Swine Flu - General Discussion and how it affects Disney

[praline3001]

Woman's 'Flu-Like Symptoms' Diverts Plane To Logan

BOSTON -- A Washington, D.C.-bound flight from Europe was diverted to Boston on Friday after a passenger on board complained of flu-like symptoms.

Airport spokesman Phil Orlandella said the plane was diverted after a 53-year-old female passenger told flight attendants about her symptoms.

The flight, United Flight 903 from Munich, was isolated when it arrived at Logan Airport on Friday. It was diverted to Boston en route to Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital.

Orlandella said the flight had 245 passengers and six crew members aboard.

The plane was expected to continue on to its original destination of Washington.



errr... someone needs to let CNN know I am watching their live feed and the plane is still on the ground with everyone looking at it ~ I guess they didn't get that memo

 

[Kay1]

Have you seen this artice?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...ine-flu-florida-8-cases-050109,0,140216.story

It says the first tourist was swabbed Monday and the test results haven't been announced. What's taking so long?

 

[praline3001]

Have you seen this artice?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...ine-flu-florida-8-cases-050109,0,140216.story

It says the first tourist was swabbed Monday and the test results haven't been announced. What's taking so long?

They probably are going to say they lost the test samples

 

[yyum168]

Why send that passenger to Boston, because Boston has no cinfirmed case yet?
If they bring the plane there, the next thing is to quarantine them, hopefully not on the runway for 7 days.
(I am scratching my head!)

 

[maroo]

Gosh...I went to lunch and missed 5 pages!!

But the wiki document refers to global severity. The FL action plan, as is true for every state/county's action plan, refers to local severity. By the logic you're applying, schools should not be closing down in affected areas and sporting events and other public gatherings should not be affected. Yet we see that across the country and around the world, these things are happening on a limited, community by community basis. Therefore, I think that gives evidence that my interpretation is correct.

They had schools closing at the PSI of 1. I don't have the document open anymore and will have to look when I get home...but I think they had that they would close schools, even if it was just a low severity (possibly). And it is done on a community level.

Think this through for a moment. This does involve speculation, and I'm very interested to hear your thoughts on it. So far, we have had innumerable cases in which a single student at a particular school in a particular town tests positive for swine flu (not in FL, but in other states). A dozen or so other students are swabbed. Eventually a fair number come back positive. The entire school is shut down, possibly just for a day or two's cleaning, possibly for ten days or more. The outbreak spreads to other parts of that city. One of our other posters here is in just such an affected community, which has been deploying containment measures including social distancing.

The CDC is now recommending schools stay closed a minimum of 14 days...to let the virus completely run its course. Yes...I would support closing the school if it has been shown to be actually spreading in the school...and the siblings schools. In our community here, I would imagine they would close the district, since the kids all cross even if they are not in the same school. Is that what you are asking?

Now, assume that the single case from Disney of the man who traveled from Mexico comes back confirmed. There are still 70+ samples outstanding, as well as hundreds of other people who have been treated in the Disney area for flu-like symptoms but were not swabbed. Would logic and previous experience not dictate that it is statistically likely that at least some of those other cases would, in fact, be attributable to swine flu?

I can support that logic.

Now, if you are the FL Department of Health, and you have gotten confirmation of swine flu at the single largest tourist destination in the world, and there have been hundreds of other people treated for flu-like symptoms, what do you do? Do you sit back and say, well, that was probably an anomaly, so let's let people come? Or do you say, wait a minute. We have a plan of action in place that is no different from those in other communities around the world, maybe it's time to implement it?

You do sit back and do nothing. There is NO WAY they would close the parks! Disney and the rest of the places would completely freak out! Now, should they close the parks? If it is a PSI of 1 - Definitely NO...it would be the same as closing for every flu outbreak. A PSI of 4? Maybe. People are coming from everywhere...and it seems prudent to me to close. IF it was a level 6 AND they had a PSI of 4 or greater. I certainly would NOT go to Disney if that was the case.

But we are at a 5...and even if it does go to a 6, I will be shocked if the PSI is over 1. It is a weak strain...?

Disney is a wonderful, magical, special place to millions of people. But ultimately, from a purely numbers perspective, it's a known breeding ground for germs and a potential ground zero for a massive outbreak. It's also a moneymaker, so no one is going to close it without reason. But can you imagine the lawsuits if the worst happened--a humongous outbreak of a rapidly mutating virulent strain of swine flu--and the FL Dept of Health had sat back and let it happen? They're going to err on the side of caution when public health and safety are involved.

This is true - the germ part - but they won't close it. They would really have more issues on the airplanes than Disney, though. More close contact, more people flying. Biden was right.

Ok this paragraph above makes no sense to me. Many of you may not agree with me but that is ok b/c I have been diagnosed with OCD in this thread!

Ok so let me get this straight. If you live in Mexico, starting today they want you to stay in your home until May 5th to try and stop the spread of this virus. BUT, if you live in Mexico you are allowed to get your trusty blue mask and hand sanitizer and come to Florida to board a cruise ship in Miami.

Now do they keep the blue mask for the whole cruise or only when they left Mexico? Call me crazy, just not OCD b/c that has already been taken, but if I was going on a cruise with my family and saw people coming from Mexico wearing blue masks and getting onto the same ship I am on you can bet I would be worried. I would not panic unless the green light for panic time had been turned on but yes, I would be worried. Just like I would not go to Mexico right now I am not so sure being confined on a cruise ship I would want Mexico brought to me. But hey, that's just me. Now I understand when the president said that closing the boarder now would be like shutting the barn door after the horses got out. While yes, I can see where they are coming from with that scenerio I guess you can look at it 2 ways.

If farmer #1 had a broken barn door and a bunch of horses got out as soon as the farmer noticed the broken door open he would not go in and close it to keep the horses that were still in the barn from getting out. Instead he would look at the ones that were still there and say "well I am going to leave the barn door open b/c some of the other horses took off so just do whatever you want to do. Stay or leave it's up to you.

But then there is farmer #2. He has a broken barn door and when he notices that it is open and some of his horses have gotten out he goes over and puts each horse in an individual stable to keep them inside until he can fix the broken barn door. He does this because he does not want his remaining horses to cause any more unnecessary damage to other farms then had already been done.

Sorry, flame me, torch me, call me names but if I had to live near one of those farmers I would pick farmer #2.

I am so sorry you got diagnosed with OCD last night!

The virus is "out" and the impact economically would be more of a disaster than the people getting it...I know that sounds harsh...but if they were to close the border...even for a more serious version of the flu than we have right now...it would cause a lot of issues. Not just in travel, but in exports and imports, etc.

Have you ever watched the TV show 24? They had a season...I think it was 3...where they did a great job showing how fast something can transfer when just one person has it and walks into a small store. It is crazy fast. Now it is in many countries and we won't be able to stop it, we will just need to contain in on a community by community basis as much as possible.

 

[Dippy the Goof]

The problem with this interpretation is that it's assuming GLOBAL severity at that level. LOCAL severity, which by the way is NOT determined by number of deaths only by ease of transmission, is entirely a different thing. Leave the current virus out of it for a moment. Hypothetically speaking, pretend that as-yet unknown supervirus X suddenly appeared, and met the WHO criteria for Level 6 pandemic, but caused ZERO deaths around the world. Now, in this hypothetical case, Orlando is the equivalent of the current outbreak's Mexico City. It's ground zero. People are catching it right and left. For some reason, though, there are NO other cases in the United States (the WHO pandemic level 6 is based on non-US data). That would certainly equal a LOCAL severity of 5, and the parks would unequivocally close.

Depending on how things go with this virus, a local severity of 4 or 5 in the Disney area is not an unrealistic possibility. Will it happen? I dunno. You don't know. The FL Dept of Health doesn't know. But it MIGHT. And if it does, then the parks will close.

I'm going by the document you had linked. After Phase six is declared, decisions will be based on a severity index. This severity index has nothing to do with the WHO Pandemic Level. If there are "no" deaths, how could the "local severity index be a 5"? The severity index is based on fatalities. It said that they would "generally" not recommend closing the parks if the Severity Index was 3 or less. There are a lot of What If's that we can do but I'm commenting on the document that you linked.

 

[praline3001]

Sorry MAroo its my fault lol

I went and ran errands and came back with 6 pages to catch up on


Did you see my piglet cartoon?

 

[praline3001]

Disney is not going to close. I don't care what the experts say~ I will eat my keyboard if they close!

What will they do with the tourist going to and from Disney?! They can't get a flight so they are homeless on the streets of ORlando? nope~

So they close the parks but not the resorts? So the flu spreads in the resorts instead of the parks~

I can see them adding sanitizers, face masks and all of that before closing. It would be too big of a logistics issue with what to do with all of the stranded tourist.
They have to group those tourist together somehow.... no matter if its a red cross shelter or the MK.

 

[famsen]

Here is a fact I read yesterday: This flu strain is acting like typical seasonal flu. It is not infecting more people than you would see infected by one sick person with seasonal flu. The normal statistic is a person with seasonal flu would infect 1 out of 5 family members in close contact. This is the same numbers that the CDC is seeing with this flu. It's not as if just because you come in contact with a person who has this strain, you would automatically become infected and come down with it. Just food for thought.

 

[maroo]

Well I guess if a particular state decided to shut down their entire state and have everyone stay in their house for 5 days then maybe we should. If it is deemed to risky for people from said state to be around EACH OTHER then what makes it safer for them to be around others that are not in their state?

Go ahead flame away. I already have my super soaker toy gun filled with purrell so I can put out your flames.

I am not caught up yet...

But I just wanted to let you know that Purell is flammable...so if you spray us with Purell we are all going to go up in flames!

PLEASE tell me it's only a joke!!! I heard it was closed and do not know what to do since we will be there for a week and I've beeen planning for 11 months and now this thrown at me. I HATE PIGS!! of the bovine type that is!!

I like your user name.

 

[praline3001]

I am not caught up yet...

But I just wanted to let you know that Purell is flammable...so if you spray us with Purell we are all going to go up in flames!

no words laughing to hard to type now

 

[brandi~momof3]

Here is a fact I read yesterday: This flu strain is acting like typical seasonal flu. It is not infecting more people than you would see infected by one sick person with seasonal flu. The normal statistic is a person with seasonal flu would infect 1 out of 5 family members in close contact. This is the same numbers that the CDC is seeing with this flu. It's not as if just because you come in contact with a person who has this strain, you would automatically become infected and come down with it. Just food for thought.

that is actually reassuring. I had the flu back in Feb. and my dh and kids washed their hands a lot and used Germ-X. My dh cleaned a lot and we sprayed a lot of Lysol. My dh and kids never got the flu. None of us had the flu shot this year and my dh has asthma. I had the flu for about a week. I was in bed for probably 3 days from it, feeling really, really bad. It is the 1st time in ym life I have ever had the flu and I am 36.

 

[Dippy the Goof]

But I just wanted to let you know that Purell is flammable...so if you spray us with Purell we are all going to go up in flames!

That would be one way to keep the virus from spreading.

 

[brandi~momof3]

I am not caught up yet...

But I just wanted to let you know that Purell is flammable...so if you spray us with Purell we are all going to go up in flames!

 

[maroo]

Thanks everyone! I know this IS a serious subject, especially to those directly affected, but I have been so entertained today reading this thread. I keep waiting three-four minutes to refresh to see what the latest comments are! I hope we do not have a Big Brother program on our network; I may be out of a job come Monday!

I am so glad! I have been laughing my head off!!!

Serious question . . . how long after exposure to this virus will one know if he has caught it.

Situation: A student in DS's class is in Mexico now, probably returning to school Monday. We are leaving for WDW on the Friday. How will we know she doesn't have the virus? How long after she returns can the school say she is for certain safe?

TIA

Uh...I think someone said 48 hours for an incubation time. If he sorta keeps his distance and washes his hands a lot, he should be fine.

We just flew in from Mexico last night (seriously) and no one on either of our flights had on masks. There were people in customs in Houston that had them on but that was about it.

We were in San Jose del Cabo and we only saw one person there with a mask on. They are requiring my DH has to wear a mask for 7 days at work though. And my kids school is flipping out and trying to decide if they can come back. BTW, the kids didnt go on the trip and we were temp'ed and questioned at the airport.

Let us know how THAT turns out. I bet they let you homeschool for a little bit. And your poor DH. Those masks are so hot.

Have you seen this artice?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...ine-flu-florida-8-cases-050109,0,140216.story

It says the first tourist was swabbed Monday and the test results haven't been announced. What's taking so long?

 

[irunnoft]

This is getting serious now.


All kidding aside.


Hillary Clinton has just contracted it.................she caught it from that pig of a husband of hers!

 

[maroo]

Sorry MAroo its my fault lol

I went and ran errands and came back with 6 pages to catch up on


Did you see my piglet cartoon?

I love your cartoon!!

Disney is not going to close. I don't care what the experts say~ I will eat my keyboard if they close!

Oh! This thread is causing my makeup to run all down my face! I am laughing so hard I am crying.

uh oh...now I am coughing!

Eat your keyboard? Tasty!

Here is a fact I read yesterday: This flu strain is acting like typical seasonal flu. It is not infecting more people than you would see infected by one sick person with seasonal flu. The normal statistic is a person with seasonal flu would infect 1 out of 5 family members in close contact. This is the same numbers that the CDC is seeing with this flu. It's not as if just because you come in contact with a person who has this strain, you would automatically become infected and come down with it. Just food for thought.

Yes, it does seem like that is what most of the "good sources" (WHO, CDC, AP) are saying now! Which is GREAT news!

I think that is why this thread has become a little more lighthearted!

 

[irunnoft]

It's like I'm going to hate to drive home because I'll suffer from withdrawals from hitting the refresh button! What am I going to do!!!!!

 

[Dippy the Goof]

BREAKING NEWS!!!

This is just in. They have figured out how this virus was started. It is part of a large conspiracy. Look at the pic below for proof.

 

[wishing4PA]

It's like I'm going to hate to drive home because I'll suffer from withdrawals from hitting the refresh button! What am I going to do!!!!!

If you had an i-phone you could refresh as you drive.
Oh, that's another thread...

This one is definitely making me punchy.