Okay. Breathe. Just not too deeply.
I've become the local expert on this disease. You can read my blog to find out some information on it and some links that will take you to blogs that do a better job of explaining it.
First off. The testing is usually off. Meaning just because you tested negative does not mean you didn't have the Novel Type A H1N1. There is a 40-70% false negative with the current testing. Even the $250 test is wrong most of the time. SO if you have flu symptoms, treat it like the pandemic strain.
What does that mean? If you or your child has symptoms, make your doctor give you Tamiflu. Per the new WHO recommendations, ALL people presenting with Influenza Like Illness symptoms should and must be treated with Antivirals.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breaki...-230559/WHO-warns-of-tough-fight-vs-swine-flu
Data presented at a three-day meeting of health professionals here showed that "this virus causes severe pneumonia compared to seasonal flu," World Health Organization (WHO) influenza expert Nikki Shindo told reporters.
The influenza A(H1N1) virus, she warned, could cause potentially life-threatening viral pneumonia far more often than the seasonal flu.
"This virus really likes the lower respiratory tract, which means this virus is more likely to cause viral pneumonia than seasonal pneumonia," Shindo warned.
Around 30 percent of severe cases had bacterial co-infections, she added, urging that anti-viral treatments be administered in a timely fashion to reduce severe disease.
I am glad that you school is allowing at risk students to stay home. I think siblings of at risk students should stay home too.
No grief from me over the vax. It is a choice that each family should make for themselves. I can tell you that Little Bit has suffered no ill side effects from both injections. He's 8, he would need two according to CDC recommendations. However, I can NOT tell you he has immunity. How far the current strain going around has changed from the seed stock from April? These vaccines could really be pointless and give a false sense of security. Something we don't need as a society.
Keep a watch out for the warning signs. Getting better and then a fever is a BAD thing. It is usually a secondary infection that took advantage of the week immune system. Get them to an ER pronto.
Blue fingers and lips. Bad.
Shortness of breath or sloppy sounding breathing. Bad. Could be pneumonia.
Irritability unable to console. Bad
Extreme lethargy. Bad.
Unable to keep down liquids. Really bad. Dehydration kills.
I urge everyone to get their preps ready NOW.
You need OTC medicines. Easy to prepare and eat foods. Soup for the sick. Easy to open and just eat food for the kiddos if YOU are too sick to make dinner. Oral Re-hydration fluids. These are a MUST. Not Gatoraid. Too much sugar. The Propel water is better. Pedialyte is best.
Keep you emergency contact numbers where they can be found easily.
Tell someone so they can check up on you.
If it presents with mild symptoms, great. But even mild can mean "hit by a truck and just not need ventilation". This where the dehydration bad things can happen.
Helping to clean the school is a good thing, but really it isn't enough. This virus will be air born in the colder, less humid weather. It will have a much longer hang time in the air before it falls to surfaces to be cleaned. Keep six feet from you and the next person if possible.
Let me know if you need any specific information. I can find it for you.