<p>[Officials:</a> H1N1 Not 1918 All Over Again - CBS News](<a href=“http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/01/health/main4982537.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4982537]Officials:”>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/01/health/main4982537.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4982537)</p>
<p>Pulled from a Medical/Flu site:</p>
<p>“It seems to me that it took quite a number of years and a great deal of luck to get viral material to finally identify the 1918 Spanish flu. One story I heard was of a victim buried in permafrost another was of some surviving lab specimens from a british hospital. Maybe some virologists on this site can give us a little more of the facts. One thing I do know is that early on in spring of1918 the Spanish flu was not very virulent (sort of like spring of 2009) however by the second wave in the fall of 1918 the virus was highly virulent. Makes me wonder why this part of the story is not being reported. So when our health officials tell us that our current Mexican H1N1 lacks the genetic material that the 1918 Spanish flu had are they comparing it to the early non-virulent version or the later highly virulent version.
Is there more good being done by telling people not to worry and to keep on traveling to Mexico or do you think it would be more prudent to warn people to be cautious?”</p>
<p>We are worry about after the summer vacation and everybody return to school from all over the world…</p>
<p>Well, it has finally hit…</p>
<p>Here is the notice we receive a few minutes ago from goaliegirl’s school. I have censored out the school name and phone number to protect her privacy. I’m sure that those of you who know where my D goes to school will respect my wishes to protect her privacy. Is is a male student.</p>
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<p>I am told that the student has not been on campus since Thursday when he was sent to the hospital for evaluation. Unfortunately, they had their prom last night, which if there are pre-symptomatic cases could result in a wider spread. We are hoping not. </p>
<p>Basically, all the students are now confined to their dorms. Goaliegirl is now in a single situation with a shared bathroom with 2 other girls.</p>
<p>I know her school does have an annual Habitat for Humanity trip to Mexico every spring (like so many other boarding schools). Don’t know if this is related, although it sure looks like it could be. I’m most puzzled as to why only 1 case and so long after the potential exposure (over a month). It wouldn’t surprise me that many people get infected but show little or no symptoms. </p>
<p>Let’s just hope this gets quarantined until it runs its course…</p>
<p>I wonder if we survive the current weak form of H1N1, and build up immunities, if it returns more badass this Fall, wouldn’t those that had it earlier be less inclined to get sick?></p>
<p>Oh, dear. I’m sorry to hear this. It just seems like it must be very frustrating for the kids to be under this situation, but I’m sure that the school must have a good plan and be doing the right thing. Hope goalie girl likes the girls she’s stuck with! Good luck.</p>
<p>“It wouldn’t surprise me that many people get infected but show little or no symptoms.” </p>
<p>This may well be true. I have been wondering how many people actually had it (symptomatic or not) but didn’t report it, especially in Mexico. Are the deaths there just a numbers thing…low fatality rate, but so many people infected there that eventually a small portion succumbed to it and it hit the CDC and WHO radar. Or is there truly something different about Mexico? And for all we know it could have been circulating around the US for a while, but gone unnoticed due to it being so mild. </p>
<p>As for the prom, from what I’ve heard, people are more likely to pass it when symptomatic (i.e. sneezing, coughing, etc.). Of course, if someone were carrying it and kissed their date, that could certainly pass it along, symptomatic or not. I hope that will be the only case at your daughter’s school. And thankfully it does seem to be mild so far. Who knows, maybe getting the virus now will provide some immunities later.</p>
<p>Another update from her school…</p>
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<p>I would guess that when they took the student to the hospital last Thursday, they probably started an agressive treatment plan with tamiflu (which the CDC does say is effective in lessening symptoms and shortening the duration of symptoms) or the other anti-viral (can’t remember the name right now).</p>
<p>As a side note, when the school sent out it’s first notice about the swine flu a couple weeks back (a presentation to students about the disease and what to be looking out for), they did mention that they would have nightly disinfecting of all common areas and the like. It sounds like they have been on top of things and are doing what they can.</p>
<p>And no, (my wife tells me) that goaliegirl did not kiss her “date” Saturday night. They are friends, nothing more.</p>
<p>[RELENZA</a> - ZANAMIVIR FOR INHALATION](<a href=“http://www.relenza.com/]RELENZA”>http://www.relenza.com/)</p>
<p>Many deaths from flu come from the bacterial infections that follow. Relenza/ Tamaflu with this strain of H1N1 works to inhibit replicating of the virus, followed up by aggressive use of antibiotics.</p>
<p>Due to the “chicken little” scale of the response to this flu, countries may close their borders to travelers from the US and Mexico. As schools close, students may be stranded.
Quiet inquiry to the Prep schools as to the contingency plan in such an event might be in order.</p>
<p>Cost?
INS implications?<br>
SAT/AP implications?</p>
<p>Personally, I am happy to see the ““chicken little” scale of the response”, it is a great exercise for when the big one comes.
A Current NE BS headmaster told me last month that plans have been effect for a Pandemic at his school for the past four years ever since the Bush administration made
it clear that it isn’t if a Pandemic is coming , it’s when.</p>
<p>Over in the UK, there are precautions, but everyone believes it’s a big joke. All fatal cases but one have occurred in Mexico where the conditions are less than healthy anyway, and over here there are interviews with those who have the disease. And you know what they’re complaining of? Flu.</p>
<p>This whole thing is about flu. Flu kills people anyway… So what’s the big deal? Forgive my ignorance, but my belief is that the response has been so OTT that it’s just ridiculous. Once again, we’re talking about FLU here. There are already vaccines for the pigs… So is the big deal the fact that some people will get diarrhea and a small number of old people will die, just as they do with normal flu? Someone, please enlighten me…</p>
<p>Oh, Goaliedad,
Im sorry to hear this. I know the school you are referring to. S just played against said school and now I am worried too.
Did they give tamaflu to kids who came in contact with the kid?
Hope all is well. I am sure you are worried.</p>
<p>HMO3</p>
<p>But it’s the flu… A little puking and a little diarrhea! Just take a few days off work and be there to fetch the occasional glass of water, etc. Your son will be fine… It’s the flu…</p>
<p>If you are following the news, younger people and people that normally dont succomb to the flu are dying so he and i do have a reason to worry. Esp. when kids are in such close contact.</p>
<p>In Mexico - where there’s bad water an unacceptably high air pollution, not to mention poor or nonexistent health care and lack of tamiflu and relenza… I’m sure you’re worried, but I’m just not sure there’s too much reason to be.</p>
<p>As I said, there’s only been one death outside of Mexico…</p>
<p>
So far, no more bad news. State Health and local officials were on site to review the situation and approved everything being done (all classes and ECs cancelled, small groups to the cafeteria, nightly sanitizing, etc.). They will be checking the well-being of every student and anyone with any symptom will be sent for further evaluation.</p>
<p>The student in question is feeling better now. I would assume that the school cannot officially release the name or treatment of the student for legal reasons, so I cannot comment about the use of anti-virals.</p>
<p>All parents will be getting phone calls tonight.</p>
<p>I am not too much of a worrier myself, as there is not much I can do about the situation. I think with all the attention the school is getting, if anything does happen, they’ll be all over it with the best care available and in a timely manner. I suspect the early lethality of this flu was primarily due to the lack of or delay in treatment of symptoms.</p>
<p>HMO3, I’ll drop you a PM to confirm the athletic event…</p>
<p>All the students from my current school were just informed that there was an outbreak and there are two most definite cases of the swine flu. There were 40 out of around 85 kids out sick from one grade. What makes it even more scary, the whole grade just got back from a 3-day long field trip, 5 hours away. This means the whole grade was on a bus together for 1-6 hours a day, for 3 days. not good. The school will be closed for 2 weeks (or until further notice) by the county health commissioner.
It is especially hard for the high school, as this week was supposed to be the start of AP exams. There are also middle school finals that need to be rescheduled, as well as band and chorus concerts. The spring sports season was also wrapping up, so it will probably throw off the league results.
An upside to the whole thing, we are a technology school so everybody grades 7-12 has an e-mail address and access to the school e-mail server. The next few days are going to be a little hectic, but eventually the school is going to try to set up online classes and systems for reviewing for tests and APs.
This was all a shock to the most of the whole school and I am still getting over it myself (I only heard about the cancelations a few hours ago). I never expected it could actually happen to my school…</p>
<p>Tom - No worries dood!
Let the grownups plan and worry for next fall:) <prep school=“” parents’=“” area=“”>
What is everyone doing this summer?</prep></p>
<p>GoalieDad may have hit on the difference between Mexico and US. Acc. to hubby, there does seem to be a correlation between early treatment and severity of the cases. In Mexico, people either didn’t have access or waited a long time before going to the doctor. In the US, we’ve been more proactive in getting probable cases evaluated and treated.</p>
<p>We will likely see a jump in numbers within the next few days due to changes in the way that cases are being reported. Rather than having every single case confirmed by CDC, a case will be confirmed if the regular flu strains are ruled out AND there are already confirmed cases in the same area. </p>
<p>Starz27, I’m sorry to hear that. Is your school a boarding school? I hope you stay well.</p>