Swine flu raises fear of pandemic - Adults and Children

RN BSN 2009 · Apr 30, 2009

Dont you love how they redden the entire area of canada on the map, and they have only 6 cases? lol

indigo girl · Apr 30, 2009

How can I make my family understand that this is serious?

People will believe what they want to believe until they see evidence to the contrary. You probably cannot sell them on this. Just prepare anyway.

My hospital called a pandemic flu meeting yesterday. I would say that it is being taking seriously there, but they have yet to talk to the nursing staff about this which is sad because the staff needs to prepare their families early enough before anything else happens.

Worrying about what your family is going to eat or who is going to take care of your kids is not going to keep our staff on the job, imo. They need to have the decency to tell them something about what the plan is.

Hushdawg · Apr 30, 2009

I know a lot of people (including myself) have been joking about zombie outbreaks and other things.

This is not to make the cases of swine flu cheap, rather it is a way that is normal for people to react to such horrific events as a method of coping.

I sincerely hope that I have not offended people by my offhanded comments.

In all sincerity our office is maintaining swine flu prevention methods, we are offering hand sanitizer to everyone who enters, we are sanitizing the desks daily, door knobs, pens, anything that is handled between multiple persons is being sanitized regularly to avoid transmission.

We are also stocking N95 masks and providing them to anyone who comes in and has cold-like symptoms along with information print-outs about the outbreaks.

The Philippines is highly at risk, a great number of the population work as Overseas Workers and could easily bring this illness here where the healthcare network is not really capable of containing or handling it.

Only one of the two drugs is available here and the cost is P150 per tablet. That is about three meals or more for the average person.

The case in South Korea has us all on edge because of the large Korean population here who come and go to visit family.

Since WHO has elevated this to Phase 5, I am seriously concerned... much more so than when Avian flu broke out.

Luckily I just got over a bad case of the flu a month ago and I also was immunized as a child in 1976 so according to the information I'm reading there is a good chance that I'll survive if I do catch it.

But I'd rather not take that risk all the same.

nursesarah · Apr 30, 2009

Dont you love how they redden the entire area of canada on the map, and they have only 6 cases? lol

Yeah I noticed that. But the CDC is American based, so they'll put more detail into the American side of the equation.

Speaking of Canada vs. The States....

How does the America health care system work during a crisis like this? I know in my country (Canada), if you need to be hospitalized, then you are. The government pays (well, technically you pay through your taxes, but that's another issue.) But my point is that, you're not turned away because you can't pay.

I am generally quite confused when it comes to the American health care system. Does everyone requiring hospitalization (as in, their illness is serious enough for an admission not just an ER visit) get treated regardless of insurance status or are people that can't pay turned away and sent home? Because, let's face it, those without insurance are more likely to be on the poorer end of the payscale. Meaning they probably don't live in the most sanitary conditions. There is possibly some overcrowding, meaning viruses and the like are passed quicker and easier. So essentially, were there to be a truly deadly pandemic similar to the 1918 flu, sending people home that can't pay would only exacerbate the issue.

Hopefully someone with more experience in the American system can explain to me how this would work with regards to a crisis.

Also, I have to say, living in Peru has put things into perspective. I am beginning to think that should this virus spread throughout South America, we would see it effect us more like Mexico then Europe. That is, the symptoms and potential for death would be a lot higher, especially in a city like Lima which is extremely overcrowded and has horrible sanitation in many areas.

indigo girl · Apr 30, 2009

Also, I have to say, living in Peru has put things into perspective. I am beginning to think that should this virus spread throughout South America, we would see it effect us more like Mexico then Europe. That is, the symptoms and potential for death would be a lot higher, especially in a city like Lima which is extremely overcrowded and has horrible sanitation in many areas.

That is what the WHO is saying as well. And, in 1918 literally millions died on the subcontinent of India from that pandemic. Yes, poverty and overcrowding will make things much worse.

Katnip, RN · Apr 30, 2009

People will believe what they want to believe until they see evidence to the contrary. You probably cannot sell them on this. Just prepare anyway.
My hospital called a pandemic flu meeting yesterday. I would say that it is being taking seriously there, but they have yet to talk to the nursing staff about this which is sad because the staff needs to prepare their families early enough before anything else happens.
Worrying about what your family is going to eat or who is going to take care of your kids is not going to keep our staff on the job, imo. They need to have the decency to tell them something about what the plan is.

Our hospital has daily meetings with all our corporate entities, in state and out. We are solidifying our pandemic plans and are informing staff, patients, and residents what's going on with simple facts rather than media hype which seems to be helping.

lpnflorida, LPN · Apr 30, 2009

Our hosptial sent out emails to all employees yesterday stating what the plans are.

I read this morning in the Miami Herald they have 20 unconfirmed cases of Swine flu and unknow number in Broward County, fl.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2009

As the days go by, I am less concerned about this being a deadly pandemic. So far the disease seems manageable. The mortality rate seems pretty low. Think about it: Mexico City has over 20 million people and less than 200 deaths. It's been a couple weeks now. Whatever this pandemic ends up being, it's not looking like the "big one" where millions of people die.

AtomicWoman · Apr 30, 2009

It was announced that one of Obama's aides caught the flu while they were in Mexico, and apparently spread it to his family when he returned.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/obama-energy-aide-contracted-flu-in-mexico-but-recovered/

oramar · Apr 30, 2009

If you're wanting to provide a "news feed" with updates, maybe you should consider starting a NEW thread/discussion dedicated SOLELY to flu updates and one in which posts must be approved.

I like this.

AnnieNHRN · May 1, 2009

So, about 2000 people sick in Mexico out of 109,000,000...about .002%

They think this number might be way underreported. Not all people that had flu symptoms went to the doctor. People do not have the same access to health care in Mexico as they do here.

So the actual cases of Flu in Mexico might be much larger. Meaning there were/are much more carriers out there spreading the virus.

DaydreamerRN · May 1, 2009

Whatever this pandemic ends up being, it's not looking like the "big one" where millions of people die.

I am waiting until October to decide for myself if this one is like the 1918 flu. If this is truly the first wave, then the second wave would be the most deadly if the flu follows the track of 1918-1919.

I also wonder if knowing this, the WHO knows the more people who get the first wave, the more people will be immune to the second wave. Do I make any sense? :bugeyes:

I used to spend hours on-line folowing Henry Niman and bird flu.... :specs: Now I am in school, no time for that :yawn: