Swine Flu Health Emergency - Will it affect your behavior?

[W2R]

I am home sick today with a cold. Normally, I might go to w*rk anyway, but in light of current circumstances, I thought it might be best to avoid freaking people out by hacking and coughing all day.

Sorry to hear that you are sick! I might stay home tomorrow as I am coming down with a cold, too.

I put in a lot of nonperishable foods today. If I don't need them for a pandemic, they can double for this summer's hurricane supplies. At work, four of us in adjacent cubicles scrubbed the surfaces down with cleaning fluid.

There are some very extreme and wild rumors going around about the true numbers of possible swine flu patients in hospitals around here.

 

[samclem]

Here's an excellent interview with Laurie Garrett an award winning health science writer. She provides an excellent overview of the situation now and some possible future behavior of this virus.
The 7.30 Report - ABC

Oldbabe,
Thanks for this. That's an outstanding interview--the right questions asked, concise infoplaced in context, clarity about what remains unknown. I'll be watching for more from Laurie Garrett.

 

[Zoocat]

Oldbabe,
Thanks for this. That's an outstanding interview--the right questions asked, concise infoplaced in context, clarity about what remains unknown. I'll be watching for more from Laurie Garrett.

Yes, I wish all our media was this professional! Laurie Garrett has been writing about disease since the 90s. Amazon.com: Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Public Health: Laurie Garrett: Books

 

[brewer12345]

I'm worried, but am always worried about my 3 yo DD. I wonder if I get it, or DW does, how do we prevent DD from getting it? And vice versa?

I did stock up on OTC meds and asked DW to get some food. She is not worried, but then again she never worries about anything.

I will hit the store tomorrow and get a bunch of shelf stable food. I'll eat it eventually and will feel much better being prepared.

I guess that's what bothers me. I feel like I can't do anything and am just waiting around. SO, its good to take some action, even if its hoarding some food ;-)

ETA: I will feel better (or worse) once leathality is better known...

I have taken similar action and am just watching and waiting. I personally am very concerned, as the virus now apparently spreads very easily and could definately mutate further to something with a high mortality rate. Against that possibility, I have stockpiled food and have the camper loaded and ready. I realized that if utilities went I would be arsed for drinking water, so a backpacking water filter is in the mail (we live near a lake, so untreated water is readily available). Other than that, I watch and wait.

 

[ziggy29]

Not expecting you to be a public health professional. But also not sure what weight should be given to your gut.

Then give it ZERO weight for all I care. I'm not trying to persuade or convince anyone.

 

[Dawg52]

In case you missed this in another thread, it's important that you all know the symptoms of the swine flu:


3. An irresistible urge to make love in the mud.

A common occurrence here in MS. At least during the rainy season.

 

[haha]

Then give it ZERO weight for all I care. I'm not trying to persuade or convince anyone.

It is just interesting to me, that's all. Of course I wouldn't give it any weight now that I know how you arrived at it.

I undestand "opinion" in the context of "I like chocolate". I can't undertstand opinion in the context of a statement like this.

It's highly unlikely, I think, that this will remotely come close to the 1918-19 epidemic.

This statement suggests some knowledge, since a phrase "It's highly unlikely" suggests at least a rough probability estimate. Before I asked how you arrived at that estimate I thought that you might have some information. Since I have almost none, if you did know something that could shed light on this situation I definitely wanted to know. Of course I guess that extreme situations must have low probabilities or everyone would already be dead. So maybe just on form it is "extremely unlikely" that this would be as bad as the 1918-19 pandemic.

From a wiki- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic
Less affected areas

In Japan, 257,363 deaths were attributed to influenza by July 1919, giving an estimated 0.425% mortality rate, much lower than nearly all other Asian countries for which data are available. The Japanese government severely restricted maritime travel to and from the home islands when the pandemic struck.
In the Pacific, American Samoa[34] and the French colony of New Caledonia[35] also succeeded in preventing even a single death from influenza through effective quarantines. In Australia, nearly 12,000 perished.

Also, here is an infectious disease specialist from Seattle Children's Hospital answering questions about what to do if you are sick, and how try to avoid sickness.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1509319618?bctid=21752184001




Ha

 

[Telly]

Right, the mask won't stop an individual virus. If properly worn and the right kind, it will stop the inhalation of aerosolized droplets of moisture from the lungs of those with the virus. These small moisture globs can carry many many viruses deep into the lungs of other people. In addition, the mask helps prevent people from inadvertently touching their noses and mouths with their hands. That helps stop the spread of disease.

Thanks, sc. Your comment is by far the most intelligent I have seen or heard anywhere concerning the wearing of masks.

A company here in TX is running 24/7 making surgical masks due to the high demand all over the country. Of course, no news story ever mentions the reason for surgical masks. They retain saliva, saliva spray, coughing of matter, etc. of the wearer down into the poor patient who is opened up on the operating table...

Surgical masks do not seal to the sides of the nose, on inhalation there is a big bypass of intake air around the mask. And this is the type I see people wearing in every news story.

 

[Telly]

I think you've answered your question.

Hot chicks dig guys wearing masks-- it makes them look hip, happenin', with it, and concerned for the welfare of their fellow humans...

To say nothing of being a great conversation starter for picking up hot chicks.

I am sooo out of the loop on what is "hot"

Seeing legions of people walking down streets on TV while wearing surgical masks did give me a thought or two: Designer masks. High markup.
Or selling advertising space on masks... all that blank canvas, it's just going to waste.

Or maybe it's time for another "celebrity" to get drunk/high/whatever, crack up his/her car/bike, get in a fight with the police, swear/spit on/strike out at a camera, and the media will be off and running on a new story of extreme importance to us all.

 

[Telly]

I saw on the 10 PM news tonight that Fort Worth has shut down their entire school system for over a week. Why? Because they had ONE case of s/f in ONE school.

As far as what all of these working people are going to do with their kids all of those days, the FW School Supt. said she expects businesses to be creative, like rotating shifts, etc. "so all the burden does not fall on their employees".

Lunacy

 

[haha]

What this board does best is to dump on ideas. That really worked well fall of 2007 when some members suggested that the market was getting pretty high.

ER_org should be renamed www.nihilism.org; or perhaps www.we-already-know-everything-so-shut-your-stupid-mouth.org

Ha

 

[Telly]

................or perhaps www.we-already-know-everything-so-shut-your-stupid-mouth.org

Ha

I like that one! And it's available! But I'm too much of a cheapskate, I mean, frugal, to pay for a url and launch a website. So I'll just have to try to expand my mind by sniffing a scented candle, while I use it for light, and cooking a small snack with it at the same time

 

[misanman]

1918 Pandemic

Just a personal data point on the 1918 outbreak - my mother, who was 10 at the time, lost both parents to the flu. They were in their thirties and lived in Kokomo, Indiana. As someone has mentioned, that outbreak seemed to target people in their 20s and 30s.

 

[freebird5825]

Here's a pretty good site for information for travelers...
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFlu.aspx

 

[ziggy29]

Just a personal data point on the 1918 outbreak - my mother, who was 10 at the time, lost both parents to the flu. They were in their thirties and lived in Kokomo, Indiana. As someone has mentioned, that outbreak seemed to target people in their 20s and 30s.

That was because the primary cause of damage from the Spanish flu was one's own immune system. These so-called "cytokine storms" unleashed a flood of antibodies that not only attacked the virus but also, in many cases, one's own internal organs.

So unlike most strains of influenza, where the strong majority of deaths occurred in the elderly and others with weakened immune systems, the Spanish flu of 1918 hit younger, healthier people the hardest -- the ones with the strongest immune systems, ironically, as something that is supposed to help us winds up killing us.

As of now, this flu doesn't look like it's causing many fatalities outside of Mexico -- yet. It's too early to say whether that's good luck, access to better medicine or a virus that's either weakened or mutated into something less deadly as it spreads. I guess I should tell everyone to shut their mouth because I already know everything, though...

 

[Walt34]

I haven't done anything different, I don't see a need to. I've never been one to cower under my bed when stuff like that happens. Other than frequent hand-washing there's nothing else I can do about it.

 

[haha]

Joe Biden Not Onboard With Administration's Soothing Reassurances

Biden's Remarks Derail President's Temperate Message - WSJ.com

"What Mr. Biden said was: "I would tell members of my family, and I have, I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now," as he defended the administration's decision not to seal the border with Mexico.

Joseph Biden



"It's not that it's going to Mexico. It's you're in a confined aircraft," he said. "When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That's me. I would not be, at this point, if they had another way of transportation, suggesting they ride the subway."

...One White House official defended the vice president, saying the benefits of Mr. Biden's candor inside the White House outweigh any drawbacks of his candor outside it."

 

[ziggy29]

"What Mr. Biden said was: "I would tell members of my family, and I have, I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now," as he defended the administration's decision not to seal the border with Mexico.

Easy for someone to say when they have Air Force Two as their mode of transportation and not a cramped coach seat on a commercial airliner. Let them eat cake, indeed.

 

[CuppaJoe]

Just a personal data point on the 1918 outbreak - my mother, who was 10 at the time, lost both parents to the flu. They were in their thirties and lived in Kokomo, Indiana. As someone has mentioned, that outbreak seemed to target people in their 20s and 30s.

Welcome Misanman!

That's a sad into, who raised your mom? My family somehow survived that outbreak, lived in Chicago. When you get a chance, introduced yourself more fully in the "Hi, I Am" section; let us know your retirement/work status, plans, etc.

Stay well.

 

[calmloki]

Hunh. H1N1 outbreak at Western Oregon University up in Monmouth - male student who lives in an off-campus apartment. Wonder if it's one of ours. Just back from exercise at the gym up in Monmouth. Gal is flying down to 29 Palms on the 5th - Marine down there has the virus. Flying in the face of Biden and concern. Again, don't anticipate any change in personal habits. Be interesting to see if anything happens.

Russian Roulette Bubble Gun | GadgetReview

 

[FIREd]

Two probable and 10 possible cases announced in my area. None of these people traveled anywhere recently, makes me wonder how they got it in the first place (if they really got it at all, which we won't know for a few days)... hummm... All public schools in the county are closed until at least Monday.

Pantry is well stocked (it always is), enough rice, pasta, flour and canned goods for a month or more. Fresh veggies right off the patio. DW and I are all setup for telecommuting from home if needed. We also make sure to wash our hands first thing when we come home. Not super worried right now, but renewed contact with my nearest consulate (emergency preparedness) and keeping an eye on the situation. That's pretty much it.

 

[haha]

Bloomberg Story about reactions to swine flu in Mexico:

Mexico ‘Overreacts’ to Flu Risk as Infections Slow, Doctors Say - Bloomberg.com

"Rodolfo Garcia, a recovering tuberculosis patient who waited outside the respiratory wing of the hospital, said the hallways were less crowded than normal because patients due for other treatments had stayed away out of fear of the flu.

Garcia said the panic over the virus was out of proportion because it has killed far fewer people than those snuffed out by the country’s drug cartels. Deaths related to organized crime doubled to more than 6,200 last year, or 17 deaths per day.

“How many millions of us are there in the Federal District?,” said Garcia, 40. “And how many confirmed deaths are there? The drug traffickers can kill that many people in an hour.”"

 

[Martha]

I have the flu. I don't care what kind, every bone in my body hurts. I just coughed on the screen so you might want to rub it down with Purell.

 

[REWahoo]

I have the flu. I don't care what kind, every bone in my body hurts. I just coughed on the screen so you might want to rub it down with Purell.

Oh, Pooh...

 

[Gumby]

I have the flu. I don't care what kind, every bone in my body hurts. I just coughed on the screen so you might want to rub it down with Purell.

So sorry to hear that Martha. Actually, it might be best if it is swine flu. Then, once you recover, you will be immune and can ignore all the hoopla.