Swine Flu News

[Mskanga]

The problem is also that many people with teh symptoms call the doctor's offices and they don't have them come in to be tested , they just "assume" that they have it and give them the tamiflu.
My youngest one was never tested but was assumed to be the culprit because she got sick before me and I tested possitive. My oldest was assumed to have swine because I was possitive and she had gone nowhere in those days , she was homebound.
What I am trying to say is that there are probably far more cases than the ones reported.

 

[Tinijocaro]

What I am trying to say is that there are probably far more cases than the ones reported.

There are DEFINITELY way more cases than are being reported and yes, that would affect the death rate as someone previously posted.

It has been said that many deaths due to H1N1 (especially early on) have gone undetected. Now that it's in full swing, people who have died are being tested. So the death rate is actually higher than is being reported-especially in poor countries where testing is non-existent.

 

[Mskanga]

Yes but it doesn't help either that they stopped testing because the labs are back logged , they need to be accurate before they consider anything a pandemic.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

it is definitely a pandemic....and I believe the CDC/experts have ways to estimate the numbers of cases and deaths given what they are seeing. It isn't an exact science, but I am betting they have it down to a science as best they can.

 

[taximomfor4]

we live in NE Ohio. I know many, many people who had symptoms that fit this. I was even at the ER for several rounds of breathing treatments when I was sick. NOT ONE of us was tested. Some of us called dr's offices, some called peds offices, and some like me went to the ER for difficulty breathing. I am not sure if different states are handling this differently, but around here apparently they don't WANT to test.

BTW, this is not so different from when regular flu was going around a few years ago. My dd was a baby at the time, ended up hospitalized with pretty obviously influenza. They never tested her. Know why? Because if they did, they wouldn't be able to give her a roommate unless that roommate had the same thing (the exact same flu). They tried to give her a roommate in the middle of the night, as a matter of fact. I threw a massive fit when they said "well, she has the same thing." THEY didn't KNOW that, they never tested either child!!

I hear people saying they are from the state with the most swine flu. How do you know that, if some other states aren't even counting?

 

[sbell111]

If you had a child at home recovering from cancer like I do , you would not say this. I do not work and I have taken every precaution known to prevent it , washing hands , staying away from people caughing, etc etc and yet I could not prevent it. My youngest daughter got it from school and gave it to me , and I gave it to my cancer child who by the way was on homebound instruction. If I sound irrational for wanting to prevent anyone in my house to get swine , then so be it.
You can wash your hands a million times a day if you would like , you will still not be able to prevent something that is airborn....even facemasks are not 100% protection. ...

In my opinion, your post is overly paranoid.

There are basically two ways of catching this flu. being around someone who is sick and breathing in their nastiness, and touching an infected surface and then passing the infection from your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Therefore, if you have a high risk person in your home, you should make an effort to keep your hands sanitized and to keep away from sick people. High risk people, such as my pregnant wife, should do the same. Interestingly, these are the very things that you should be doing anyway.

If another household member shows up with the flu (any flu, really), you should segregate that person from anyone who interacts with the at-risk person.

These are really basic concepts and not woorth getting angsty about.

There are DEFINITELY way more cases than are being reported and yes, that would affect the death rate as someone previously posted.

It has been said that many deaths due to H1N1 (especially early on) have gone undetected. Now that it's in full swing, people who have died are being tested. So the death rate is actually higher than is being reported-especially in poor countries where testing is non-existent.

Actually, your logic is a bit off.

There are significantly higher number of people who have had this flu than have been reported. While some of these people may possibly have died, that number would be greatly overwhelmed by the total number of unreported cases making the actual death rate due to this flu go DOWN.

 

[monkey68]

I may have swine flu, oh joy. I got so sick last night, this morning, I was supposed to have lab. I show up, and I'm told I look terrible. My friends convinced me I should leave and go home, stopping in my school's clinic. I went to talk to the director to see if I could leave early and what I should do in the meantime. He told me that if he felt as bad as I looked, there would be no way he would be sitting in lab. He did tell me I could get a makeup assignment that wouldn't be due until Aug. 29, so I'm OK with that.

I go to our clinic and ask to see somebody. I must have looked really bad, because the secretary looked at me and bumped me up in front of everybody else. Got seen right away, got swabbed for influenza. They said it'll be a couple days for the results, but gave me Tamiflu to take. But I feel like complete crud right now. When I got to the clinic, I was apparently really dehydrated from vomitting all night. This is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.

 

[Mskanga]

In my opinion, your post is overly paranoid.

There are basically two ways of catching this flu. being around someone who is sick and breathing in their nastiness, and touching an infected surface and then passing the infection from your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Therefore, if you have a high risk person in your home, you should make an effort to keep your hands sanitized and to keep away from sick people. High risk people, such as my pregnant wife, should do the same. Interestingly, these are the very things that you should be doing anyway.

If another household member shows up with the flu (any flu, really), you should segregate that person from anyone who interacts with the at-risk person.

These are really basic concepts and not woorth getting angsty about.
Actually, your logic is a bit off.

And what evidence do you have to make you so convinced to think that we didn't do that ?

 

[sbell111]

And what evidence do you have to make you so convinced to think that we didn't do that ?

You got sick.

 

[LuvOrlando]

In my opinion, your post is overly paranoid.

There are basically two ways of catching this flu. being around someone who is sick and breathing in their nastiness, and touching an infected surface and then passing the infection from your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Therefore, if you have a high risk person in your home, you should make an effort to keep your hands sanitized and to keep away from sick people. High risk people, such as my pregnant wife, should do the same. Interestingly, these are the very things that you should be doing anyway.

If another household member shows up with the flu (any flu, really), you should segregate that person from anyone who interacts with the at-risk person.

These are really basic concepts and not woorth getting angsty about.
Actually, your logic is a bit off.

There are significantly higher number of people who have had this flu than have been reported. While some of these people may possibly have died, that number would be greatly overwhelmed by the total number of unreported cases making the actual death rate due to this flu go DOWN.

What on earth is it you are trying to accomplish here? I don't get your motives, please explain them.

If you're here to say you're not worried, why not just say that? Why upset other people?

Statistics are only good if you're on the right side of them. Most of the people who are worried sit on the other side of you. Just because you are not in the same boat as some of us doesn't mean we're wrong... we're just wrong FOR YOU.

 

[luvwinnie]

And what evidence do you have to make you so convinced to think that we didn't do that ?

THis is actually for the person who said "you got sick"...not sure what happened...

There is no way to guard against the flu 100%. I have a friend who is a germaphobe....constantly sanitizing her hands...and she still gets sick occasionally. Unless you live a bubble maybe...

 

[sbell111]

What on earth is it you are trying to accomplish here? I don't get your motives, please explain them.

If you're here to say you're not worried, why not just say that? Why upset other people?

Statistics are only good if you're on the right side of them. Most of the people who are worried sit on the other side of you. Just because you are not in the same boat as some of us doesn't mean we're wrong... we're just wrong FOR YOU.

My motives??? You talk like there is some sort of nefarious hidden agenda to my post. In contrast, my post is what it is. It was, in my opinion, quite clear.

If you in any way do not understand my post, please let me know. I will be happy to try to explain anything in there better.

 

[LuvOrlando]

My motives??? You talk like there is some sort of nefarious hidden agenda to my post. In contrast, my post is what it is. It was, in my opinion, quite clear.

If you in any way do not understand my post, please let me know. I will be happy to try to explain anything in there better.

I think you misunderstand me, I'll try again. I understand everything you said, it wasn't complicated. I don't get why you are saying it and why it is being directed at certain people.

 

[sbell111]

THis is actually for the person who said "you got sick"...not sure what happened...

There is no way to guard against the flu 100%. I have a friend who is a germaphobe....constantly sanitizing her hands...and she still gets sick occasionally. Unless you live a bubble maybe...

That was me. I was answering a specific question.

While it is true that it is darn near impossible to completely avoid getting ill, the suggested ways to avoid getting the flu are darn near bulletproof, especially for someone who is confined to the home.

Since I left the Corps, I have never received the flu shot (until this year because my wife is PG). In all that time, I don't believe that I have caught the flu once. This is not because I am some sort of super human. It is because I take the normal precautions during flu season. Avoiding the flu is not that difficult, especially when you have a really, really good reason to do so.

BTW, to those who are stressed because H1N1 is airborne, you can be happy to know that it is not technically an airborne disease. Sure it can ride some water droplets in the air for a limited amount of time, but it is not a true airborne disease.

Another bit of good news is that studies have shown that H1N1 does not spread by airborne means as efficiently as the common seasonal flu.

 

[sbell111]

I think you misunderstand me, I'll try again. I understand everything you said, it wasn't complicated. I don't get why you are saying it and why it is being directed at certain people.

I see.

I posted what I posted because it is on topic. I replied to specific posts because my replies were relavent to those posts.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

That was me. I was answering a specific question.

While it is true that it is darn near impossible to completely avoid getting ill, the suggested ways to avoid getting the flu are darn near bulletproof, especially for someone who is confined to the home.

Since I left the Corps, I have never received the flu shot (until this year because my wife is PG). In all that time, I don't believe that I have caught the flu once. This is not because I am some sort of super human. It is because I take the normal precautions during flu season. Avoiding the flu is not that difficult, especially when you have a really, really good reason to do so.

BTW, to those who are stressed because H1N1 is airborne, you can be happy to know that it is not technically an airborne disease. Sure it can ride some water droplets in the air for a limited amount of time, but it is not a true airborne disease.

Another bit of good news is that studies have shown that H1N1 does not spread by airborne means as efficiently as the common seasonal flu.

Is this your first child? If so, you will quickly learn that containing germs with children is almost impossible. Someone will have to take care of the sick child, and believe me, young kids don't really consider where they are coughing or sneezing, even if it is right in your face. If a young child is sick, an adult in the house will probably get sick as well.

 

[sbell111]

Is this your first child? If so, you will quickly learn that containing germs with children is almost impossible. Someone will have to take care of the sick child, and believe me, young kids don't really consider where they are coughing or sneezing, even if it is right in your face. If a young child is sick, an adult in the house will probably get sick as well.

I'm working under the assumption that the person had a husband, an older child, a mother, a father, a mother-in-law, a father-in-law, an aunt, an uncle, a sister, a brother, or a trusted friend.

 

[hinodis]

My son had the swine flu. He was treatred with tamaflu twice a day for five days. He is fine and he was the only one who got sick in the house. He did end up missing 5 days of work.

 

[C.Ann]

Is this your first child? If so, you will quickly learn that containing germs with children is almost impossible. Someone will have to take care of the sick child, and believe me, young kids don't really consider where they are coughing or sneezing, even if it is right in your face. If a young child is sick, an adult in the house will probably get sick as well.

This is a very valid point.. Once my children were grown and out of the house, I never even caught a cold - let alone the flu..

We all love kids - but let's face it - they're little germ incubators.. LOL..

 

[JessicaR]

That was me. I was answering a specific question.

While it is true that it is darn near impossible to completely avoid getting ill, the suggested ways to avoid getting the flu are darn near bulletproof, especially for someone who is confined to the home.

Since I left the Corps, I have never received the flu shot (until this year because my wife is PG). In all that time, I don't believe that I have caught the flu once. This is not because I am some sort of super human. It is because I take the normal precautions during flu season. Avoiding the flu is not that difficult, especially when you have a really, really good reason to do so.

BTW, to those who are stressed because H1N1 is airborne, you can be happy to know that it is not technically an airborne disease. Sure it can ride some water droplets in the air for a limited amount of time, but it is not a true airborne disease.

Another bit of good news is that studies have shown that H1N1 does not spread by airborne means as efficiently as the common seasonal flu.

Unfortunately the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. You can take all the precautions in the world, but sometimes the flu sneaks around your defenses.

You are implying that some posters didn't take all precautions or use their best efforts like you would and that just isn't fair or factual.

"they got sick." Not a well thought out response. It could happen to you too.

Individually we all do what we feel is best for us and our families. It doesn't feel good to have your efforts knocked.

There have been a few posts that I would deem over the top but who am I to say how they should be feeling? Some of your posts sound condescending and put people on the defense. Nothing personal, just an observation.