Swine Flu - General Discussion and how it affects Disney

[DisneyNewbiie]

4 Days since it got big No reports in Florida as of now.That has thousands of visitors everyday and still no cases?Some cesspool of germs!!!!!!!!

 

[mitros]

I do NOT want to be misunderstood or accused of fear mongering. I write about phobias, including health anxiety, for a living, and I'd like to think I have a pretty good handle on sorting out panic from reality.

That said, I wanted to share our experience to help others in making decisions. We currently live about 10 miles from Disney, and my Dad's primary care doctor is in Celebration. He practices at Celebration Hospital, where ill travelers are taken from Disney.

We have a trip planned with my cousin and her husband May 1-May 8, to stay on property and visit the parks. Dad happened to have a doctor appointment today, so we asked the doc about the Disney trip. The doctor paused and carefully considered his response. The measured response was this: "I would cancel the trip. Disney is currently a cesspool of germs."

Now, Dad has some health concerns such as mild COPD, Hep C and cardiovascular disease. The doctor told us that Dad is at particular risk due to his medical condition. However, he did say that he is advising everyone who asks, healthy or not, to stay away from Disney for now. He also recommends staying out of big cities and large gatherings of people in general, but he repeatedly stressed Disney as a particularly bad place to be right now.

The doc did say that he thinks the whole thing is being blown out of proportion, and he believes the virus will be contained in the next month or so. But until then, he thinks going to Disney is a stupid risk to take. Again, he did NOT confirm nor deny the possible swine flu case at Disney, but he was very measured and thorough in his response.

As for us, we're postponing the trip until September and planning to hole up for awhile. Others may see it differently. Just wanted to share what we were told today by a doctor who regularly sees emergency cases from Disney.

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

 

[ShuisFan584]

Hey, the more people who cancel their trips means less busy parks while I am there!!

That's the way I see it! Unless they start cancelling flights to Orlando, I'm still going. Ain't nothing stopping us from going this May.

 

[luvthemouse71]

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.

 

[MelissathePooh]

How do you get a prescription for Tamiflu when you don't even have the virus yet. I think this is irresponsible on Doctors. I've already read that there are regional shortages because people are stockpiling. I see that you just have the scrip, but what if you actually fill it. That could prevent someone who actually has the flu from getting the medicine. Tamiflu is something that has to be used quickly in order to be effective. People don't have the luxury of waiting a day or so for this prescription to come in. I'm just venting, but I feel this is very, very bad in doctors doing this.

FWIW - there is no shortage of tamiflu -governments are stockpiling it now. Doctors prescribe things on prophylactic basis all the time. Tamiflu isn't just for swine flu - we keep a script for it every year. Our daughter is extremely small and does not have much reserve if she becomes ill. I have no problem or guilt having medicines on hand for her. I'm a nurse, our doc is a family friend - he tries as much as possible to keep our kids out of his office because of exposure potential. They wipe down the office hourly, but why go in if you don't have too. I realize some folks don't get that luxury, but I'm not going to feel guilty because of it. I'm very grateful for it.

 

[mitros]

You certainly have to make the decisions that are right for you and your family. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, or with the doctor. However, my opinion is that a doctor who treats people coming in sick from Disney every day of his life may have a slightly better knowledge of possible swine flu infection at Disney than a pediatric surgeon in another state. I would, of course, expect your neighbor to have a better grasp on the situation in your area than this doctor would.

I think a lot of people on this board are hiding their heads in the sand, and acting like Disney won't still be there in a month or so when this thing blows over. But I'll defend to the death their right to their opinion. I won't, however, be accused of fear mongering for sharing information that comes from a reliable source.

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!

 

[puntagordabob]

we are still going tomorrow...I turn 42 tomorrow and since you can only do that ONCE I want to spend my time at Disney.... Whatever God's Plan Is, and Will Be.... Ill trust in him that Ill be safe irregardless and if I do catch it that I will be wise enough to seek immediate medical attention.

 

[mitros]

Hey, the more people who cancel their trips means less busy parks while I am there!!

Oh yea!!

 

[JLTraveling]

The doctor with whom we spoke was careful to neither confirm nor deny definitive swine flu at WDW. However, we should not forget that we know of a suspected case that is currently awaiting results from the CDC. That case is not new information, although again, we are still awaiting results. We also know definitively that a flu of some sort is making the rounds of Disney. Would it not be prudent for a doctor who has personally treated numerous recent flu cases from Disney, who may or may not have worked on the suspected swine flu case, to deduce that IF the case comes back confirmed, then many of the OTHER cases from the same small, confined area might also be swine flu as well? As most doctors tend to be reasonably proactive, and this one in particular is well-known and respected for his thoroughness and care, then making the recommendation of avoiding a specific area through which flu-like symptoms are rapidly spreading seems to be prudent and responsible.

Perhaps the case will come back negative for swine flu. That would certainly be excellent news. The possibility of someone arriving at Disney from somewhere carrying swine flu is still very real, but at least at this moment, we would know that only the seasonal flu is currently sweeping the parks. For now, however, health care providers in the area are choosing to err on the side of caution. I, for one, thank the doctor for his candor.

 

[luvthemouse71]

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/p...__Senate_approves_pandemic_flu_prep_bill/srvc

Martial law anyone?

Good for them..it's refreshing to see that some law makers aren't caving into the PC police..I can just see it now, people complaining that they suffered emotional damage from being quarantined.

 

[mitros]

we are still going tomorrow...I turn 42 tomorrow and since you can only do that ONCE I want to spend my time at Disney.... Whatever God's Plan Is, and Will Be.... Ill trust in him that Ill be safe irregardless and if I do catch it that I will be wise enough to seek immediate medical attention.

Hey, we are too! Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition! {and the hand gel}

 

[safetymom]

Doctors can and do make mistakes. I wouldn't avoid WDW at this time. Everyone needs to take precautions and be aware of any new information when deciding and not just the word of one Dr.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I'm a college student. Germs spread like wildfire on this campus. Germs also spread like wildfire between the college students and the regular people in this town. The non-college residents of this town were either on spring break last week, or are on spring break this week. The non-college crowd is fairly well off. I have no doubt plenty of them went to Mexico or are in Mexico right now. It would not surprise me to see swine flu on this campus within the next week or 2. Let's face it, I've got a pretty high risk of being exposed. I'm still going to classes. And I'll still go to Disney in 27 days.

 

[MelissathePooh]

I thought you had to actually have the flu to get a Rx for Tamiflu. No?

Not to my knowledge. We keep one every year for regular flu. Its a nasty copay, but a script same as any other. I guess I'm kind of surprised more folks don't do this. I always have a script for antibiotics on hand when we travel. We certainly don't over use anything - I'm completely aware of those implications, but why waste time on visits or calls when you're on vacation? It must just be my being used to working with the health care setting - you tell the docs what you want/what's going on and they write a script for you.

 

[poohs_hunny]

take the same precautions you would take to avoid any other contagious disease (washing hands frequently; not kissing strangers; not sharing drinks, food, or utensils, etc.)..

This struck me funny. What good is a vacation if you can't kiss a few strangers?

 

[claytonj]

all this hogwash rotfl2 about the swine flu at WDW is just as i said hogwash.

Nothing has been confirmed (check it out if you dont believe me check out the cdc's website) and as long as you wash your hands use sanitizer you should be fine.

I have talked to my mother who is a RN in a hospital, and she said not to worry about it, and just enjoy our time (keep sanitized).

i will be there in 16 days and cant wait!

 

[kellyf2626]

We leave on the 23rd and are absolutely going!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

10 days to go and we will be there!!
As a nurse practitioner in primary care I probably reduce the risk and ,therefore my family's, multifold by getting out of the office!!!!

I have been getting multi phone calls of people asking for Tamiflu- just in case. The answer is absolutely not!!! We get twice daily briefings from the CDC and DOH (Dept of health) asking not to do just that. THese drugs need to be available for the confirmed sick or confirmed exposed. Do not think for a moment the the current supply of Tamiflu could not dry up in days! There is no where near enough for everyone! That is not what the stockpile is intended to do.

The same type of calls happened with the anthrax scare. Does everyone remember the rooms of plastic everyone made?

Do not put your head in the sand. If you want reliable info go to the CDC's website. They update often and are your best bet at reliable info- not your local doc making a knee jerk advisory.

There is a Flu pandemic every year. Thousands die. Let's all keep cool heads!

 

[C.Ann]

This struck me funny. What good is a vacation if you can't kiss a few strangers?

-------------------

You are very naughty!!

But if you do kiss any, kiss a few for me too..

 

[frdeb1999]

I'm one that believes that just going into the mall, local store ect exposes you to many things all the time. You just can't hide from them. If your immune system already has major problems....don't go. If not go about your with your normal plans.