Yet another H1N1(Swine Flu) Question

[TwMuise]

I know this has probably been asked before but we are heading to Disney World in 24 days and I am a worrier. I was wondering who has been since the H1N1 surfaced and have you seen changes? I think I may go as far as getting Lysol and spraing bedspreads, door knobs and such. Am I over-reacting as usual. We are going down for 15 days and I am getting scared as usual. If there is the slightest thing to worry about I will worry. Looking for some feedback as to anyone else's experiences there and with H1N1.

Thanks for hopefully putting my mind at ease.

Wendy

 

[angela1044]

I think you are over reacting a little but I would put the tv remote in a zip lock bag. That thing can't be cleaned and it would probably carry a ton of germs.

For everything else, there is a better chance catching something on the plane.
Sorry to add to your worries.

 

[brighteyes]

If it is truly a worry for you I don't think it will hurt to wipe down the remote and doorknobs and spray the bedspreads down (those things almost never get washed) ICK! If anything it will help settle your nerves.

I work in a medical clinic and we can wear masks if we want. I never do. I just wash my hands LOTS and use hand sanitizer.

Stephanie

 

[VictoriaM]

We flew down in Feb, stayed at ASM, I sprayed everything with lysol, wiped everything down and always make them was their hands and my 5 yr old ended up getting the flu of some sort the 2nd day we were there. My 8 yr old ended up with pink eye on the 8th day we were there, if you are going to catch something you will regardless.

 

[House_of_Mouse Fan]

We're heading down in 15 days and are starting to think about things too. We've decided to go with masks for the plane (the N-95 model was suggested to us by our pharmacist) just to be safe. We travelled last year and I'm sure the bug I picked up on our return was from the plane (I almost never get sick!) I'm also a teacher so I know they're predicting a tough fall for illness. I want to be as healthy as possible going back in September.

Have a good trip!

 

[minnie56]

I think all of the above are good--but if you are going to get it, you are going to get it I am afraid. It's almost impossible to clean every single surface and miss every airborne particle..

Anywhere there are lots of people--there is the chance that something is going to be there too!

 

[tink1969]

I think the H1N1 (swine) flu is just like any other flu. This one just happens to be getting a lot of media coverage and attention from WHO.
My daughter and I were both very sick a few weeks ago and I'm wondering if it was the swine flu. We both had severe headaches and fever. I'm hearing that seems to be the general symptoms of the swine flu.
I don't want to minimize your concerns and say you are over-reacting, I'm just saying not to be crazy with the thought of 'possibly' picking up a bug. You don't want to be so obsessed that you don't enjoy your vacation.
As long as you wash your hands, hand sanitizer, etc., you should be fine.

As for the hotel bed spreads, I fold them back and leave them at the end of the bed. We do NOT use them. I also will not walk on the carpet without my flip flops. It gives me the heebiejeebies.
I can't believe I never thought about bring lysol wipes to wipe down the remote, taps, toilet seat, etc. Guess what I'm adding to my 'Disney packing' list?!

 

[connorsmom911]

H1N1 is getting a lot of press right now, but remember that, it's a lot of press. Everyday viruses like seasonal flu, colds, gastrointestinal bugs, etc. are prevalent all the time on all surfaces no matter where you go, no matter when. It's just that these everyday, common viruses are just that, everyday and common, not worthy of the media attention. If you're going to catch something, you're going to catch something.

You can do your best to stay healthy by practising good handwashing often, cleaning commonly touched surfaces in hotel rooms as soon as you arrive (I always take lysol or clorox wipes with me and wipe down all the door handles, remotes, phone handset, taps, etc.) and for times in between, carry a travel size bottle of hand sanitizer and remember to use it often, especially before eating.

Go ahead and worry about it, but you're probably more likely to pick something up at home, at the local grocery store or at the movie theater when you're comfortable in your surroundings and you let your guard down. Travelling isn't going to increase your likelihood of catching H1N1 since it's already worldwide.

 

[katscradle]

I have a little routine I do we we go.
Spray and wipe down everything in the room.
Buy throw a way cups for water.
Stripe the bedding and look for bed bugs. I know gross, but they are becoming a problem.
Then remake the bed.
I do this in about 30-40 minutes. The children and DH are not allowed to touch anything till I have cleaned it.
I used to clean hotel rooms for a living some 25 years ago.
I know what didn't get cleaned then and I can only imagine what does not get cleaned now.

 

[casper_jj11]

I don't mean to add to your concerns but we get the stomach flu almost every trip to Disney. Usually, its just once we get back or on the last day. Last trip was 4 days in. First, DH, then DS6 and DD, then me. The little guy was spared. We've come to the conclusion that all the handrails and safety bars on the rides are just condusive to getting the flu. I always clean the hotel room as well and last trip, I used hand sanitizer on us and the kids regularly but really, with tens of thousands of people touching these bars every day, there's no way to avoid it.

 

[jakoky]

Hi there, we went to DL in may, right at the WORST of the swine flu hype....i was very nervous before we went, but once on the trip, i relaxed....we brought lots of hand sanitizer and used it all the time....i never realized until all this swine flu stuff, how many times a day you touch your face....As for the masks, they will NOT protect you...they WILL protect others from your germs though...they say that these masks only work for about 20 min....we saw about 4 masks on our 12 day trip (and this was at the absolute worst time to travel with the swine flu-flights to mexico had just been shut down)....3 of our group of 7 did end up with colds, but thankfully all was well...oh, and i took off our bedspreads and put them in the closet, who needs them.......I say go and just have fun....LOTS of handwashing, lots of sanitizer....eat well, get sleep, and have an amazing trip!!!

 

[MichaelaMouse]

Do you take these precautions when you go out somewhere at home? H1N1 really is everywhere, it is no longer as much of a "traveller's" flu. H1N1 has been in Canada for some time, and is still prevalent throughout the country, and is basically everywhere. While there are lots of people at Disney, take the same precautions you would take in a crowded area around where you live. Handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread of any disease, so I would suggest bringing some little bottles of alcohol based hand sanitizer. But again, H1N1 precautions really need to be taken anywhere.

 

[Ham Ham]

http://membracid.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/how-to-inspect-your-hotel-room-for-bed-bugs/

http://www.budgetlighting.com/black_light_stain_detector.html

 

[TwMuise]

Thank you all for your feedback. I spoke with my Dr. today and she also said hand wash , sanatize and above all enjoy myself and not get carried away with my fears. We will Lysol the hotel room and using Purel is not new to us we use it regularly. I will still be paranoid but will do my best to enjoy myself. Thanks everyone.

Wendy

 

[Reese]

I always take disinfected wipes with me and wipe down all the surfaces in our room. That being said we always end up with one or two kids coming down with something anyways. All the hand rails on rides, crowded busses it's unavoidible. We just wash our hands well and use hand sanitizer.

The H1N1 has become very common. My DS had what they think was that, the walk in Dr. said they don't swab anymore and they only report hospitalization cases. He was very sick and still has a harsh cough three weeks after the fact. Two of my DD's came down with it 10 days later (the exact incubation period, we were just thinking we were clear) but they did not get nearly as sick.

 

[peterandlisa]

I think your chances of harming your trip by over worrying is greater than that of harming your trip with H1N1. My daughter did have H1N1 ... got it on a youth trip out of town. However - the 8 other kids who shared an 8 hour van ride as well as church room to sleep in for 3 days did not get it. As well - none of us at home got it - despite being "quaranteened" together at home for a week .... all locked in a house together with no real precautions other than normal hygene. For my daughter (15) it was a bad cold. The only alarming sympton (which is why I took her to the dr.) was a very high fever 2 nights in a row. She never actually felt ill - just tired and had a deep cough. There is a lot of hype about H1N1 - people can die from any flu if they have weakened immune systems - it is the ease in which this one is spread that is the concern. For the majority of people ... it is just a cold-like flu. She was not even treated at all - said only to be concerned if it turned in pnemonia ... then they would treat for that. While we (Mom, Dad, Little sister) seemed like we were destined to get it - as well as the other kids on the bus ...... none of us did. HOWEVER - my daughter got it from a stranger ..... no idea who. Strange.
It is, of course, easy enough to carry a mini bottle of hand sanitizer and use it frequently...... but don't stress .... it is DISNEY!!!!!!!