Fear or Fact

Aneroo, LPN · Apr 29, 2009

It depends. I was talking to a coworker about this earlier, about what info we're sending to the staff at our schools. One is only sending stuff one it's approved. I've been sending info from the CDC website. I said "I'd rather them get the info from the CDC than from whatever the Dr. of the Month on Fox News decides to say today".

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2009

I think it is equal parts media hype and a real problem. I tend to agree with our President, that there is cause for concern but not panic (apologies that I do not have the exact quote, but that was the gist of it). I mentioned on another thread that once there is evidence that the virus is killing healthy adults in the 20-40 range (which is one of the hallmarks of a pandemic) and this is happening in the US, then I will be more concerned. For now it is business as usual (with a little more attention being paid to handwashing).

That said, I have to admit I am spending most of my downtime on the net researching influenza and pandemics, so I can't say that it has not influenced me. I am also getting take-out rather than dining in restaurants and avoiding my gym when the weather is nice and walking outside instead. I think more than anything this has made me more aware of preparedness, and I am starting plans for getting some food/water together, ordering my own personal supply of N-95's, ect. If this does turn out to be the first wave of a pandemic, I want to be prepared for the (usually far worse) second wave.

lamazeteacher · Apr 29, 2009

Purple Scrubs; Where did you get the information about the "hallmark" of a pandemic is that people who have the bug are 20-40 years of age? The school children in New York who came back from their trip to Mexico with it, are younger. I'll look for CDC's definition of Pandemics, which I read yesterday, and attach it to this thread when I find it.

indigo girl · Apr 29, 2009

I think it is equal parts media hype and a real problem.
I mentioned on another thread that once there is evidence that the virus is killing healthy adults in the 20-40 range (which is one of the hallmarks of a pandemic) and this is happening in the US, then I will be more concerned.
That said, I have to admit I am spending most of my downtime on the net researching influenza and pandemics, so I can't say that it has not influenced me. I am also getting take-out rather than dining in restaurants and avoiding my gym when the weather is nice and walking outside instead. I think more than anything this has made me more aware of preparedness,
and I am starting plans for getting some food/water together, ordering my own personal supply of N-95's, ect. If this does turn out to be the first wave of a pandemic, I want to be prepared for the (usually far worse) second wave.

You are showing good sense, purple. We do not know what is going to happen yet. Preparedness is never a waste of time, anyway.

Don't know if we are in the first wave or not, but could be. Your point about deaths between ages 20 to 40 is mentioned in this video by virologist, Henry Niman. Of course, in Mexico this is the group in which the fatalities are occurring, some of them HCW, according to those bbc emails from Mexico City, but who knows for sure...

http://www.wpxi.com/video/19313969/index.html

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2009

Honestly, I have looked at so many sources I don't know which one for sure. Maybe "hallmark" was the wrong word for it, but I do recall reading that in the big pandemics like 1918 it was this age group that is hit the hardest (and dies most often). Is that incorrect?

I have to say, Lamazeteacher, that I have followed your posts on this topic and yours has been one of the few voices of reason amid a sea of hysteria, so I look forward to your response!

Indigo Girl, your are another calming voice in the storm! I hope you both continue posting.

indigo girl · Apr 29, 2009

Honestly, I have looked at so many sources I don't know which one for sure. Maybe "hallmark" was the wrong word for it, but I do recall reading that in the big pandemics like 1918 it was this age group that is hit the hardest (and dies most often). Is that incorrect?

Yes, that group and pregnant women.

lamazeteacher · Apr 29, 2009

As you may know, from watching CNN, Dr. Chan, the Director General of WHO (not President as I wrote before) raised the alert level to 5 at 4:15 PM EST 4-29-09, which means "Pandemic Imminent". There is a level 6 category.

My impression is that, as was said in the press conference from Geneva, Switzerland, this is a very serious situation. Media tend to milk information like that, raising hysterical responses. Data driven basis used for scientific purposes, is meant to indicate the need to get prepared resources to treat and contain (swine) flu.

A pandemic means:

"All of humanity under threat during pandemic"

The avian flu was a level 3, which is used as a reference to accent this greater threat, kind of like, "If you were scared a few years ago, you'd better be much more scared now". That's the hype part of it, that is best ignored.

The preparation and containment aspects need to have our attention now. We need to stay away from crowded areas (where I am now, that woud be Busch Gardens). If anyone becomes ill with flu-like symptoms, we need to stay home!

Obviously the priority is containing the disease, not going to work, yet I recall employees proudly exclaiming in the past, "I wasn't feeling well, myself, but it was an emergency, so I went to work!" Such self agrandizement should be vigorously discouraged. People with that stated attitude need to be sent home immediately, and possibly written up.

If you followed Indigo Girl's links to the use of respirators, you were probably, as I was, "gob smacked" by pictures of equipment I doubt many of us have actually seen (except when having painters at our homes who are sophisticated re: OSHA requirements), much less had fittings for them. N95 masks were called "respirators" where I've worked.......

Has anyone actually been fitted for one of those other ones?

Comment: The severe economic reverses seem to put into better perspective, in the light of life threatening, global illness.

HippyGreenPeaceChick · Apr 29, 2009

They are even talking of putting UV lights everywhere to sterilize everything. Didnt hurt my parents back in the 60s and 70s.

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Apr 29, 2009

I post on another board(travel board) and you would cringe if you read some of the posts..There are people who have their head completely in the sand regarding this issue. They make fun of the people who are preparing, even in small ways. Tell them that the CDC and the WHO are concerned and they scoff, and tell you that you're full of it. When you post a link to info, they still don't accept it. It is a true testament of humans' capacity for denial.:icon_roll

I'm NOT saying that people should panic. Do I think that some media outlets are a little overdramatic in their presentation? Yes, but this is shaping up to be more of an issue than most people thought. Actually, the degree of noncompliance that many people have now regarding illness, vaccination. simple hygiene is what concerns me the most.