Swine Flu - General Discussion and how it affects Disney

[Disney_Villain]

... Year of a Million Pigs?

 

[blurrycat]

I've been lurking for months and you inspired me to post my first reply!

I'm very worried about this and what it bodes for our trip in August (not to mention, in general, about what it bodes for the poor people who get it). I have systemic lupus that has attacked my nervous system and caused aplastic anemia. Our family joke that is a butterfly sneezes in Botswana, I catch a cold. I've had pneumonia twice in the past five months and the flu once. Good times!

Anyway, if you're there the week of August 10th, and see someone wandering around wearing a blue mask and spraying lysol ahead of them, come up and say hi.

 

[rie'smom]

I'd watch the news for more information. Some airports are screening passengers from Mexico who exhibit symptoms. The CDC is taking this very seriously. A few precautions would include not shaking hands, not touching the handrails or the bars on rides and of course if someone is coughing, turn your head. While panic is not good, not taking precautions is foolish. There have been cases in Texas and California-no deaths.

 

[Kelblum]

If you've been using Airborne, you are due a refund. The product has been recalled and settled a class action lawsuit last year. Read details here http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20080304/cold-remedy-airborne-settles-lawsuit

Wow! That is so crazy! I never thought it was the miracle cure or anything, but I really do think it helps shorten the cold. We went skiing in CO for a week and everyone we were sharing the condo with had a really bad cold, my family kept taking the airborne and none of us got more than a few sniffles.

 

[Jaybrad]

Just watching the local news here in Texas. You would not believe all the Mexicans crossing the border with medical masks on.

 

[lrab1126]

a great tip for flying and trying to reduce catching airborne germs is to lightlyu swab the inside of yoru nose w/ neosporin ointment and also using saline a few times during flying is also a great thing to do. The neosporin does 2 things... keeps y9our air passages moist and contains an antibacterial so it can help to reduce germs that you breath in. Saline is good for keeping your air passages moist and flushed. Wipe down your arm rests and tray table with wipes and touch nothing in the restrooms, including the faucet.... you are better off purelling after a trip to the airplane restroom. Also, it is idela if after you reach your hotel you can either shower or go swimming to wash away germs. And like so many others said, wash hands often and lots of purell and hand wipes. Wipe down your room real good and we usually do a quick purell after every ride.

As for the swine flu.... it is likely to become a big problem, possibly pandemic. The good news, is that so far it has been proven to be treatable if diagnosed early on. I wonder if the innoculation they offered in the 70's will work on this one too?

BTW I love that SNL skit about swine flu, one of my favs lol

 

[Alesia]

Wow! That is so crazy! I never thought it was the miracle cure or anything, but I really do think it helps shorten the cold. We went skiing in CO for a week and everyone we were sharing the condo with had a really bad cold, my family kept taking the airborne and none of us got more than a few sniffles.

It's basically just over priced vitamins mixed with alka-seltzer.

Keeping your immune system in good shape is a much better way of preventing illness.

 

[Avid Disney]

I'm actually pretty nervous myself, so much so that I tried to cancel the trip a day after I got billed and they're telling me about the $100 fee from disney and total loss on delta airfare of $600, and at a time when money is tight of course, no teaching jobs on the horizon with budget cuts. It's even caused a little friction with my wife because she thinks I'm overreacting. We were all very excited for this much needed vacation, what with having our son who's turning 3 this June, and me finishing up grad school it couldn't have come at a better time. My wife has never been so I was really looking forward to sharing that with her. That was before this weekend's reports.

I'm just worried...worried about flying with this flu going around, worried about being in a congested park with visitors and kids from all over the place. Not being in our own state in the case that something would happen relating to this flu.

Until I hear why the flu in Mexico was so lethal and resembles the 1918 flu which killed millions, I won't feel comfortable putting my family at risk. If it started a month ago in Mexico which is what they're saying, that means the virus may have had time to mutate and evolve into something more sinister no? Where will the U.S. be in a month? Our departure is May 26th.

I tried calling Disney today, a day after they billed me for the total on the package and requested to add on trip insurance and they're denying it which I thought was kind of cutthroat. I'm sure they are aware that the circumstances may change plans for people and are just sticking to dollars and cents. I had to lie and say I requested it but it wasn't included. They said they'd research and get back to me. I'm not even sure I'd have a good enough reason to be canceling according to the policy.

What's most important for me of course isn't any Disney vacation. I pray this doesn't lead to something like 1918.

 

[praline3001]

I have to admit I am watching this close. Am I a strange paranoid kind of germaphobe? NOPE

I have a son with asthma

He is almost 15 and has been in the hospital 8 times due to flu related issues... it sucks let me tell you

I am big on making sure the kids hand wash and not sneeze on each other. Due to my son, our family is on the list to receive flu shots even if there is a shortage. We get our flu shot every year!

I am not freaking out just yet and making him wear a mask
I am being a tad bit more watchful DUE to his health issues. I think those who have family members who have bad immune systems (either by age, asthma, disease..)
should be more watchful but not panic. Those who don't have family members with health issues shouldn't even be concerned really.

The swine flu is just that ~ THE FLU. Do you know how many people die every year from the basic run of the mill flu?

STRAIT FROM THE CDC:
About 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of flu.

It just so happens my son is at a higher risk so I have to be more watchful but honestly ~ its just the flu...you can pick up the flu anywhere.

 

[Montclairmom]

To the person who has SLE, you have the least to be concerned about. I was listening to a doctor on NPR last night and he said that this particular flu is most deadly to people with healthy immune systems between 25 and 45. He said that children and eldery and people with compromise immune systems are safer. The reason for that is that the immune system overreacts in this particular disease and then the overreaction starts to attack the bodily organs. In immuno-compromised people or people with less developed immune systems, the "overreaction" doesn't occur so there is much less danger of it becoming serious. Just to allay your fears a little bit.

 

[famsen]

We are leaving Friday. I am the Queen of hypochondriacs and I have to say that this really is not bothering me. Everyone who has had it so far in the U.S. has recovered. It's not like smallpox or ebola. I am just going to sanitize myself and room as usual and be overly worried about something else.

 

[Avid Disney]

Right, I was going to say the same in relation to all the posts about immune systems and natural defenses. This bug doesn't seem to work like the run of the mill flu. It actually resembles the 1918 flu in this regard which is another reason there is so much concern from what I've read. It's being described as novel or new, meaning there is not much info out there and perhaps more importantly, no vaccine.

What I'm hoping is that the virus is actually weakening over time. So it started out really bad in Mexico and caused death but as it's mutated it's lost strength.

 

[Avid Disney]

And yeah Famsen, I've been told I suffer from the same problem. I hope I can get the perspective you've got going though and make a great trip happen for us. I would definitely follow the same rules with the hand-washing and Purell and whatnot. It's the airborne quality that scares me. On the plane and waiting in line for rides.

 

[praline3001]

Let's put this in perspective
Malaria outbreaks in the US 2007

NYC-233
Cali ~ 157
TX~ 136
NJ~ 77
Maryland~ 67

 

[MelanieC]

I'm so glad you came out of lurkdom

I'll be there when you are - I'll make sure to watch for you. I'm sure by then everything will be fine

I've been lurking for months and you inspired me to post my first reply!

I'm very worried about this and what it bodes for our trip in August (not to mention, in general, about what it bodes for the poor people who get it). I have systemic lupus that has attacked my nervous system and caused aplastic anemia. Our family joke that is a butterfly sneezes in Botswana, I catch a cold. I've had pneumonia twice in the past five months and the flu once. Good times!

Anyway, if you're there the week of August 10th, and see someone wandering around wearing a blue mask and spraying lysol ahead of them, come up and say hi.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I heard about it but didn't think much of it, and just saw it on the news and now I am very concerned. The 1st thing I thought of was actually the plane ride with all that recycled air. I think that was how DD got sick on our last trip, the kid behind us hacking up a storm

 

[Avid Disney]

So does anyone know anything about Disney's trip insurance?

 

[TinkerCarol]

I pack several of the small haand sani's that clip onto y purse, bag or clothes, etc. Always handy. Just don't tell my daughter. I use it on my granddaughter while at Disney, but my daughter thinks I'm nuts. LOL!

 

[Nicole721]

We're watching this pretty closely. We're going on a cruise out of New York in less than a month. With the outbreak in New York and a "closed" environment like a cruise ship, I'm a bit worried.

We'll just be more careful about bringing Clorox wipes and disinfectant spray and spraying down our cabins and washing our hands diligently because everything I've heard says that hand sanitizer gels are ineffective with this flu.

 

[Kathymcbain]

I am a little worried. We leave in 2 days and are flying!
I packed some extra hand sanitizer (gel, spray and wipes). I am a germaphobe and we are in the county in TX where 2 HS students had the swine flu.

Flying makes me extra nervous because of the close conditions and recycled air.
What can you do?

I use Airborne and swear by that stuff. I used to travel all the time for work and was constantly picking something up from all my flights. I was seriously ready to start wearing a mask on planes - it was getting that ridiculous.

My boss, who traveled even more than I did, and was out of the country at least once a month, told me to try Airborne and I've used it before every flight ever since. I never get sick anymore.