A perspective on the swine flu "crisis"

[Raul]

I think nearly everyone, including myself, assumed raising the

status of the alert to Stage 5 meant something far more ominious.

So, what defines Stage 6?

DEFCON 1 on a limited scale.

Anybody remember the film "Outbreak" ? some of the measures you see in that film are for real, but in order to implement those contingency plans the disease has to be out of control and proven to have a high mortality rate. This influenza outbreak hasn 't done either so far.

[Tokyo Tony]

This has the potential to wipe out a lot of people and we in the US aren't as worried as perhaps we should be. Other countries are forbidding travel to and from Mexico. Not the US. I think I know why, but don't want to get political ;-)

Remember, this is the beginning stage of the virus. If it spreads, it does so exponentially, and there's no real cure for the disease. No es bueno.

[Muddy]

Thanks Raul, I appreciate your expertise. My interest comes from an exposure I had, doing the wrong thing many years ago to Hep C. I did a lot of research on Virus' and Thank God I was not infected

The young,old and people with compromised immune systems will be the greatest at risk, and again our Govt keeps saying it is time for observation and containment not panic

In 1999 our center ( I work for Job Corp) was closed for a week due to a viral outbreak 30% of staff and a lot of students were infected in a 48 hour period. We just received a plan of action in case we get hit with this one.

[farmpond1]

A & P News release - An especially virulent strain of swine flu can be contracted simply by watching the movie Deliverance!  (Hint - Squeal like a pig!!!)

[Muddy]

A & P News release - An especially virulent strain of swine flu can be contracted simply by watching the movie Deliverance! (Hint - Squeal like a pig!!!)

Now that's %@#!$& FUNNY!!!!!!!!!

[Raul]

A & P News release - An especially virulent strain of swine flu can be contracted simply by watching the movie Deliverance! (Hint - Squeal like a pig!!!)

In Spanish that kinda flu is called "catarro polaco" ( catarro po la cola, flu through the b hole   ;D ) , pretty virulent if you ask me, YOU DON 'T WANNA CATCH THAT ONE !!!!.

[Scorcher214]

I thin America is good, it is a lot more worse in Mexico because they don't have the sanitation that we do. we ain't the cleanest nation, but we ain't filthy

Also, my high school is closed due to the swine flu, some1 in our school supposedly has it.

[Bassn Blvd]

Florida is now confirmed as having the virus. 17 yr old girl in Broward county and 11 yr old boy in Lee county.

The girl in Broward attends Hallandale H.S. The school is now CLOSED. As well as the school in Lee.

[CSB]

I saw someone driving down the road with a mask on, which is pretty ironic considering the probability of getting in a car accident is so much greater than catching swine flu.

This reminds me of SARS, BSE, Bird flu, etc. the probability of catching such diseases is extremely low yet the panic is high. I blame the squawk box!

[ky_nikki]

So as I got to work last night at the hospital we had signs everywhere and by the CDC guidelines until further notice we must all check in with the supervisor for review of symptoms and if we as employees have them.. 7 days off of work automatically and if we develop them at work.. out of here you go! Wonder how many will play hookie

Anyways the hype the media is putting on the situation is to alert everyone to take extra precautions with hand washing and good hygiene to PREVENT the mass spread and deaths that Mexico is experiencing!

Please plan accordingly and take extra precautions for your health and your families. Without everyone doing their part to prevent the spread we CAN and WILL have a problem on our hands!

The hospital is hectic here at work and isolation beds are already tight They are predicting these precautions until a vaccine can be made or the spread of the virus stops.. I hope one comes soon! My phone is going crazy and getting a physical and 20 questions before clocking in will get old fast.

Please be smart and listen to the extra precautions, you don't have to stop your life but take extra time to wash your hands and do your part to stop the virus!

[Fisher of Men]

So as I got to work last night at the hospital we had signs everywhere and by the CDC guidelines until further notice we must all check in with the supervisor for review of symptoms and if we as employees have them.. 7 days off of work automatically and if we develop them at work.. out of here you go! Wonder how many will play hookie

Anyways the hype the media is putting on the situation is to alert everyone to take extra precautions with hand washing and good hygiene to PREVENT the mass spread and deaths that Mexico is experiencing!

Please plan accordingly and take extra precautions for your health and your families. Without everyone doing their part to prevent the spread we CAN and WILL have a problem on our hands!

The hospital is hectic here at work and isolation beds are already tight They are predicting these precautions until a vaccine can be made or the spread of the virus stops.. I hope one comes soon! My phone is going crazy and getting a physical and 20 questions before clocking in will get old fast.

Please be smart and listen to the extra precautions, you don't have to stop your life but take extra time to wash your hands and do your part to stop the virus!

I talked to one of our student's parents last night.  She works at the local ER and said families of 4-5 who didn't even have symptoms were coming in and asking to be tested because they were around someone who had it.  Crazy.

The school district that I teach has been closed for the next week because we had two students with Type A flu (waiting on Swine tests).

Surreal stuff being out a week in May.  Even crazier.

-FOM