Swine Flu - General Discussion and how it affects Disney

[praline3001]

JohnathanS~ we talked about that a bit yesterday.

That is all correct but the CDC also said we need to watch it close as viruses can mutate over night (think turtles playing nija's here hehe)

We just have to see if an animal virus will adapt to humans ... hope not!

 

[praline3001]

I think if I came down with flu like symptoms I would try and ride it out, if one of my son's had the same symptoms I would take him in as a precaution. I just wonder if some adults are just dealing with it Just thinking out loud too.

Same goes with my own DH ~ he has to be dying before he goes to the Doc

I am not as picky when my 2 younger kids get sick ~ I think my DD8 has only been on Antibiotics once (knock on wood) for a nasty ear infection.

My oldest ~ if he coughs I am pulling out the breathing tester thingy (I always forget the name but you blow into the tube and the little meter hits the top ..think carni games with a mallet and a strong guy )

 

[luvthemouse71]

I think if I came down with flu like symptoms I would try and ride it out, if one of my son's had the same symptoms I would take him in as a precaution. I just wonder if some adults are just dealing with it Just thinking out loud too.

Tamiflu works best if you take it within the first 24-48 hours of symptoms appearing. I do think that some adults are just riding it out and this could be affecting the numbers somewhat. But, if you don't have any pre-existing problems, you may be fine. Me personally, I would go get checked if my symptoms were severe( high fever, respiratory problems) because you just don't know how bad it could get.

 

[Colleen27]

Does anyone else find it compelling that a vast majority of the cases are kids?? It does make you wonder if the older people do have some sort of immunity from this??

Many of the identified cases have been spring breakers and other young people who were in Mexico with groups rather than with their families, which I think accounts for a lot of the apparent skew in age range. Most adults I know avoid Mexican travel like the plague (literally this year, it seems ) during spring break season because they've no interest in a vacation surrounded by high school and college kids who haven't yet learned to hold their liquor. And since the CDC doesn't appear to be testing every single case in a cluster, the initial case is being confirmed but the secondary cases if/when those kids spread it to parents aren't being tested to be added to the confirmed numbers at this point.

 

[praline3001]

more on cnn live feed

 

[Crisgw]

Most adults I know avoid Mexican travel like the plague (literally this year, it seems ) during spring break season because they've no interest in a vacation surrounded by high school and college kids who haven't yet learned to hold their liquor.

You can say that again! We avoid Mexico for this very reason and now am thankful for the avoidance!

 

[JohnathanS]

JohnathanS~ we talked about that a bit yesterday.

That is all correct but the CDC also said we need to watch it close as viruses can mutate over night (think turtles playing nija's here hehe)

We just have to see if an animal virus will adapt to humans ... hope not!

Usually, when a virus makes a cross-species leap, it's most virulent at the initial leap. It tends to adapt to it's host (so as not to destroy it's home), becoming less virulent with time. Of course, no one knows for certain what may happen, but that's usually the case with viruses such as influenza and is the more likely (though not guaranteed) scenario that we may see unfold.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Many of the identified cases have been spring breakers and other young people who were in Mexico with groups rather than with their families, which I think accounts for a lot of the apparent skew in age range. Most adults I know avoid Mexican travel like the plague (literally this year, it seems ) during spring break season because they've no interest in a vacation surrounded by high school and college kids who haven't yet learned to hold their liquor. And since the CDC doesn't appear to be testing every single case in a cluster, the initial case is being confirmed but the secondary cases if/when those kids spread it to parents aren't being tested to be added to the confirmed numbers at this point.

Well of all confirmed cases here-none of them had been to Mexico and none have a direct contact with Mexican traveller. So they are thinking the kids who have it here (4 confirmed by CDC in our county) are secondary exposures, meaning they did not get it by someone from Mexico or that had been to Mexico. That seems odd to me?!?!?

 

[Crisgw]

Well of all confirmed cases here-none of them had been to Mexico and none have a direct contact with Mexican traveller. So they are thinking the kids who have it here (4 confirmed by CDC in our county) are secondary exposures, meaning they did not get it by someone from Mexico or that had been to Mexico. That seems odd to me?!?!?

Do you have a large Mexican transient population?

 

[dizfan]

You can say that again! We avoid Mexico for this very reason and now am thankful for the avoidance!

There's growing evidence that this didn't even start in Mexico. A case was discovered in California prior to any cases reported in Mexico.

Lots of finger pointing, but the reality is they just don't know right now (and may never know) the source.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Usually, when a virus makes a cross-species leap, it's most virulent at the initial leap. It tends to adapt to it's host (so as not to destroy it's home), becoming less virulent with time. Of course, no one knows for certain what may happen, but that's usually the case with viruses such as influenza and is the more likely (though not guaranteed) scenario that we may see unfold.

The cases here aren't more severe because the most fatal mutated forms of the virus don't spread because the infected person goes to bed and has little contact. The less severe mutated version is spreading because these people are out and about, achey, feverish and going to the pharmacy to get their meds and contaminating people. Someone mentioned yesterday I believe that their Dr said if you get this flu YOU'LL KNOW IT, which leads me to believe the very bad version of AH1N1 is probably really bad and what we're seeing now are the mutated versions that are less severe. But the severe version is still out there, just not spreading as effectively because it incapacitates it's victims far more.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Do you have a large Mexican transient population?

All of Texas does to some degree.

 

[Crisgw]

There's growing evidence that this didn't even start in Mexico. A case was discovered in California prior to any cases reported in Mexico.

Lots of finger pointing, but the reality is they just don't know right now (and may never know) the source.

Prior to any being *reported*. Doesn't mean it didn't start in Mexico, not that it really matters!

 

[luvthemouse71]

There are 2 supposed cases that popped up in RI yesterday. Testing in progress..they are not confirmed as swine flu.

Still able to find Purell here, as well as masks, but they're starting to sell more.

Update: 4 possible cases, none confirmed. All are adults and none of the cases are life-threatening, which is happy news.

Also, Target is completely out of Purell..

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Could just be that kids are in school, so there's a lot of them in any given space, and kids are bad about handwashing, putting stuff in their mouth etc.

haha, yes! Just finished student teaching with a kindergarten and you cannot forget to mention the 5 second rule they implement. My last day they had a plant tasting party for arbor day, well one boy dropped his watermelon slice and strawberry on the floor. He picked it up and put it back on his plate. I was like what are you doing throw it in the garbage we have enough watermelon and strawberries to go around! haha and he was like no, 5 second rule, it's fine, its fine. I told him to throw the plate out and get new food as his watermelon now had dirt speckles (they were just playing out on the playground) on it

 

[dizfan]

Prior to any being *reported*. Doesn't mean it didn't start in Mexico, not that it really matters!

Agreed. I don't think anyone really knows right now.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518572,00.html
"Michael Shaw, associate director for laboratory science for the influenza division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the flu theoretically could have appeared first in California, but he cautioned against drawing any conclusions since the strain also exhibited genetic characteristics traceable to Eurasia.

The first case discovered in California was a 10-year-old boy in San Diego County, who fell ill with a fever March 30."

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Agreed. I don't think anyone really knows right now.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518572,00.html
"Michael Shaw, associate director for laboratory science for the influenza division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the flu theoretically could have appeared first in California, but he cautioned against drawing any conclusions since the strain also exhibited genetic characteristics traceable to Eurasia.

The first case discovered in California was a 10-year-old boy in San Diego County, who fell ill with a fever March 30."

Being that that is the case I bet so many people have had it since then and everyone probably just thought it was the typical flu...March 30th....1 month ago!

 

[luvthemouse71]

haha, yes! Just finished student teaching with a kindergarten and you cannot forget to mention the 5 second rule they implement. My last day they had a plant tasting party for arbor day, well one boy dropped his watermelon slice and strawberry on the floor. He picked it up and put it back on his plate. I was like what are you doing throw it in the garbage we have enough watermelon and strawberries to go around! haha and he was like no, 5 second rule, it's fine, its fine. I told him to throw the plate out and get new food as his watermelon now had dirt speckles (they were just playing out on the playground) on it

I think the 5 second rule is kind of a man thing..I'll bet you any money that little boy heard it from his dad, LOL.

 

[maroo]

My oldest ~ if he coughs I am pulling out the breathing tester thingy (I always forget the name but you blow into the tube and the little meter hits the top ..think carni games with a mallet and a strong guy )

Peak flow meter?

 

[cinderella73]

Being that that is the case I bet so many people have had it since then and everyone probably just thought it was the typical flu...March 30th....1 month ago!

Thats EXACTLY what I am thinking happened here in Pa! The little boy who they just confirmed had it , had it amonth ago over in Philly area. And just about 2 to 6 weeks ago a LOT of people including myself and the kids had a flu.

I wonder if there is a way to test and see if you already had the swine flu?

Also once you get it can you get it again or are you safe from it? And if you do get it a second time is it more severe or weaker?

Cant find those answers anywhere.