Swine Flu outbreak

boyohboyohboy wrote: I haven't seen any posts so far about this, but since we rarely turn on the real news anymore..I was surprised to see that the news is reporting that this flu has "potential to be a pandemic" and is "already to late to do anything about"
what do you think about this?

youngmomofone replied: My dh mentioned this earlier today and I'm a little nervous about it because we are moving to Texas in 6 wks, and dh's family is going to Mexico in a couple weeks.

boyohboyohboy replied: I think I am so leary of it because I just witnessed how fast something like vomitting and diarrhea wiped my kids out and we spent so many hours and admissions in the hosp for fluids...
What I saw tonight was that the old stand by of hand washing is the essential and that the cases in the USA are mild so far..no deaths?
But the cases in mexico sounded much worse...

I mean I guess this was the case with SARS last year?

mummy2girls replied: Marcus told me about this. Its not in canada yet but im worried... I always get nervous about this kind of stuff

punkeemunkee'smom replied: Honestly I am really nervous! We are very close to the cases in Texas and I have no choice but to be in the hospital this week. Yet they have been showing on our news people getting off planes at the airport from Mexico City! STOP traveling now people!

boyohboyohboy replied:
The news protrayed the cases in the USA as really minor..but the cases in mexico were so much worse and there were people dying who they said we very healthy otherwise..
so why hasnt the travel been stopped, especially when they themselves have cancelled schools and all public gatherings????

I am sure the hosp are being more and more careful, those cases more then likely will come thru the ER, and wont be allowed any further if they show the signs of the flu...
I am very confident that they wont allow any one like that in maternity..I am sure they would take precautions and put anyone with symptoms in one area of the hosp.
I would think they would restrict visitors though.

mckayleesmom replied: They need to start making it mandatory not to travel when these things happen. Cancelling flights and stopping boarder crossing would at least help contain it some.

momofone replied: I think there will be some cases of it in the US but i dont think it will get that bad. Just like they were afraid of the bird flu about a year ago that didnt get bad either.

PrairieMom replied:
In our hospital we can't refuse service to someone who is sick, so if they come to the ER with signs of the flu, they will still be admitted. We have a disaster plan for an outbreak, and sorry ladies, it aint pretty. The US government has a stockpile of life support equipment for use in major disasters but it isn't nearly enough.

I haven't heard much about it up here other than what is on the news, I'm not panicked yet.

ZandersMama replied:
it is in Canada, 4 confirmed cases in Nova Scotia. i'll try to find a link.

ZandersMama replied: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Health/Canada...6236/story.html

jcc64 replied: I'm trying not to freak out, b/c I know the cable news stations live for this stuff--fear and panic tend to bring in the viewers, but I must admit, it makes me very uneasy.

Nina J replied: I read that it has spread to New Zealand.

mummy2girls replied:
yes now there is but when he told me there wasnt any yet. i think 2 they also found in BC

moped replied:
There are 6 in canada now......

MommyToAshley replied:
I am with you, I am trying not to freak out, but I have to admit I am a bit nervous about all of this as well. It's good to know what is happening, but I think the media needs to do a better job of putting this all in perspective. Everyone is trying to get tamiflu (?not sure of spelling) and places are running out and those that need it won't have it. I thought you had to have a prescirption though? I don't understand how people are buying it without a prescription?

MommyToAshley replied:
I can understand why you are so nervous. However, I am sure the doctors and hospitals are taking extra precautions, especially in tthe labor and delivery ward.

msoulz replied:
ITA completely about the media, which will probably lead to my detriment some day. They have made such a big deal out of so many things that were NOT a big deal that I have little concern about this. Some day they will not "cry wolf" and I will be in trouble.

But around here the news is more about the auto industry's failure - that is a huge concern so the flu issue isn't the big story.

Crystalina replied: My sister is really nervous. She's an ER nurse (she lives here in our small town but works in Akron), she's worried about bringing this home to her 8 kids.

We've had some cases here in Ohio but they have gotten over it and only one was/is hospitalized.

Crystalina replied: THe scary thing is that healthy people in their 30's are getting it. Usually, with something like this, it's the babies, elderly and those with weak immune systems. I'm sure it will get much worse but I don't think it will stick around. The good this is that school is almost out and we can watch our kids a bit better.

PrairieMom replied: The only cases that have resulted in death are the ones in Mexico. All the others are a mild flu that everyone seems to be recovering from easily. According to CNN.
I am not panicking yet, but I am very aware. I never like to drag anything home to my kids. I am so diligent about wearing my protective equipment at work. You just never know.

stella6979 replied:
I'm right there with ya Mary.