Swine Flu - General Discussion and how it affects Disney

[praline3001]

I have to say that what worries me is that schools and such keep closing...isn't that just going to make the flu stick around longer and take longer to spread to everyone??? Instead of everyone getting it within the next say 5 months it might hang around longer if it's so strong!

closing the school is a good thing. This gives the incubation period time to show which kids have this flu. It will help stop the spread. The average age in the US to have it is age 17 (CDC yesterday) its spreading IN the schools and then the kids are bringing the germs home for mom and dad.

Chances are (and this is TOTALLY my guess as I have no sources to site for this statement) the majority of the kids in high schools who contracted it spent spring break in Mexico. This is a very popular place to take a SR trip. We all know teens don't hang out with old people ~ they hang out with other teens. So this virus is seen most in the schools. Closing the schools will help break this cycle.


Here is a link about the CDC closing schools. It explains why they close the schools
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/K12_dismissal.htm

 

[praline3001]

~~~~~PLEASE READ~~~~​

If you would like to make a statement of fact concerning this flu PLEASE site your sources. There are way to many rumors and Monday quarterback *medical experts*.

Not stating a source and making a general statement that comes to you does one of 2 things

1. causes fear
2. causes a false sense of security

We want facts and reliable sited sources PLEASE.
This way we can be informed rather than just taking a message board posters word for something.

Thanks

 

[kaytieeldr]

As of this morning 787 people have lab confirmed cases (WHO) out of that 20 cases have been lab confirmed as dying due to the flu.

As of 10:13 EST, there were 6,777,398,876 people in the world (source http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html)
As of 9:50 EST, there were 787 confirmed cases of H1N1, and of those, twenty deaths (source http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31638996&postcount=1780)
That means one person out of 8,611,688 worldwide has been confirmed to have H1N1 (source: my calculator).
Only eleven of the fifty states have individual populations higher than this - one of those being Texas, where our one death has occurred (source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_population)
In fact, the populations of Hawaii, Rhode, Island, Montana, Delaware, South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, and Vermont combined don't total enough people to 'qualify' to have a case of diagnosed H1N1, statistically (source: ibid).

 

[kaytieeldr]

Nope the average amount of people struck by lightning in the USA per year is 82. Since April 18 the number of flu cases in the US is 160 and rising.

(In the United States from 1980 through 1995, a total of 1318 deaths were attributed to lightning, (average: 82 deaths per year)
http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/PrevGuid/m0052833/m0052833.asp

Nope. The number of people struck by lightning each year is not equal to the number of people killed by lightning each year.

 

[mousehouselover]

I'm a teacher for a public school in Central Florida. We are having to buy enough hand sanitizer for my kids and my husbands kids to use (235 total). Why aren't the schools being responsible and using preventative measures? I know there are budget cuts, but putting the financial burden for this on any teacher doesn't seem fair. I teach in a very low income area, so asking the kids to provide it is out of the question. Most can't afford pencils.
Thanks for letting me vent. I think I'm just cranky because DH has said no Disney until this clears up. I think I'm in withdrawl.

This may be too late but have you tried the dollar stores? I've seen 2 bottles for $1 there. I second the idea of asking for donations to help defray the cost. Some parents are going to send a buck or two because they think their kids health and well being is well worth it.

There's no way I have time to read this entire post and maybe this has already been said, but...

I keep getting this mental image of some pratical joker sneaking in and putting little masks on all the characters in "It's A Small World"!!!

ok...... We'll be there in 2 weeks, I'll take pictures if they are!!

 

[DisAddict01]

As Previously Said:

"I am Packing Bottles of Hand Sanitizer..."

My parents are not sure what to do. I have my own personal record, I've gone once every year of my life, and I certainly DON'T want to stop now!

Then, my dad said:

"People from all over the world come to Disney. Most likley, we're going, though."​

 

[praline3001]

As of 10:13 EST, there were 6,777,398,876 people in the world (source http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html)
As of 9:50 EST, there were 787 confirmed cases of H1N1, and of those, twenty deaths (source http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31638996&postcount=1780)
That means one person out of 8,611,688 worldwide has been confirmed to have H1N1 (source: my calculator).
Only eleven of the fifty states have individual populations higher than this - one of those being Texas, where our one death has occurred (source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_population)
In fact, the populations of Hawaii, Rhode, Island, Montana, Delaware, South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, and Vermont combined don't total enough people to 'qualify' to have a case of diagnosed H1N1, statistically (source: ibid).

Thats what we NEED on this board. Good solid info!!!!

Now when this virus first showed its face the experts were worried it would be another 1918 pandemic as that one was also H1N1. Which was a 1/3 of the population of Europe at that time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic

This new virus is showing itself to be much weaker than the 1918 pandemic. Is it something to still keep an eye on? YES! Viruses are known to mutate and adapt to new hosts. Will it? who knows but the experts are saying as of now it won't but things can change quickly.

The WHO and CDC want to wipe out this flu quickly before it has a chance to set in and adapt. They are being aggressive for good reason. They don't want to see this flu in the fall!

 

[Chuck S]

There has been a "run" on hand sanitizers here, according to our local paper, all the local stores are out of stock, gels AND wipes. We usually get ours at the dollar stores, but even Walgreens and CVS are out.

 

[Alesia]

Nope the average amount of people struck by lightning in the USA per year is 82. Since April 18 the number of flu cases in the US is 160 and rising.

(In the United States from 1980 through 1995, a total of 1318 deaths were attributed to lightning, (average: 82 deaths per year)
http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/PrevGuid/m0052833/m0052833.asp

Every year 400 people are struck by lightning in the US.

About 80 are killed.

I stand by my original post.

 

[praline3001]

Every year 400 people are struck by lightning in the US.

About 80 are killed.

I stand by my original post.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identified an annual average of 93 deaths and 257 injuries attributable to lightning (2).

 

[JLTraveling]

For those of you quoting lightning statistics, Central FL is the lightning capital of the world. But we don't stand out in thunderstorms holding a kite with a key attached to it! If you take reasonable precautions against being struck by lightning, why wouldn't you take reasonable precautions against catching this virus?

Another question for those of you saying, "It's just the flu!" Do you get a flu shot? If you do, I'm assuming it's because you'd rather not have the flu. There is no shot for this one. Also, have you ever had the flu while on vacation? Not a cold, not bad allergies, but the legitimate seasonal flu? I have.

In 2007, Dad and I spent a beautiful week in Colonial Williamsburg over Christmas. Our plan was to spend the next week in Washington, DC. A couple days before the DC portion, we started second-guessing it. That trip just didn't feel right. But we pushed on, and by the time we checked into the DC hotel, we were both sick. We spent a week flat on our backs, bleeding out money left and right for medication, and foods we actually thought we could keep down (delivered, because neither of us could stand going out). When we started feeling a little better, about five days later, we decided to go out anyway (see, it's that irresponsible behavior because you don't want to completely lose your vacation). We went to the medical museum at Walter Reed, which I had wanted to see for years. Boy was that a mistake! Every display made me feel like I was going to vomit, and I got horribly hot and dizzy just walking around. We stayed an extra couple of nights until we felt like driving home, and it was just miserable. All I wanted was my own bed.

Call me crazy, but since then, I've tried really hard to avoid the seasonal flu, the swine flu, or any other type of flu during my vacations!

 

[dizfan]

The CDC is concerned because this is similar to the 1918 flu strain.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol12no01/05-0979.htm

"In the 1918–1919 pandemic, a first or spring wave began in March 1918 and spread unevenly through the United States, Europe, and possibly Asia over the next 6 months. Illness rates were high, but death rates in most locales were not appreciably above normal. A second or fall wave spread globally from September to November 1918 and was highly fatal."

 

[ClareH37]

Just wanted to add re. the flu shots - although, as has been said before, there is no specific shot for this strain, the shots (certainly in the UK) have for the last 30 years contained a variance of H1N1, although it will not offer full protection is has now been formally announced via our media and HPA (health protection agency, like your CDC) that it will offer 'limited' protection in that it won't stop you getting the virus but it will stop you getting the same severity. Fox News also had an article I read a couple of days back saying the same thing too.

I too have had flu, I spent 1 week in hospital, 1 week at home in bed but nearly 6 weeks to totally recover, following that episode I've had flu shots for the last 20 years, and touch wood, although it hasn't stopped me getting the flu, I have only really had 'bad colds' and only needed a few days/week to get over it.

The worrying thing is if this does develop and hits hard during the seasonal flu season, but hopefully it won't.

 

[ColinCodyMom]

I hope this isn't too far off topic: we are leaving Wednesday morning and I want to have lysol spray, but we are flying. On another thread regarding the swine flu, I asked if it could be taken on the plane and someone said they put it in checked baggage with no problem???? According to tsa.gov, if it is an aerosol in larger quantities it isn't allowed. Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I ship it out by UPS instead? I am worried we won't be able to find any when we get to Florida. I already have the wipes, but would like the spray for the room. Any thoughts? I would really appreciate it. Thanks everyone!!!

 

[yyum168]

In case if anybody still remember this 1st case.....

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- The Florida Department of Health announced Sunday morning a confirmed case of swine flu involving a Disney tourist. The announcement brings the total number of confirmed Florida cases to three.
Local officials had already released new details about the case amid public pressure to do so. The patient, who has now fully recovered, is a 14-year-old female from Mexico who was vacationing in the Disney area with her family.
(the rest of the story from WFTV.com)

Thanks, good health and good day!

 

[JLTraveling]

In case if anybody still remember this 1st case.....

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- The Florida Department of Health announced Sunday morning a confirmed case of swine flu involving a Disney tourist. The announcement brings the total number of confirmed Florida cases to three.
Local officials had already released new details about the case amid public pressure to do so. The patient, who has now fully recovered, is a 14-year-old female from Mexico who was vacationing in the Disney area with her family.
(the rest of the story from WFTV.com)

Thanks, good health and good day!

So, Chicken Little, maybe the sky IS falling. Not directed towards you specifically, but to those who have insisted for days that my family, our doctor in Celebration, and dozens of other concerned locals are paranoid, OCD, phobic, and generally insane.

So I ask again -- one case has been confirmed. Hundreds of others are sick with flu-like symptoms. Is it not theoretically possible that at least SOME of those hundreds of cases may be swine flu? And is it not theoretically possible for the virus to travel rapidly through the confined, closely packed area that is Walt Disney World? Or am I still paranoid, OCD, phobic, and insane?

 

[ClareH37]

Just read the article and what I did find interesting, and I quote:

"even if you're around someone with swine flu, your chances of getting it are slim. Only about 25 percent of the people exposed to the virus, become infected with it, and of those only 12.5 percent actually get flu-like symptoms. That means, for every 100 people who get close to an infected person, fewer than three would feel the effects."

Yes, I know in the context of Disney that's still a very large number, but if certainly reads a lot better than 50 in every 100 people

 

[JLTraveling]

Just read the article and what I did find interesting, and I quote:

"even if you're around someone with swine flu, your chances of getting it are slim. Only about 25 percent of the people exposed to the virus, become infected with it, and of those only 12.5 percent actually get flu-like symptoms. That means, for every 100 people who get close to an infected person, fewer than three would feel the effects."

Yes, I know in the context of Disney that's still a very large number, but if certainly reads a lot better than 50 in every 100 people

With a park capacity of roughly 35,000 per park, that's equivalent to around 1000 people per park, per day that could theoretically get the symptoms. Between four Disney parks, two Universal parks, and Sea World, that's 7000 people PER DAY in the Orlando area that could come up sick (leaving out the water parks, Downtown Disney, CityWalk, and so forth). It's a small percentage to be sure, but a staggering number of people

 

[ClareH37]

With a park capacity of roughly 35,000 per park, that's equivalent to around 1000 people per park, per day that could theoretically get the symptoms. Between four Disney parks, two Universal parks, and Sea World, that's 7000 people PER DAY in the Orlando area that could come up sick (leaving out the water parks, Downtown Disney, CityWalk, and so forth). It's a small percentage to be sure, but a staggering number of people

Absolutely, it's a frightening amount but I'm still relieved at the reported stats

 

[ntsammy5]

What's the population in Metro Orlando? And there are three cases, most likely from people who have recently returend from Mexico?


Cluck, cluck, cluck. This is insane!