Flu pandemic?!

[poetsheart]

<p>

They mutate in your cells, and lack the free will to “decide” anything.

</p>

<p>I somehow suspect that the use of “decide” was a figure of speech, Ari…:rolleyes: Lighten up a bit, will ya?</p>

[BunsenBurner]

<p>I think there is a silver lining to this cloud of H1N1 paranoia - people will pay more attention to hygiene. Hopes are that increased handwashing will help reduce the number of cases of nasty infections caused by MRSA and other drug-resistant bugs.</p>

<p>Just today I read a story that 3 crew team members at Middlebury are being treated for MRSA…</p>

[AprilMom]

<p>My opinion is in form of images. Not at all scientific! I should have written “decide” and “blood”. I am just trying to find an explanation for the decision of the CDC on raising the level to 5 considering the mildest of the infected cases. I also asked myself why make a statement of closing entire schools for 1 case of this flu. I found interesting notes when I googled “how does a virus mutation occurs”. <a href=“http://www.college.ucla.edu/webproject/micro12/m12webnotes/viraevolution.htm[/url]”>http://www.college.ucla.edu/webproject/micro12/m12webnotes/viraevolution.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[AprilMom]

<p>Sorry, the link do not work but if you google the title is Viral Evolution.</p>

[Modadunn]

<p>Bunsen, I too read that piece about the Middlebury crew members. And in reading the hygiene tips to students I was thinking, “Duh.” Then I thought about my own son and if I didn’t tell him to strip his bed once a week, he’d only change the pillow cases!! Gym clothes however would be a daily thing and he’d rather buy new ones than wear them again.</p>

<p>If you had the flu this past winter at some point, would you be less likely to get this particular flu? I know it wouldnt be the same antibodies, but wouldn’t they have some cross over in their make up?</p>

[Kelowna]

<p>

According to a Doctor on the local news, unless you isolate yourself totally for 6 to 8 weeks, not receiving mail, having your own supply of food, it will be very difficult to avoid this flu. It is extremely contagious and nobody have immunization against it. My opinion about the high general interest and concern for this virus is that it can decide to mutate in the blood of a human host and become a much more dangerous virus.

</p>

<p>This is pure sensationalism, that is why it got the treatment it did
“Extremly contagious” ? - reliable source please.
“Nobody have immunization agains it” - the same, please.</p>

<p>Andy why WHO has raised to level 5? It means that there is a documented human to human transmission in at least two countries.
[WHO</a> | Current WHO phase of pandemic alert](<a href=“http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html]WHO”>http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html)</p>

<p>Granted, I also believe that the closure of an entire school district if there is a one suspected case is an overreaction, but I am not an infectious disease specialist.</p>

<p>Please, do not feed the panic :)</p>

<p>BunsenBurner - it is already working in my house. One of my kids, who constantly has hands around his face is making an effort to keep them down ! And yours truly is definitely washing her hands more often!</p>

<p>

@Modadun

If you had the flu this past winter at some point, would you be less likely to get this particular flu? I know it wouldnt be the same antibodies, but wouldn’t they have some cross over in their make up?

It is very difficult to say, unless you will know the genetic make up of the flu you have had.
I have noticed one thing thogh, as it relates to seasonal allergies - purely anecdotal. If there is a cold going around in my house when my allergies are acting up and I already feel miserable, I will generally never catch that cold. My immune system must be on a high alert and ready to defend me from anything :)</p>

[AprilMom]

<p>My sources are all over the news. Pick your favorite channel! The fact that President Obama’s words are to close an entire school for 1 case of the virus is disturbing. I am simply trying to understand the present situation. Maybe President Obama, Joe Biden, the CDC, the WHO and the some comments from Doctors on the news should be blame for sensationalism.</p>

[madjammer]

<p>People need to chill out. The media has really blown it out of proportion. Just wash your hands, stay away from sick people, etc. This routine is the same for prevention of any type of illness.</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>I guess it would depend on where you are traveling, for example when my daughter went to rural Africa and India she carried antibiotics with her for severe intestinal problems, but she did’nt have to take it in Ghana, I don’t know about India, she isn’t back yet.
France I wouldn’t worry about, my impression has been that they have better health care than US</p>

[BCEagle91]

<p>“The media has really blown it out of proportion. Just wash your hands, stay away from sick people, etc.”</p>

<p>Not quite so simple if you have immune-system problems.</p>

[Kelowna]

<p>ApriMom - please quote CDC or WHO saying this virus is “extremely contagious” and that “nobody has immunity against it”. </p>

<p>

@AprilMom

My sources are all over the news. Pick your favorite channel!

The prescription here would be to turn your TV off :)</p>

[AprilMom]

<p>The problem is not as simple! I would have to “turn off” my computer, my H, my D, my mother in law, my friends, the bank teller, the mailman… My H refused to go to our favorite restaurant yesterday because it is buffet style. My D’s friend refused to go see a movie because her mother told her it was too confined, my grocery bags smell like disinfectant because the employee was rubbing his hands with alcohol gel every 20 seconds.</p>

[Booklady]

<p>This seems apropos: <a href=“http://graphjam.files.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2009/04/song-chart-memes-swine-flu.jpg[/url]”>http://graphjam.files.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2009/04/song-chart-memes-swine-flu.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[JustAMomOf4]

<p>Here is the CDC guidelines for K-12 schools:
[CDC</a> H1N1 Flu | Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Information for Child Care Providers](<a href=“http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/k12_dismissal.htm]CDC”>http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/k12_dismissal.htm)</p>

<p>I hope that school administrations are not making the decision to close in a vaccuum. They need to be on board with Public Health. There are some very valid reasons for closing a school for a few days, but some may be jumping the gun a bit.</p>

<p>[CDC</a> H1N1 Flu | Interim Guidance on Antiviral Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection and Close Contacts](<a href=“http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm]CDC”>CDC H1N1 Flu | Updated Interim Recommendations for the Use of Antiviral Medications in the Treatment and Prevention of Influenza for the 2009-2010 Season)</p>

<p>Some definitions from interim guidelines:

A confirmed case of S-OIV infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed S-OIV infection at CDC by one or more of the following tests:

1. real-time RT-PCR
2. viral culture</p>

<p>A probable case of S-OIV infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness who is positive for influenza A, but negative for H1 and H3 by influenza RT-PCR</p>

<p>A suspected case of S-OIV infection is defined as a person with acute febrile respiratory illness with onset</p>

<pre><code>* within 7 days of close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of S-OIV infection, or

• within 7 days of travel to community either within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed cases of S-OIV infection, or
• resides in a community where there are one or more confirmed cases of S-OIV infection.
  </code></pre>

<p>Infectious period for a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as 1 day prior to the case’s illness onset to 7 days after onset.</p>

<p>Close contact is defined as: within about 6 feet of an ill person who is a confirmed or suspected case of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection during the case’s infectious period.</p>

<p>Acute respiratory illness is defined as recent onset of at least two of the following: rhinorrhea or nasal congestion, sore throat, cough (with or without fever or feverishness)</p>

<p>High-risk groups: A person who is at high-risk for complications of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as the same for seasonal influenza (see MMWR: Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2008).</p>

<p>Special Considerations for Children
Aspirin or aspirin-containing products (e.g. bismuth subsalicylate – Pepto Bismol) should not be administered to any confirmed or suspected ill case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection aged 18 years old and younger due to the risk of Reye syndrome. For relief of fever, other anti-pyretic medications are recommended such as acetaminophen or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

</p>

[cartera45]

<p>I don’t get it. How do the people who are in an absolute panic about the flu bring themselves to get into a car - over 37,000 people died in car accidents last year. Why doesn’t that cause a panic?</p>

[BCEagle91]

<p>Because they drive better than everyone else does.</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>^^^^
True</p>

<p>I admit I have taken to wearing a mask- yesterday I was doing some landscaping and the pollen is terrible!
Tonight I am also going to a concert in a sweaty club- but except for my current ongoing issues I am pretty healthy- besides doesn’t alcohol kill germs?

[Protection</a> Against the Swine Flu in Style | Walyou](<a href=“http://www.walyou.com/blog/2009/04/30/swine-flu-surgical-masks/]Protection”>http://www.walyou.com/blog/2009/04/30/swine-flu-surgical-masks/)</p>

[Kelowna]

<p>

@AprilMom

The problem is not as simple! I would have to “turn off” my computer, my H, my D, my mother in law, my friends, the bank teller, the mailman… My H refused to go to our favorite restaurant yesterday because it is buffet style. My D’s friend refused to go see a movie because her mother told her it was too confined, my grocery bags smell like disinfectant because the employee was rubbing his hands with alcohol gel every 20 seconds.

</p>

<p>You have a true chance of being the voice of reason at least in your home :)</p>

[ChellyBelly42]

<p>I think this website is a really good resource for all information about the piggy flu: [Do</a> You Have Swine Flu?](<a href=“http://doihaveswineflu.org/]Do”>http://doihaveswineflu.org/)</p>

[AprilMom]

<p>Kelowna, I had a talk with my H yesterday night and we both agreed that not listening to the news is irresponsible. We are not panicking but we fear this virus and we need to take precautions to avoid catching it or most importantly transmitting it to somebody with a low immune system which might get very sick even with a mild flu. It is better to believe that the virus is highly contagious so the precaution of washing your hands, keeping distance from sick people and staying home when you are sick will be taken very seriously. As my H and I discussed, we are actually grateful to the news because it might have save our life. We made the decision to evacuate our house when we watched the governor, the mayor and the leader of the Hurricane Center. A part of our house was destroyed during Katrina and you probably know the story of our city. During that period, my D missed 1 month of school and we were on Martial Law for several days. My conclusion is that I had no control on this hurricane but I was prepared and I kept my family comfortable in the worst circumstance. So, as we say around here, prepare yourself for the worst, if nothing happens just be grateful. From the news yesterday night, the worry of our governor is that the virus will last for summer and it could cause problems in case we need evacuation and shelter.</p>