What are your thought on.........

[LSmith]

The fact that the WHO are also making a statement about school closures being possibly recommended and saying that now, there are too many cases to count, well, it's just something that needs paying attention to.

I agree. Remember, it's not the government who is telling us about H1N1 but the top health care officials including WHO but also our own here in Canada.

I know a few close friends who have contracted this. The symptoms were just like a regular flu. It was bad but not life threatening. The worry is that the flu will become more virulent when it returns in the fall — just as the deadly 1918 pandemic did. No need for panic but people shouldn't be thinking that this is the same flu that we usually have.

Another concern is travel. Especially to places like China. Just Google to see what happens if you are on a plane to China and someone 4 rows over from you has a temperature. You can be put into isolation in horrific conditions for 8 to 10 days to see if you develop any symptoms. Sometimes with your children on a different room or floor and no contact with them, no phone. Very scary. And no, the Canadian government is not going to be able to help you.

 

[minnie56]

THey were talking on the noon news about it again--Great Britain is anticipating that 65,000 people could die from H1N1 this winter. That's a staggering number.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090722/h1n1_090722/20090722?hub=TopStories

I don't know...to me, this one has my attention!!

 

[Shih-Tzu]

Well - here's my take on a couple of points brought up - which could explain some people's line of thinking.....

Calling in sick is frowned upon:
(1) Yes, definately.
(2) Some employers allow it but if you need to call in the second or third day, you require a doctors slip (which is hard if you don't have a doctor or if you can't get an appointment)

People show up to work sick
(1) To avoid the remarks from other co-workers (and it DOES happen) or so people can plainly see they're sick and not faking it) - an acquaintance of mine mentioned this once - said it was the only way co-workers would believe you....
(2) Workers only get paid while at work - calling in sick results in no pay
(3) Workers show up to work - if they call in there's no pay, but if they're sent home by management, they're paid for their shift.

Sending kids to school sick
(1) # 1 reason that we hear - can't find alternative child care (even if you have arrangements for after school or storm days with a day care - they won't take a sick child either)
(2) Parent has to pay a lot extra to find someone
(3) Many employers DO NOT understand or take into consideration if a parent calls in to say they won't be at work because of a sick child


There was an article in our local paper today about what the schools are doing to prepare for the flu epedemic: they are looking at training more replacement bus drivers, etc. The deputy chief health officer for the province thinks that closing schools and universities WON'T stop the spread of H1N1 as people will be out and about in the malls and other places and keep socializing anyway.

I know my mother is worried sick we will get something either before we go to Disney or get it there...and I do worry about it because there are so many people around my area that have no family doctors and can only rely on out-patients or croweded after-hours clinics (which turn people away after a certain number of patients have registered) - they have to become VERY ILL in order to be seen to have treatment started.

 

[Cdn Gal]

This is definetly scary b/c of the WHO. If we miss class I hope to teach through the internet using skype, blogs and on-line chats. I really, really hope though that school is not closed b/c to play catch up will be nearly impossible. That said, I really wish parents would keep their kids home if they are genuinely sick.

 

[ferris198]

There will be a vaccination available.

 

[minnie56]

There will be a vaccination available.

I do hope you are right...

 

[ferris198]

It is being developed right now, and will be available if needed.

 

[LSmith]

There will be a vaccination available.

In the Star today:

"WASHINGTON – The U.S. government called Wednesday for several thousand volunteers to start rolling up their sleeves for the first swine flu shots, in a race to test whether a new vaccine really will protect against the virus before its expected rebound in the fall.

The first shots should go into volunteers' arms by the second week of August. A network of medical centres around the country is enrolling for the series of studies directed by the National Institutes of Health."

Anyone here want to volunteer? Not me.

 

[minnie56]

Well, I will remain cautiously optimistic until I see it here and working.

 

[grandgathering]

I do not want to volunteer either but this sounds promissing! glad to hear about the vaccine!

Although I have a chriropractor friend who is on my facebook, who is consistantly posting these awefull 'anti-vaccine' videos.....and I see some friends who comment on them saying how they too do not vaccinate their children etc....? I didnt think you could send ur child to school without being up to date with vaccines? gosh you never know what to think eh?

 

[LSmith]

I do not want to volunteer either but this sounds promissing! glad to hear about the vaccine!

Although I have a chriropractor friend who is on my facebook, who is consistantly posting these awefull 'anti-vaccine' videos.....and I see some friends who comment on them saying how they too do not vaccinate their children etc....? I didnt think you could send ur child to school without being up to date with vaccines? gosh you never know what to think eh?

I know! But really, most of those vaccines have been around for 30 or more years. I don't want to be a guinea pig for new drugs. I have zero faith in drug companies after having been a patent law clerk for 16 years. Drug companies have no scruples.

 

[mtmbyck]

The vaccine is only being tested in Australia, the US and another country I cannot recall as per CHCH news this morning. Glaxo Smith Kline is producing Canada's Vaccine and it isn't even in testing phase so it won't be around by fall.

They also said that they tested the Tamiflu drug against H1M1 and it was ineffective. A person on Tamiflu still got the disease.

 

[averysmom]

I'm in MB and it was in our paper that they will close schools on an individual basis... I guess if there is an outbreak in a specific school then they will cancel in that school for a specific time.

In our area, the problem is that they aren't testing for it. I had a rash of students (10/24) who were out for 3+ days with "flu-like" symptoms in June- and only one was tested for h1n1 because that child was taken to emergency. I asked parents if they had been tested and they said no, that doctors wern't doing it, only if the kids were sick enough to be taken into the hospital, then were they going to test. So our numbers are totally under reported.

That child who was tested... yup, h1n1. And what are the odds that the other 9 kids in my class, who had the same ruddy symptoms had another flu in June? pretty low would be my guess.

I also think that part of the concern, is that while ppl die of the flu - it is usually only ppl with comprimised health, the very old and the very young. The ppl who are dying of this flu, are the 19-59 year olds, many with no previous health concerns.

Also, I just learned this this weekend from a friend of a friend who works Labour and Delivery at a local hospital, and every pregnant woman who has come into her hospital has spontanously aborted her baby. She said she knows one baby lived - the woman was like 39 weeks, but all others have been too premature. Why hasn't this little factoid been on the news????

 

[ferris198]

Sanofi is also making a vaccine for Canada.