Swine Flu - General Discussion and how it affects Disney

[avahoneybee]

If you listened to any of the pressers, though, you'd realize that the WHO level is now meaningless to the USA since the virus is already here. The level 5 is an indicator to other countries that they now need to be extra-prepared because there is human-to-human transmission in 2 different regions in the world. I'm guessing this move was made because of the new cases found in Germany and other places in Europe.

It has no bearing on the severity of the actual strain.

True but still not very comforting.

 

[KimDis]

I know their effectiveness is minimal at best since they're not worn properly most of the time, but has anyone seen people flying into Orlando wearing masks?

Are any of you considering wearing a mask during the flight to WDW?

Not to MCO, but someone on the FRONT ROW of my flight from rdu to bwi was wearing one today.

 

[ilovecupcakes]

Absolutely not! I take my multi-vitamins, wash my hands, and stay away from people who are sneezing and are sick. I student teach with 28 kindergarteners. You can catch all sorts of things with them! I am in no way letting this spoil my vacation.

I personally think the media/government tends to big a huge scare out of things like this, so I will take precautions of course, but I will not cancel my vacation

 

[diamond_j]

Leaving on the 15th. Not cancelling unless something drastic happens.
The thing is, they're going to find more people who have it, as they didn't know to test for it until now.
The number will climb, but that doesn't mean it's spreading any faster than it was before we had a name for it.

36,000 people a year in the US die from regular flu.
Noro is prevalent enough that most of us who travel have had it.
If I had very young children or, if like my usual Winter trip, my mother, who has Lupus was along for the ride, then I would have pause.

 

[lucyanna girl]

If your daughter is a junior and top of her class to boot, could she not stay wither her friend for the extra days of school while you go on to Disney. Then they could come together later (flying, driving, train whatever.) If you're going for 4 weeks, I can't imagine they'd miss the whole trip... only a few days.

Thanks, Hoppypooh. That may be one solution. She has worked very hard to be at the top of her class but she would really hate to miss a minute of this trip.

Penny

 

[3guysandagal]

I haven't read or heard anything about these..
where and when and how?

Not sure if I believe this, you know how rumors spread most are lies.
Or if this would be Disney covering up bad news.

There was an accident where someone hit a bus a little while ago - at least one fatality there.

Here is the news story on the bus incident

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-bk-disney-tour-bus-accident-040509,0,1530431.story

I know of 2 of these that are true. There was one person that ran into a bus near the Contemporary Water Bridge and died, and there was just another one recently at like 2am where someone died. I'm not sure about the 3rd.

The other incident involved 2 cars that hit head on at 2am on World Dr. IIRC, and both drivers died at the scene due to fire.

 

[zackiedawg]

No changes from me for my June 3 trip. If noone else reacts differently, it'll be normal summer crowds, and I'll make normal customary attempts at average hygiene and hope I don't catch a flu, like I would any other time. And if a lot of other people react, and decide not to go to Disney that week, I certainly won't stand in the way of their plans, because that would mean an emptier park for me. Hopefully, flu-free.

 

[dizfan]

8 days 'til we arrive at AKL.

Unless this becomes dramatically worse, we will not be cancelling.

Already survived the flu at WDW the last two trips. This time, we're bringing wipes, cleansers, and are considering renting a car to avoid the bus/monorail.

 

[KimDis]

Look, if you want to to disinfect your room at Disney, disinfect your room. I work in the blood industry and we routinely disinfect surfaces we think might be exposed to pathogens. You do have to let the disinfectant (lysol, clorox, etc) sit for 10 minutes in order for it to be fully effective.

When we went on vacations in the 70's and 80's my mom (a nurse) ALWAYS brought disinfectant (not sure what brand specifically) wipes to clean off the hard surfaces in our hotel rooms and wiped out the drawers. We never got sick on vacation. Nowadays I always bring Purell when we travel. I prefer to wash my hands, but I carry a mini dispenser of Purell everyday in my bag just in case as I'm always in hospitals, clinics, airports, and hotels.

I think the panic and overloading of our health care institutions is problematic, but I do hope that the message of good handwashing practices stays with us.

So thank you Homeland Security & Health Secretaries for reminding people to do some very basic things:
1. Wash your hands
2. Don't go to work/school or get on a plane if you're sick
3. Wash your hands
4. Cover your nose and/or mouth when you cough or sneeze
5. WASH YOUR HANDS

Sorry but if you knew how many people don't do this at all, let alone properly...

 

[wall*e2008]

Sorry, I have no idea how to do a poll...
But anyone going in May considering canceling their trips due to the current state of the swine flu?

I am a little nervous, I have no health insurance DD and fiance do, but last time while at Disney DD did get sick. Nothing major but she really WAS NOT herself. SO what happened if (God Bless us) if one of us did get swine flu while there? What happens? You loose out on your whole trip?

SO many things going through my mind, if it happened I would want to come home but yet I wouldn't want ot infect those on the plane....ugh...

I just want to go on vacation and have a good time and NOT worry about these things I am so saddened and worried right now

Get to the JP and get married, then you all will have health insurance.

I will not cancel my plans to go anywhere that has a few cases. If 10% of the population had it then I would be staying away and they would probably be some kind of blockade too!!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I know their effectiveness is minimal at best since they're not worn properly most of the time, but has anyone seen people flying into Orlando wearing masks?

Are any of you considering wearing a mask during the flight to WDW?

Thankfully, I work in an OR..wearing a surgical mask is second nature to me. I do know that we have several different kinds of masks.

We have thicker laser masks that are used when we're are doing a case that involves cauterizing genital warts and such(you get little particles that float around and the healthcare provider can end up with warts in the nose and/or throat!)

Then we have your basic surgical masks..the trick with these is you have to change them when they get moist(from your breathing) or soiled. Also, there is a little strip across the nose..you pinch this for a conforming fit.

We have N95 masks for when our patient has TB..I remember reading somewhere that they were recommending these for Avian flu. You have to get fit tested for these for the most effective use.

Depending on how bad this thing gets..I may very well be wearing a mask. And I won't feel silly either.

 

[Interpol]

We are going for 2 weeks starting 5/13, staying at Saratoga Springs, PLUS we're taking a DCL cruise. No plans to cancel.

 

[blurrycat]

My sister has Lupus so her immune system is already weak, and I do not want my sister catching ANYTHING that will put a damper on any of our vacation. My sister + ANY illness = NOT A MAGICAL VACATION!

T.

I feel for your sister. I know people think I'm nuts for getting so concerned but they don't live with the reality of things. One person walking around with something they should be at home for (high fevers, etc.) can land me in the hospital and incapacitated for quite some time.

Good luck to your sister, and make sure she wears that mask!

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I'm reporting in from the town in TX with the school closures. We are all miserable here trying to entertain our children, keep up with our jobs, and stay away from everyone else. I had to pick up something from Walgreen's earlier and everyone in there was wearing a mask. My DD asked why...I am trying to keep her calm and not panicked. It is quite strange here, several people I know are sick, presumably not from Swine (I hope). I had a client call me today to meet and was coughing on the phone and I told her I was sorry, I just couldn't take the chance. I think there are those here that no matter what they are just not going to become alarmed and go to work sick saying "It's just the FLU!". Meanwhile I am doing everything I can to stay well and stay away from those that are sick. I am home now (I am self employed and took my DD to work with me today-we were the only ones there) and hoping that those of you out there, possibly feeling sick please keep away from others and we'll get through this ok. I think it is common courtesy to think of others and take this seriously if you could be a carrier.

Good luck to all of you, especially those of you feeling ill.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Be that as it may,,,is military "GOD" himself? I also cant see it happening as the USA would go belly-up (broke) as I said before if businesses were forced to stay closed till furture notice. The feds wouldnt want that...
I could also see Disney handing out surgical masks at the gates and telling patrons they must wear them,,,..Wont happen...

Oh dear..I think I'm not even going to pursue this with you..you're striking me as the type that will end up living in the woods, printing little tracts about how the government is a tool of the devil, how vaccinations are a plot of Satan..And Disney could most certainly deny you access if you didn't comply with the rules.

I was merely pointing out that if it's between you and the military, you are not going to be able to go out there and make a "citizen's arrest"..To be honest, I'm still giggling over that one.

Dude, good luck -something tells me you'll need it.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Well the WHO did raise the pandemic level to 5 as expected. It was refreshing, though, to hear the WHO say that the world today is better prepared to fight this than it has ever been in history.

 

[sweet maxine]

As I mentioned earlier, read the afterword in the book The Great Influenza by John M. Barry. Lots of good info there, and enough to really give you pause about the way you think about all of this.

This book was written 5 yrs. ago, but it amazes me how clearly he writes about what we are dealing with now.

Educate yourself. Best way I know to deal with this situation.

Forgot to add...

At the time of the writing of this book, the author states that there were 150,000 mechanical respirators in the U.S. Think I might have to google that number for this current year.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

We're leaving for Disney on Friday.

We're planning on washing our hands frequently, using hand sanitizer often, disinfecting our room with some Lysol wipes and keeping a close eye on our health. Honestly, I'm not really worried. Taking reasonable precautions, I don't think there is reason to freak out right now. WHO and CDC haven't issued any travel warnings (even to Mexico!) and I trust them more than my own henny-penny reactions.

i mean people should be doing those things anyways, people shouldn't just start washing there hands because something is going around. I always do.

lol

 

[KimDis]

i mean people should be doing those things anyways, people shouldn't just start washing there hands because something is going around. I always do.

lol

You'd think so, except they don't. So I'm all for them starting to wash their hands... Better now (albeit late) than never. Maybe they'll develop a habit

 

[avahoneybee]

You'd think so, except they don't. So I'm all for them starting to wash their hands... Better now (albeit late) than never. Maybe they'll develop a habit

I was just going to mention this. I can't count the amount of times I've been in the work restroom where I've seen people leave the stall and head directly out the door without washing their hands.