Swine Flu - General Discussion and how it affects Disney

[Finally08]

They just closed down a high school about ab hour away from me because 5 students now have the flu, although they don't know yet if it's this strain (they do know it's type A, which is included in the swine flu). One of the kids was in Mexico over spring break.

 

[angelaernest]

Thank you sooooo much. I am in Houston and have been wondering about what is really going on over there. I will check the health stores tomorrow and go from there. I am one of those who appreciates every bit of information you share.

 

[Stittsville]

They just closed down a high school about ab hour away from me because 5 students now have the flu, although they don't know yet if it's this strain (they do know it's type A, which is included in the swine flu). One of the kids was in Mexico over spring break.

It's looking like WDW is a safer place right now than schools, where most of the major outbreaks (outside of Mexico) have been.

I think the worst place to go is probably the ER, and maybe the doctors office. They are probably full of people with all kinds of illnesses checking to see if they have the swine flu.

My wife caught pneumonia two years ago, and we are convinced it was while waiting in the ER for my daughter who had appendicitis.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Yeah, definitely a whacko site - all you need to know about this is that they're militant anti-vaccination ...home schooling to avoid getting the measles vaccination...just a little bit crazy

I figured this came from the anti-vaccination lobby. But you know what? It works out if they homeschool becauase they're afraid of vaccines...this way, other people aren't exposed.

They have never proven a link between vaccines and autism, but you can't tell that to some of these people. Talk about panicking.

There's millions (not thousands, not hundreds) of us who believe the vaccines are the problem. There's SOME of us who had healthy children till the VERY WEEK of the vaccines. There's SOME of us who had a child who got seriously ill IMMEDIATELY AFTER the vaccine as well. Furthermore, EVEN the talk show hosts have said that the evidence is questionable on both sides of the fence. So I do NOT appreciate the slanderous remarks insinuating that home school parents are wacko. The home school students in our group have almost all gotten scholarships into the colleges of their choice. Can you say that of your public education students???
Furthermore that remark is just a hijack. The issue is about the virus.

And on that note: I'm more concerned with all the crazy text messaging and gabbing drivers than the virus. But then I am a crazy home school dad. What do I know.


Here's something to panic about:

* 1/5 of adults text while driving
* 50% between the age of 18 & 24 text
* 73% talk on phones while driving (from a survey of 1,200 people)
* Someone using a phone is 4 times more likely to crash than someone who is not.
* In 2002, 2600 people died, and 330,000 were injured from cell phone use (can you imagine the stats now?)
* The number of crashes & near crashes linked to dialing is nearly identical to the number associated with talking or listening. Dialing is more dangerous but occurs less often than talking or listening.
* 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between 16 & 19 were the results of cell phone use
*There's no difference in statistics as far as hand held and hand free phones

On every trip we see roadside flowers.

Oh, and the spell check is saying perhaps you both should have been home schooled.

 

[Minnie Lor]

very interesting Grace...

My step-daughter lives and teaches in Cibolo with my grandkids. Their school system, parks, churches, etc. were shut down Sunday. I was hoping it was starting to get a bit better but apparently not. Thanks for the info.

 

[Bunch24]

More people have died from the regular flu through the first four months of this year than will die from this (OMG THE SKY IS FALLING) Swine Flu.

But if you're worried about possibly (gasp) catching the Swine Flu, then please, by all means avoid Disney World like the plague.

That leaves less lines for me. Oh yeah, and more pig at the Polynesian Luau.

In all seriousness, just do what you normally do during your state/area/country's flu season and you'll be perfectly fine.

The media is sensationalizing this a bit much, and this is coming from someone who is in the media.

 

[LdyMags]

So, does hand sanitizer have to be in the 3oz bottles to take it on a plane in a carry-on?

 

[Texas Rob]

Just wear gloves, a mask and don't touch your mouth, eyes or nose.

If you do this you will be good!

Have fun!

P.S., I heard those bubbles are portable...

 

[Dina]

No flames. I appreciate the info. I'm a little surprised that a physician gave that info, but definitely not flaming. We live 10 minutes from Philadelphia, and I'm a healthcare worker--- there is always going to be possibility of exposure. This flu could be around for a while--should we all sit in our houses? Should we not go to the movies, baseball games or the mall? Honestly, I can't see this thing being contained by September anyway.

 

[Dina]

I'm currently soaking in a bathtub full of Purell.

I have no intention of leaving.

.

LOL!!!!!!!

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Thanks. I'll make sure that I make a trip to a Walmart May 8th when I make my final pre trip Target trip. I hope the lysol spray bottle is 3 oz or less.....or I may have to pack it in my checked bag.

They have them at Target too. Just bought some there yesterday. You can find it with the travel size stuff or in the check out isles.

 

[OandA]

I do NOT want to be misunderstood or accused of fear mongering.

You most certainly are fear mongering as well as your doctor. Your doctor actually sounds like a poor doctor so I would consider getting a new one.

Personally I am glad you are canceling your trip. One less person down there clogging up the lines. Enjoy staying boarded in your house.

Do you homeschool your children since the probability of them being bullied at school or having bad influences on them is so much greater there than at home in their own bedroom?

 

[FLmomof2]

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Mauldin High School will be closed Thursday after students reported flu-like symptoms amid a national heightened alert about swine flu, Greenville County Schools communications director Oby G. Lyles said.
The school will be cleaned and disinfected Thursday, Lyles said.
Sixteen to 18 students of 70 who went to Disney World in Florida on a band trip have reported flu-like symptoms, according to the district. Tests are pending at the Department of Health and Environmental Control to determine whether the students have the H1N1 virus.
District officials will call parents of the band students about their children's increased risk of exposure to flu, Lyles said.

So sad!

 

[wehavesix]

I thought folks that became ill at WDW were taken to Sand Lake Hospital. Has this changed?

When I broke my leg in EPCOT last summer, I was taken to Celebration Hospital ER. Later transported to FL Hospital but only because I needed surgery for my injury.

 

[wehavesix]

Very well put. It aggrevates me when people who are sick as dogs visit WDW and spread whatever they have to everyone else. You know, "I don't care how sick I am, I paid me buck, and I'm a goin to Disney" Damn everybody else if they get in my way!

Heck, I deal with that attitude on a regular basis as a school teacher. I can't tell you how many times a kid has tossed his cookies then said he did the same thing at home before school or the night before. So many people are just selfish jerks and don't care one bit about those around them.

 

[wehavesix]

Does anyone know where to get travel sized lysol wipes / spray? I should add those to my list. I'm not really worried too much but I think my sister would want to wipe things down in the Villa (like door handles for example).

Hmm. Try the sample/travel size section at Target or Wal-Mart, etc. Sometimes they have those things there, sometimes not. If you can't find the travel sized ones, just go ahead and squeeze the regular small packs into your luggage. They are smallish containers, don't weigh much and will give you a lot of peace of mind to have them.

 

[ms mouse]

Did anyone hear the Vice President on the Today show. He said he would tell his family members not to fly on a plane or get in confined spaces. Those who think people are crazy for being concerned may not know as much about the situation as the people in charge. It is all about your risk tolerance, and that is a personal choice. I'm not trying to scare anyone, but lets not make fun of people who are concerned.

 

[rie'smom]

Ok, I am posting this here for informational purposes only. Not to create more panic. I know there are all types on this board (obviously!) the naysayers and the we're all gonna die people. I am writing from one of the hardest hit areas. Our city created precedent yesterday by closing all of the local school districts. I posted their link earlier. Now I received this forwarded email from an ER doc at our local hospital. While I cannot vouch for his accuracy I can state he treated me for an infection 4 years ago and does not seem to be someone who would sensationalize this problem. Here is the email with some good homeopathic tips included:

Thank-you for posting this. I ordered the Oscillococinum and I'm going to GNC for the NAC today. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Morning everyone! Of course I've been sifting through all the news reports and messages this morning. There still seems to be a 50-50 split about the "good" vs. "bad" news about this, so who knows what to believe at this point?

Anyway I was thinking about all the fears people were having regarding the cytokine storms situations. People were worried about this because of the age of the people who died in Mexico. That being said it seems that the same age group has been affected here in the USA - high school students in NYC, possible college students in Delaware, but all of these cases have recovered. So now we're looking at equivalent age groups, and STILL the only deaths have been in Mexico. I'm wondering if there has been anymore discovered that can explain that mystery? Why would Mexicans encounter these immune-system overreactions, but not Americans?

 

[amandathepanda]

The first 2 cases of confirmed swine flu in Scotland are being released from hospital today. I hope that they will be interviewed and that we will get some deatails of how hey were treated.