Swine 'Flu

[Vitani]

I just had to post something about this....While my heart goes out to the families of those in Mexico that have already passed away, and my prayers are with those currently ill.....


My country ( NZ ) is having a meltdown right now....We have 10 ( just confirmed an hour ago ) cases of SF

I know there are confirmed cases in the States ( I heard 6, but can't find any sites that seem to agree? ) and at least 1 in London....And I know its not just us thats gone on high alert.....

Just curious if anyone knows anything relevant besides the confirmation of carriers?




We are now in the process of tracking down everyone that shared the flight with our 10 and getting them tested....I feel sorry for them....It was a group of 25 on a school trip to Mexico...18 came back sick....And 10 are now carriers of SF. Maybe it seems a little excessive, but considering how small a country we are, and how much we rely on farming and tourism for our economy.....An outbreak would be BAD

[RZ]

not sure about swine flu, but a major mfg in europe (France?) was found to have most of the vaccines contaminated with avian flu....now whether "deliberate" or REALLY POOR manufacturing QC, is still being debated


just 'caus your paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you

[Vitani]

Jeeze....Either way, why would someone do that and needlessly risk a worldwide pandemic? I just don't understand people sometimes....



We got super paranoid about the Avian 'flu a couple years ago and nothing came of it, not a single confirmed case here....We relax, and poof....*tears hair out*

[Bezzella]

There were 8 cases in the United States, and they are all healed and going to make it. What is concerning is the fact that none of them were people who came into direct contact with pigs...

[NeverwinterCC]

I read an article about this the other day.


According to the article, a little over 1000 people in the u.s., mostly school kids who attend schools with students that were confirmed cases of swine flu, could possibly have it, and there are 11 confirmed cases here i believe, most of whom recently visited mexico. But i could be wrong, my memory is horrible.

Don't go to mexico until the epidemic is over, people. I don't mean to be prejudice, but i just here too many stories about people going there and winding up sick with some horrible disease or parasite. The same goes for brazil, but most are old stories. I'm not sure if any are true, but i'm not gonna take my chances!

I wish everyone who got infected gets through it! I know a few people from NZ online, I'm gonna message them about them and see if they know anything more about it then what's already been said.

[Daisy Rabbit Mae]

this site has some info: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30422676/

[Vitani]

8 of our confirmed 10 are now at home "recooperating" under quarantine.....But the people they live with are free to come and go....And personally, I know life has to go on, gotta go to work, get groceries etc etc, but considering you can shed the virus for 4 to 5 days, and it can incubate for 1 or 2....They could be walking around, feeling fine but still spreading the virus...........I don't think thats such a smart idea >.<


It sucks for them, it was the yearly trip for the Spanish class.... Don't think they'll be doing that again in a hurry >.<

[ChocolateGal]

Jeepers, that's scary.

So close to Australia... argh!

[Vitani]

So far there are no confirmed cases in Oz....I hope it stays that way >.<

[Misty Glen]

Yeah, me too. I'm in Aus.

It annoys me when I see people panicking about a disease outbreak, who then decide to get out of the epicentre as quickly as possible without regard for the consequences. That's the main way these things are spread.
It's repeatedly occurred throughout history. In medieval Europe the main way the Bubonic Plague arrived in unaffected villages was by messengers bringing word of the outbreak itself. The messengers were typically already infected, and the highly contagious disease spread quickly.
Only a few short years ago when equine influenza outbreak occurred it reached Australia because people who had their horses in Japan when the outbreak happened over there decided to bring their horses home as quickly as possible, but it turns out the horses were already infected. Through a series of quarantine blunders quarantine workers carried the virus, infecting other horses, which were then released from quarantine. Before then Equine Influenza did not exist in Australia, just like rabies.
Unfortunately the same level of quarantine does not exist for humans, even assuming no stuff ups, mostly because it simply isn't practical, so containment of outbreaks is only possible by people using common sense and not panicking, and especially by not travelling.

The best bet for people in high risk areas is to stay put, take every health precaution possible, eat well, get vaccinated (if a vaccine exists), and leave the area ONLY if they have been confirmed not to be infected and there's no risk of spreading it.

[Vitani]

Well put Misty



I remember the Equine Influenza fiasco...They mostly got it together towards the end...Pity it wasn't faster. We had alot of horses basically stranded over there because Aus wouldn't let them out, and we wouldn't let them back in until the all clear.....It could've been worse though, and the racing industry slowed but at least didn't crash completely......

Human outbreaks are the same...Take each day as it comes, do what you can, then start again the next day. It's all you really can do...My hope is still that it can be contained and controlled but with it moving up to Phase 5 alert, I'm not so sure...The biggest thing, like you said, is travel....Our government has urged all non-essential travel to affected areas be cancelled.....And we're starting screening and recording data from all incoming and outgoing flights...........

But telling them what seat you sat in and where you'll be staying isin't going to help much if your already ill >.< But really, what can you do besides close down airports and wharves? And even if that drastic measure WAS taken....How is the economy going to progress when nothing can be delivered? Rock and a hard place situation *sigh*

They've started working on a vaccine I heard....Fingers crossed Tamiflu seems to treat it ( at least, thats what our government has told us lol ) so at least those that are ill have something to turn to....But I don't know what its like in other countries, here, it isin't funded.....Those on the lower end of the scale may not be able to afford it >.< And again, thats not exactly going to help the problem......



One bit of info I can't seem to find anywhere though, is how, when and where this started? I know Mexico, but everything else ( like actual part of Mexico ) is.......Vague?

[Misty Glen]

I agree that shutting down the airports and ports is really the only solution, but the consequences of that action are pretty dramatic. In Mexico I know they've already shut down schools and places like that, which is a good start. It's only really worthwhile to close the airports and stuff if the disease is really deadly, in which case the loss of life would outweigh economic issues. Even with SARS I don't think they shut down airports. Not here anyway. My memory of that pandemic isn't perfect enough for me to say with confidence that it didn't happen near the epicentre (China?). I think it would be worthwhile for Mexico to shut down its airports, but that's not something that is economically viable for them unless the UN or WHO or someone like that arranged for something in the way of compensation. Again a suggestion that would be difficult to implement. Definitely a case of being between a rock and a hard place.

Guys, just a hint: get your flu shots this year. Don't be a sook and give the excuse that you don't like needles. No one does, but the alternative seems a lot worse. It's not a worthwhile risk. Even if they haven't developed the swine flu vaccine by the time you get your flu shot it'll mean one less thing to lower your immune system and make you vulnerable to swine flu. I cannot possibly overstate the wonders of vaccines.

[rockyBalboa]

People should just all be responsible human beings and wash your hands, don't touch your nose, mouth, eyes, etc., don't hang around anyone who is sick (it doesn't matter what they are sick with), and don't visit the areas that have been infected. It's common procedure and basically the same thing in every outbreak case I see in the hospital every day.

But it does seem like there are a lot of gaps in the whole swine flu story. i have heard it as a type A flu that should be covered in everyone's regular flu shot which should create and immunity. If this is the case, then is it mostly the people who haven't been vaccinated or is it an entirely different strain that is resistant to the vaccines we already have been administering? But I also know that it's not that we don't have a vaccine for the swine flu, the question is do we have enough of it in order to immunize the entire world population???

[KaylaBlue]

Misty's right, Mexico has already started taking major precautions. I was talking about this in one of my classes today, and I guess that they are making anyone with flu-like symptoms where masks. A bunch of the class was sick, so everyone was freaking out.

I personally think that at this point, there isn't really anything to worry about where I live. My state has always been one for worrywarts, but I don't know what good it will do now. Basically everything that you can do to keep yourself safe from this is to wash your hands a lot.



Kayla

[Daisy Rabbit Mae]

the only thing about quarentine (is dat how u spell it?) is who would admit they are sick? (i would) if u don't admit then it won't work, unless its whoever is there & has been in contact with them can't leave...