Swine Flu - General Discussion and how it affects Disney

[Toad_Passenger]

OK in all seriousness ~ Its not true? I agree about it not being confirmed but there is a guy at the orlando hospital who is from Mexico who has the flu and came down with it while vacationing at Disney, right? wrong?
We just don't know if its THE SWINE flu?

At this point I've seen reports that he wasn't even at Disney, but had been taken to a hospital near there in order to get tested. An earlier link said he was actually visiting South Florida.

 

[mookie]

OK in all seriousness ~ Its not true? I agree about it not being confirmed but there is a guy at the orlando hospital who is from Mexico who has the flu and came down with it while vacationing at Disney, right? wrong?
We just don't know if its THE SWINE flu?

http://www.wftv.com/index.html


What people need to understand is there are ONLY 2 LABS in North America that can test for this flu. I am sure they are really back logged and also CNN interviewed several people who went to the hospital in NYC as they had the flu but were denied the test. They were just told and treated for swine flu. SOOOO it has been proven the CDC is playing with the numbers and picking and choosing who it wants to test.

It takes a week for those test results to come back... so this guy COULD have the swine Flu but from what I gather the *facts* are a Mexican male is in the hospital with the flu?

QUOTE:
Viamonte Ros said several samples are being sent to state labs where, if they get a positive test, they are then forwarded to the CDC for confirmation.


This quote is MAJOR Double speak:

"There have been no confirmed cases of swine flu by the CDC in Central Florida,"

Since the CDC not only has to get the test results back, they also need to investigate before they add it to their list. Remember, everyone actually on the list has recovered from the swine flu before being put on the list

Correct. He is being tested....but it is not CONFIRMED that he has swine flu.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...e-flu-orlando-04282009-update,0,4141413.story

In reality, I'm sure there are many swine flu tests happening throughout the US...people in a panic. However, I'm not going to raise an eyebrow just because someone has the sniffles. Once the CDC confirms it (in 48 hrs....just in time for my roadtrip to WDW!) then we can all OFFICIALLY say that swine flu has hit WDW.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

I just read on an "insider" website that Disney will not be open May 1-8 in efforts to contain the spread of Swine flu. Please spread the word to everyone you know planning to visit to cancel their plans...

um, yup. That's definitely what I heard.

I'll demand a weeks refund from my AP

 

[DisneyNewbiie]

ok i have been at work...i see the little smilies but i have to check - disney closing may 1- 8 is a joke right????? i am a little paranoid at this point.

there joking

 

[risingsunmom]

Go clean your ears ~ What THEY SAID WAS .. they were closing the parks July 17-27

Really? Why?

 

[DisneyNewbiie]

it was a joke.Disney will never close just like when it rainsthey sell panchos...If it gets bad they will hand out chemical suits no worry

 

[BBQMonster]

First is simply the world is a small place these days..the infections are now in New Zealand..in the countries of the world that have poorer health care as soon as it hits their shores - and it will -depending on that countries readiness it could be devastating or a whimper...NO ONE KNOWS. ...

So it really is A Small World After All. Sorry could not resist.
BBQMonster

 

[DawnM]

I heard it was the 2nd-10th. I am SURE you have the wrong dates!

Dawn

I just read on an "insider" website that Disney will not be open May 1-8 in efforts to contain the spread of Swine flu. Please spread the word to everyone you know planning to visit to cancel their plans...

um, yup. That's definitely what I heard.

 

[scroot]

I'm still trying to avoid SARS and the Bird Flu I don't know that I can stand beign worried about a third one.

 

[praline3001]

Correct. He is being tested....but it is not CONFIRMED that he has swine flu.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...e-flu-orlando-04282009-update,0,4141413.story

In reality, I'm sure there are many swine flu tests happening throughout the US...people in a panic. However, I'm not going to raise an eyebrow just because someone has the sniffles. Once the CDC confirms it (in 48 hrs....just in time for my roadtrip to WDW!) then we can all OFFICIALLY say that swine flu has hit WDW.

OK I just read that They have released a new test that is faster ~ but its not technically FDA approved so it doesn't sound like the CDC will add those to their list.
The ONLY cases the CDC will report are the ones that were tested in their labs in Atlanta. This is kind of important~ Case in point the FL guy... if the State Lab tests for the Swine Flu the CDC will not add it as a confirmed case
See how this gets really political?

The Fl leaders are saying there are NO confirmed cases from the CDC BUT they have sent off samples to their state lab .... the CDC will not confirm the swine flu unless the samples are taken BY the CDC and tested in their lab.

AHHHH and I am sure Disney has their great big wonderful hands on making sure their germs stay in Florida

Here is the news about the new test:
http://www.genomeweb.com/dxpgx/fda-oks-emergency-use-mdx-swine-flu-test-cdc-recommends-mdx-testing

 

[maroo]

I listened to the public congressional hearing on this H1N1 flu (they don't want to call it swine anymore because it is upsetting the agricultural folks but I think it is too late now) and they said that they will stop doing the "official" testing in an area that is confirmed to have swine flu. For example, in NYC, they are just treating those "hundreds of students" that got sick since the twenty-something kids tested positive. They are assuming the other students do indeed have the new flu and are treating them as such...but you won't ever see those numbers in the "official" CDC count.

They are, though, testing every "new" case from a "new area" to confirm before they list that state on the confirmed list. And they are also "looking for" any cases that "are severe" so that they can test those to check the severity of the disease. So, I would expect the official numbers to go up, but not as drastically as you might think. And I would expect the more severe cases to be reported now, too.

Sounds like we should know something on this Orlando case by Wed or Thurs and will have some answers there.

 

[DisneyNewbiie]

Breaking news they might have a vaccine!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[maroo]

Breaking news they might have a vaccine!!!!!!!!!!!

You're RIGHT!!!!

In about 12 - 16 weeks.

 

[praline3001]

Maroo~ not exactly

Case in point that school in SC. The kids got sick Thur and Fri. the school was closed Monday. The kids were in Mexico for a class trip. The CDC still has not confirmed SC as a state that has the flu and officials have known about it (and closed the school) since this weekend.

But when you look at the CDC ~ no cases confirmed in SC.
The CDC has a huge roll of red tape it has to follow, including testing in their own labs before they confirm it.

The Fl. officials said they sent the test to the state lab... that is at the state level... unless they sent the test directly to the CDC FL will not have a confirmed case of Swine Flu on the official list. Am I making sense?

 

[DisneyNewbiie]

You're RIGHT!!!!

In about 12 - 16 weeks.

Better then Nothing

 

[praline3001]

Here is a good map that shows more about the spread of this flu.

It shows suspected cases, probable cases and CDC confirmed cases. It also goes into detail where the samples were tested.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=109496610648025582911.0004686892fbefe515012&ll=26.115986,-9.140625&spn=144.408712,283.007813&t=p&z=2

As you can see, it is spreading a lot faster than the CDC is able to keep up or confirm at this time.
Granted ITS JUST THE FLU ~ its not like its the plague

 

[Colleen27]

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

My understanding, from the trips where we've had insurance, is that "pre-existing" applies strictly to conditions that were present at the time of purchasing the insurance. If you booked trip insurance because you suffer from a chronic condition, coverage of a cancellation because of an exacerbation of that condition would probably be denied. But if you're traveling during flu season (generally speaking, not this flu) and have a vague awareness that the odds of illness are greater at that time, or if you have an ill relative and want to be able to cancel in case of hospitalization or death, the insurance should cover that. I know first hand that it will cover the latter - we almost cancelled our last trip when my terminally ill grandmother passed away the night before we left and I did confirm that the insurance would cover cancellation or change fees, although ultimately my mom & aunt convinced me that Grandma would have wanted us to go ahead with our plans.

 

[maroo]

Here is a good map that shows more about the spread of this flu.

It shows suspected cases, probable cases and CDC confirmed cases. It also goes into detail where the samples were tested.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=109496610648025582911.0004686892fbefe515012&ll=26.115986,-9.140625&spn=144.408712,283.007813&t=p&z=2

As you can see, it is spreading a lot faster than the CDC is able to keep up or confirm at this time.
Granted ITS JUST THE FLU ~ its not like its the plague

This is very interesting! Great source! Thank you!!!

 

[Tiger926]

My understanding, from the trips where we've had insurance, is that "pre-existing" applies strictly to conditions that were present at the time of purchasing the insurance. If you booked trip insurance because you suffer from a chronic condition, coverage of a cancellation because of an exacerbation of that condition would probably be denied. But if you're traveling during flu season (generally speaking, not this flu) and have a vague awareness that the odds of illness are greater at that time, or if you have an ill relative and want to be able to cancel in case of hospitalization or death, the insurance should cover that. I know first hand that it will cover the latter - we almost cancelled our last trip when my terminally ill grandmother passed away the night before we left and I did confirm that the insurance would cover cancellation or change fees, although ultimately my mom & aunt convinced me that Grandma would have wanted us to go ahead with our plans.

This might depend upon insurance carrier. We asked about DVC insurance (which is through Travel Guard) and here is what they told us:

1. Hubby/son - Hubby had kidney stones and so I was interested in purchasing insurance to cover points/fees, etc. (but not medical as I have stellar Canadian medical insurance). Several different agents told me that my hubby now had a pre-existing condition and would not be covered. Also, travellers need to be free from illness for 6 months prior to travel or again, this is classified as a pre-existing condition. Son had asthma and was hopspitalized with pneumonia a month before trip and again, his pre-existing conditions would mean no insurance coverage for him.

2. Ill grandma - Agents told us that the only way for interruption/cancellation coverage to be accepted would be if grandma died. Immediate relatives for illness interruption/cancellation are spouses, parents, siblings and children. Grandparents, nieces/nephews and aunts/uncles would have to die before coverage would kick in, so if you decided to cancel a trip because you were worried that one of these relatives might die, and they don't, you are on your own as your insurance would not cover it as it didn't result in death.

Like I said, I consulted many different agents on this. Honestly, I can't see how anyone collects on these types of insurance as mostly everything can be considered pre-existing conditions and to have to be free from illness so many months before the trip is what makes it hard.

There is no way that any type of insurance would cover people who are worried about catching the swine flu and cancelling. We cancelled our Disney cruise as our baby was in hospital and even with doctor notes and medical reports, they would not have covered him as he had a pre-existing condition in being hospitalized at least 6 months before the trip. We cancelled on our own and lost money and points, but it was the best decision for us as our baby healed up well and we were able to enjoy a wonderful trip to WDW.

This whole thing has me thinking about how so many people travel while ill because they didn't buy insurance, or even if they did, they aren't sure if it will cover it. BTDT with a baby hospitalized who became very ill while at WDW, and it's very scary. I so wish people would stay home if ill - it's hard to lose money, but making so many other people sick is not something that I could live with, especially since I've watched my baby with tubes and such in hospital while we should have been enjoying the parks.

Happy health to all, Tiger

 

[DawnM]

DH's work has just announced that all trips to Mexico for business are cancelled until further notice. He was supposed to go in 3 weeks. I guess he won't now.

Dawn