Swine flu raises fear of pandemic - Adults and Children

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Yesterday, one of the MSNBC links had a headline saying, in effect, "Deliberate release of bioterrorism weapon......"

I sure hope that was from a hacker, especially because the corresponding story mentioned nothing about this.

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NYTimes updated story about the kids likely having Swine Flu:

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/04/25/nyregion/flu-newyork-tests.html

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Just as a refresher, the 1918 "Spanish" flu that killed between 20 and 50 million people world wide had 3 stages. The first was a mild outbreak in the spring, then it came back again worse, and then it came back a 3rd time and people were dying within 24 hours of first symptoms. What marks a "bad one" is the age spread. Most of the folks we get with flu are babies, elderly, and those with resp. issues. The 1918 flu hit the 18-35 year olds. This one looks like it's taking aim at the middle of the demographic, too.

Well, think about it. We're due a bad one, and have been overdue for a while...and where I live, with all the trees pollenating, flowers blooming, there could be a lot of folks who think their allergies are "pig flu" and folks who think their swine flu is the normal seasonal allergy....

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From the MSNBC story:

"It may be too late to contain the sudden outbreak, warned the CDC, which has stepped up surveillance across the United States. "We are worried," said the CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat.

“We don’t think we can contain the spread of this virus,” said Schuchat, Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program. “We are likely to find it in many other places.”"

I really wonder about officials making statements like that right now. People are going to feel really panicky or more panicky than they do already. The CDC must really, really be worried for an official to make a statement like that.

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Specializes in oncology, acute rehab.

POSSIBLE pandemic...the new CNN scare-athon!

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

If this is true, it is frightening:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aEsNownABJ6Q&refer=worldwide

The first case was seen in Mexico on April 13. The outbreak coincided with the President Barack Obama’s trip to Mexico City on April 16. Obama was received at Mexico’s anthropology museum in Mexico City by Felipe Solis, a distinguished archeologist who died the following day from symptoms similar to flu, Reforma newspaper reported. The newspaper didn’t confirm if Solis had swine flu or not.
eta: This sounds fishy. Sixty-eight people have died of swine flu in Mexico. And we are to believe one of them shook Obama's hand? Unless Mexico's stats regarding the dead are incorrect.
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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I'm not worried unless Randall Flagg starts showing up in my dreams telling me to move to Vegas. :)

(anyone who doesn't get that, go read/watch The Stand). :)

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
I'm not worried unless Randall Flagg starts showing up in my dreams telling me to move to Vegas. :)

(anyone who doesn't get that, go read/watch The Stand). :)

Definitely read, don't watch.

No walking dude for me, I'm heading to Mother Abigail's farm in Nebraska.

Thanks for the reminder, featherz... one of my all-time favorite books.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

The good thing is that this strain (Swine, not Cap. Trips) evidently responds to Tamiflu.

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I have to say all the news about a possible swine flu pandemic scares the living daylights out of me. I had a friend call me and say she is getting food, water, everything imaginable (face masks!) together. I wonder if this is all being blown out of proportion or just how worried I should be....Just wondering if anyone is preparing and what you are doing exactly?

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I just heard about it. I really do not know what to think about it other than I will be washing my hands every five minutes and taking strict isolation percautions everywhere. Other than that, I am not going to go purchase food and stockpile it in my house to keep out of the public until this blows over, if it does or does not occur. How about you?

:redpinkhe Sarah Hay, SN

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Specializes in PACU, ED.

I get the flu shot every year. I try to eat a balanced diet and take a MVI daily. I wash my hands often and read the news. Otherwise I'm not doing much special. I don't plan on hiding out at home so there's not much else I need to do. I bet I have enough food at home for a couple of months and there's a canal running behind my house ( I have a filter and also chemical treatment options) so water is not an issue.

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