diagnosed as such). I can't just lock myself in my home in fright. I have been there, done that after September 11th. There have been too many media hyped scares over the last few years. First there was a panic over the anthrax mailings. Then it was smallpox bioterrorism scare and then there was SARS and bird flu.

I will take precautions, drink plenty of fluids and rest and get on with living.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

I'm not buying insurance for my Aug trip - don't need it, but this wouldn't be a pre-existing condition if you don't have it yet. It doesn't exlude things you don't have yet.

We are actually talking about 2 different things. I am talking about cancelling because of an advisory. Sorry, I did not mention this I don't think.

Having said that, if you buy insurance to cover if you get sick because of Swine Flu and cancel because you are too sick to go, this may also not be covered. Again, back to the pre-existing clause.

The insurance for cancellation starts the day you buy it and states it does not cover cancellation or interruption for any reason that you are aware of now, that may be the cause of cancellation or interruption. Although you are not aware of the fact that you have swine flu ( and hopefully you will never get it) if you do come down with it, you will not be covered for this specific reason because you knew of Swine Flu when you bought the insurance and that is really the only reason you purchased it. I think I am confusing myself now! LOL


Having said that, you should always check around for yourself, you may find coverage and I could be totally wrong!

 

[NYDisneyKid]

We are leaving (driving down from Chicago) in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Unless there are military quarantines with roadblocks, we are still going. I figure that you only live once and if it's my fate that I catch this flu, then so be it.
For the record, I am an anxious, hypochondriac and phobia prone person. I have never gotten a flu shot and never have caught the flu (maybe one time about fifteen years ago but it was never officially diagnosed as such). I can't just lock myself in my home in fright. I have been there, done that after September 11th. There have been too many media hyped scares over the last few years. First there was a panic over the anthrax mailings. Then it was smallpox bioterrorism scare and then there was SARS and bird flu.

I will take precautions, drink plenty of fluids and rest and get on with living.

They cant quarentine a country and make you and the nation stay in their homes.

 

[hill6]

I am nervous because we leave in 13 days. My mom does have a bit of a compromised immune system.

I am waiting for Disney to serve folks at the buffets instead of letting them take their own food and to take away the salt and pepper shakers in favor of packets just like they do on the cruise ships when the norovirus strikes.

May not solve all but I bet it would help squash some fears.


Update on the NYC City school: the school is closed till at least Wednesday while they do a top to bottom disinfecting.

 

[jrmo]

We also leave in 13 days and this is what I would like to see Disney doing too. I fall somewhere in the middle of the worry spectrum about this, but there is a lot they could be doing to be proactive about this within the resorts and parks. Just like PP mentioned, take all the steps that cruise ships take with norovirus. Wipe down common surfaces, door know, rails, etc, serve at buffets, disinfect hotel rooms and restaurant tables between guests. Hopefully, we'll at least know what we're dealing with in 13 days.

 

[freaksloan]

I think people are over reacting. Remember it wasn't that long ago we were all going to die from the bird flu, how did that turn out?

I guess when I am at EP I won't go to Mexico.

You should be washing your hands no matter what, not just because a few people in Mexico City got the swine flu.

 

[livinlife25]

Something that concerned me on the news tonight was what in the 1918 flu, it came out in the spring, went away quickly but then when fall came around, it came back with a vengeance and that is when it did all the damage....That being said I am not freaking out just after hearing it gave me pause...

 

[kennezgirl]

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.

 

[MelanieC]

We are actually talking about 2 different things. I am talking about cancelling because of an advisory. Sorry, I did not mention this I don't think.

Having said that, if you buy insurance to cover if you get sick because of Swine Flu and cancel because you are too sick to go, this may also not be covered. Again, back to the pre-existing clause.

The insurance for cancellation starts the day you buy it and states it does not cover cancellation or interruption for any reason that you are aware of now, that may be the cause of cancellation or interruption. Although you are not aware of the fact that you have swine flu ( and hopefully you will never get it) if you do come down with it, you will not be covered for this specific reason because you knew of Swine Flu when you bought the insurance and that is really the only reason you purchased it. I think I am confusing myself now! LOL


Having said that, you should always check around for yourself, you may find coverage and I could be totally wrong!

The advisory thing makes sense - but the other part isn't true. Just because you knew the swine flu existed doesn't make it a pre-existing condition. Now if you got the swine flu today and bought the insurance tomorrow - that is pre-existing, but not knowing about an illness. I know that breast cancer exists, but if I bought insurance and came down with it and needed Chemo instead of going on a trip - that doesn't make it pre-existing. If that were the case nothing ever would be covered.

Ok - I just re-read your statement and maybe possibly you were joking - lol, I'm confusing myself too

 

[MelanieC]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but most insurance companies do not cover situations you are already aware of.

If this was the case, everyone who has not bought insurance now, would go and buy it, just in case.

They have a pre-existing clause for cancellation and interruption stating that when you purchase your insurance, if there is any reason that you know of that may cause you to cancel, you will not be covered.

Having said that, you should always check around for yourself.

This just isn't true. Just because you know an illness exists, doesn't make you not covered. No you can't buy it if your already sick after seeing a doctor, but if you bought it for July knowing that the swine flu exists (because it does now). Lets just say you bought it today. And you are going 6/16/09. If you get the Swine flu on 6/15/09 you are covered if your insurance cover's illness (except pre-exisiting). When you bought today - you weren't sick. It doesn't matter if you were aware there was an illness or not.

Same goes for my trip in August. If I decide I want to buy travel insurance in July. Let's just say this stuff is still going around in August. Unless there is something that the insurance company adds that is just for the swine flu (like as of all insurances bought as of (fill in a date here) will not cover swine flu). I would be covered if someone got sick in August with this flu or any flu. Its not pre-existing to know an illness exists.

What they mean - if you are aware that you are already sick - not that if you are aware that an illness exists in the world. That would exlude all illness known to man except for something rare that would come out right before your trip.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

You know, many people are failing to realize that there is a middle ground in all of this. It seems like here on the DIS there are mainly 2 types..the type that are extremely afraid and those who can't see why others may be concerned.

But, you can prepare for the worst while still hoping for the best. If you think the whole thing is a bunch of hooey, that's fine. But there is no need to mock those who are concerned. There are those that are saying that there are only 40 cases in the US..that's true for now..But realize that at first it was 4, then 8, then 20, now it's 40..See a pattern here?

I'm not planning to cancel my trip in September. I'll be there..I may be there wearing a surgical mask, but I'll be there.

Couldn't agree more - I expected the number of 'extremely afraid' based on years of reading what people are willing shlep into the theme parks everyday in case of a park emergency but I am shocked by the number of people mocking concerned parties. Mocking isn't even the word- it's far more 'virulent' and mean spirited - and so very, very self-righteous.

My daughter came down with a fever and flu symptoms at school today - she was in NYC on a school trip all day Saturday - the school nurse advised calling the pediatrician and he had her come in to be tested based on her presentation of symptoms and the NYC trip - we're expecting (negative) results tomorrow. Let it be your child and see how you feel with that thought of what-if for a minute. I know that, thankfully, her chance of having swine flu or any kind of flu are minimal (because I'm not stupid or ignorant or ill-informed or a hypochondriac) but I also know we did the right and RESPONSIBLE thing for our daughter and her classmates.

And, even if it turns out to be 'nothing' and you don't believe it's real it will still have an immediate impact on people's Disney vacations - from longer security lines at the airports to people potentially being denied boarding and it deserves to be discussed on the DIS.