How terrified of the swine flu are you?

[Orrex]

Poll question: How terrified of the swine flu are you?

[Uben]

1. If it's a flu for swine......

....why should I be worried? Just put some oinkment on it!

[Cant trust em]

4. This could be a nominee for pun of the day award. NT

[Orrex]

8. Nah. I found it kind of boaring.

[Cant trust em]

11. LOL. You've got me bacon for more. NT

[malaise]

90. Other

I'm not exactly licking my chops at the thought of the state of panic.

[HamdenRice]

2. I live in Queens, NYC where there appears to be an outbreak

so I'm kind of worried. Some prep school kids went to Mexico for spring break and seem to have brought it back here.

[MercutioATC]

3. Bullshit poll.

For an actual answer, I'm concerned. I'm not panicking, but I'm staying informed and prepared. I haven't stocked anything unusual (for me) because I already have pretty thorough preparations.

...and yes, those preps do include masks.

[Orrex]

5. Thanks for playing

:eyes:

[MercutioATC]

77. My point is that you make concern sound ridiculous.

"Yes, I'm concerned. I'm stocking masks and soiling myself".

Concern without panic is not only possible, it's probably the most reasonable approach.

[Orrex]

120. Sure, but try to find a reasonable analysis anywhere in the MSM

My point is that this story has already been blown up bigger than the Susan Boyle firestorm from last week, and we still have very few facts (if any). Rather than taking a calm, measured tone, the media have already painted this as the apocalyptic plague destined to kill us all. Comcast's newsfeed, for instance, asked outright if swine flu is "the big one."

Concern is not ridiculous, but at this point you're still more likely to be struck by lightning while jumping your motorcycle across a canyon than you are to die from swine flu. It would be refreshing to see the MSM (and others) maintain a bit of perspective.

[mwb970]

123. OMG NOES!! I heard it could be as bad as SARS or bird flu was! And alar!

:eyes:

[winter999]

37. Uhmmmm.. Aren't viruses too small to make masks effective?

They're about a useless as anti-bacterial soap when combatting influenza.

[kestrel91316]

44. WRONG. Masks help keep your own sneezies from flying across the room,

and help keep you from inhaling other people's sneezies, and most importantly keep you from putting your contaminated hands (from that contaminated doorknob you just touched) in contact with your eyes and nose.

Soap and water handwashing are EXTREMELY effective in mechanically removing viruses and snot from your hands.

And yeah, I have the degrees to prove I know what the hell I'm talking about. Your post is total BS, and a disservice to those you would mislead.

[Mother Of Four]

111. BINGO!

Handwashing is the single most effective way to combat the spread of illness.

An inadvertent eye-rub, wipe of the mouth etc can spread it to you.

EMT-I here.

As far as face masks, it protects against water droplet spreading. (Coughs, sneezes)

I despise it when people dismiss how important hygiene is to keeping an illness from spreading.

[Dogtown]

133. Great post, Kestrel

Thanks for sharing again.



:thumbsup:

[TZ]

64. The viri are in the droplets

Masks keep the droplets from spreading

[Occam Bandage]

70. The plural is "viruses." nt

[MercutioATC]

75. Additionally, influenza viruses do have lipid envelopes...and are vulnerable to alcohol.

Gastrointestinal viruses do not, and aren't.

That said, no N95 mask is going to be 100% effective, but they do provide a droplet barrier which is one hell of a lot better than nothing.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

103. Vulnerable to alcohol? Fuck, I'm safe!

[mwb970]

124. I heard that the blue masks don't help, but make people feel better.

I don't think they are intended to contain one's sneezes as another poster amusingly suggests. That seems messy.

[DevonRex]

48. Same here. I have an immune deficiency so I'm always more prepared

than most people. And just so folks know, there are different types of immune deficiency. They act in different ways and leave people vulnerable in different ways. Just because you're immune deficient doesn't mean that you can't also produce an autoimmune response like the one that causes the secondary pneumonia in this flu.

[Webster Green]

6. Other..

I'm not afraid of anything. :smoke:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. i am VERY worried for the immune compromised people i know

i am sure i will be fine

[kestrel91316]

49. The biggest danger with this flu is lethal cytokine storm in the perfectly healthy.

Immunosuppressed folks are at most at risk from ordinary run-of-the-mill Influenza A.

[DevonRex]

50. There are different types of immune deficiency. Some can still produce

autoimmune responses like this.

[TZ]

9. right now not at all

I admit some discomfort though because an ex colleague who was studying epidemiology laid out a scenario for how bird flu could become pandemic that is VERY similar to what is happening ...I poo-poo'd her at the time...I would say I'm concerned ...

[Occam Bandage]

10. You seem to have neglected what I would think is the most reasonable response:

I recognize that influenza has the possibility to be extraordinarily deadly on a world-wide scale, and I also recognize that most local outbreaks of new strains of diseases remain contained and do not result in epidemics, to say nothing of pandemics. Therefore, I think it is wise to avoid panic, but to monitor this situation, as we would monitor a volcano giving off smoke, or as we would monitor a tropical storm in the mid-Atlantic.

I think saying 'OMG WE ALL GONNA DIE' is premature, but I think saying 'bah, it's a harmless bit of wolf-crying' is premature as well.

[TZ]

12. +1

I think that's a reasonable attitude

[madrchsod]

17. you mean i should`t do this?

we`ll just have to wait and see...

[Orrex]

19. You want my facetious poll to be one of the first reasonable DU discussions on the subject? No way!

Where's the fun in that? Every news report I've heard about it has shown crowds of masked people walking cautiously as if a big pig-shaped virus might be lurking behind this tree or around that corner. And you want me to be a voice of reason?


Bah!

[Varner911]

51. I think you understate things somewhat.

40 cases and rising in the U.S. This IS a pandemic.

[TZ]

58. Uh no

40 cases in even in one city is not an epidemic let alone pandemic ( worldwide). Nice try at fear mongering though .

[NeedleCast]

59. No, it's not.

[Occam Bandage]

66. "40 cases" is not "pandemic." Get back to me when its forty million.

[JuniperLea]

83. Forty Million?

I think I'd be a little more concerend a little sooner than that! Once it hits a number like that, worldwide, we're seriously screwn.

A million would probably make me don a face mask... but then I live less than 200 miles from Mexico... perspective is everything.

[Occam Bandage]

89. Yes, that's a bit high. I was just going off his "forty is a pandemic,"

and "forty thousand" is still pretty low, worldwide.

[Posteritatis]

91. 40M wouldn't be that far off from a typical bad flu season though, no?

On a global scale, that is; it's a drop in the bucket for the world population. 40M of a more dangerous strain, though, that'd do it for me to say the least..

[Posteritatis]

76. Get a dictionary (nt)

[me b zola]

102. Mmmmmm, your pizza had lots of toppings

:9

[JitterbugPerfume]

129. enjoy the TS

[tridim]

13. Not worried, but I do have a cold/flu right now..

So I'm kind of in limbo. It's been with me for a week, but it's also fairly mild.

[FedUpWithIt All]

16. Here too. Slight fever, sniffles, headache...

My daughter was just sent home from school with slight fever as well.


I also am not worried. I feel confident i understand the situation and am fairly prepared. I also know that life offers up these things sometimes.

:hi:

[MorningGlow]

25. Any other symptoms with that fever?

MG Jr. has a slight fever--came down with it late Saturday--but has no sniffles or any other symptoms except a diminished appetite...?

[thewiseguy]

28. For me...

It started with a slight fever, then sore throat, coughing, and fatigue in my lower back. Mind you I am 25 years old and have never experienced something like this before.

Right now, I mostly have a runny nose and some coughing. Nobody who has been in contact with me has gotten sick so I don't know what to make out of it.

[tridim]

30. My symptoms are, phlegm, slight cough (to get rid of the phlegm) and one ear is plugged up.

No fever and no intestinal distress yet.

Feels like a cold to me.

[MorningGlow]

35. That sounds like what Mr. MG's got

Spring ickies are the worst.

But I'm still curious about Jr's fever. I've never seen him with a fever and no other symptoms. It's odd. Not alarming, just odd.

[FedUpWithIt All]

84. I have quite a few of the mentioned ones.

:(

And seem to be getting a bit worse.

I have the above mentioned, nausea, diarrhea, and all over uck.

But nothing as severe as i have heard mentioned. I also, as a precaution, called and talked to the local school.

They have not noticed any greater illnesses than usual.

[MorningGlow]

87. Aw! Sorry to hear that

Hope you start feeling better soon and your daughter doesn't have to tussle with the same thing. I'm not sure if my son is at the beginning of something or the end...ugghhhhh.

[FedUpWithIt All]

94. Thanks MorningGlow. Best wishes to you son.

:hug:

[MorningGlow]

96. And to you and your family

:hug:

[thewiseguy]

20. Same here, got it the last week

Before that I was bragging how I never get sick and now this. :(

[MorningGlow]

22. There is something going around (besides swine flu, that is)

Mr. MG has a pretty severe cold. MG Jr. has a slight fever but no other symptoms.

[Varner911]

47. I would be a nervous wreck if I were you....get it checked out.

Just in case.

[MorningGlow]

14. I'm cautiously...cautious

This is not The Stand--it's not like thousands are contracting this by the second and dropping dead. I feel bad for the people in Mexico who have died and am paying attention to the progress of the cases here in the U.S., but I'm not duct-taping my windows.

[willing dwarf]

15. Paying close attention, wary but also weary of hype

There are times when it seems all we can do is hope and trust that there are enough good and competent people in positions of authority to get us through this sort of thing.

There are many things which separate us now from the plagues of the middle ages: #1 Access to information. We can read and hear how to take care of ourselves and our communities. #2 Anti-virals #3. Ease of movement #4 More reserves of money and food

So I'm concerned and interested. I hope we can see this as an opportunity to learn how to respond with compassion to the challenge we face. If we can learn to respond with compassion, we may overcome the panic which probably would kill as many or more people than the disease.

[walkaway]

18. I'm not really worried at all...however...

I ran into a client who is insists she is going to Cancun next week and I won't be having her over for lunch too soon.

[conscious evolution]

21. I am more afraid of the vaccine for swine flu.

In the 1977 outbreak my father caught Gillian-Barre Syndrome from the vaccine they were using at that time.

Several thousand other people around the country also caught GBS around the same time as a result of the swine flu vaccines.

[TZ]

26. There is NO vaccine currently

And scream shill at me all you like but Vaccine technology has advanced quite a bit since then.Influenza vaccines have one of the best safety records of all the vaccines

[kestrel91316]

54. TY,

[conscious evolution]

60. Oh great.

They're gonna create and distribute another one without taking time to do clinical trials.
I hope they get it right this time.

It is good to know they got rid of the old vaccine,though.A lot of people came down with Gillian Barre syndrome from that version.

[TZ]

68. Influenza vaccines are reformulated every year

Because influenza changes every year. There is a universal vaccine (which is effective agaisnt H5N1) showing great promise in clinical trials. I would like to see if this confers any immunity

[MercutioATC]

81. It's also important to understand that the annual "flu shot" is a mix of 3 or 4 dead viruses.

The CDC spends months analyzing data to make their best guess which strains will be the biggest problem the following year and they make the vaccine cover the top 3 or 4.

"The flu" is a generic term for contracting any influenza virus and there are an infinite number of influenza viruses because viruses constantly mutate. The "flu shot" doesn't protect against all influenza viruses, only the strains it's made up of.

[kestrel91316]

53. I had the swine flu vaccine back in 1977 and DIDN'T get Guillian-Barre.

Furthermore, medical progress has ACTUALLY occurred. Vaccines and vaccine technology are constantly improving. I do not fear vaccines. I fear diseases spread by unvaccinated people.

[conscious evolution]

72. Be thankful you didn't

GBS sucks.
Its the made in a hurry and untested vaccines that worry me.

Heres a guestion:Would vacinations recieved during the '76 outbreak still provide protection?

[Thirtieschild]

23. Cautious enough to wear a mask on an airplane flight.

I'm flying to Atlanta tomorrow, out of El Paso, change planes at DFW. I've gotten sick twice after an airplane flight and don't want to take a chance.

[MindPilot]

41. And in other news: TSA removes passenger from flight for wearing mask.

I can just see it coming...

[seabeyond]

24. bah haha. "guy on the bus sneezed, and I shot him a dirty look."

my favorite. cute

[Buzz Clik]

27. Other. I want more DU threads on the subject.

[DiverDave]

29. Nope not too worried

however, I have been having a heck of a time with pneumonia.
2 years ago last Sept. I was in the hospital for 10 days with it.
That is the sickest I've ever been.
I didn't recognize my wife and kids, I was hallucinating...just the worst ever.
Then just last month I went back in with it again, not nearly as bad, 3 days this time...
So, yeah, I'm more concerned now then if I wouldnt have had those episodes.

I contracted the Beijing flu in the early '90's and was pretty sick from that, but since I didn't have insurance at the time, I just took 2 weeks off from work.

Oh, another reason for single payer health care?
My room and board for the 10 day stay was 39K, the whole bill was 104K or so.
If that doesn't show we need to help out the guy that goes to the emergency room as his primary physician, I don't know what does.

Oh, and WASH YOUR HANDS...the best way to not get the flu.

Dave

[gratuitous]

31. Hazmat suits? Slackers!

I've wrapped my entire body heavy duty visqueen, specially treated with Purell sanitizing lotion. I have stopped breathing room air, and have installed air-supplied respirators in every room of my house. I have covered the cats in cosmoline. I am typing with four pairs of gloves on. I have taken to shooting any sneezers on sight. I have installed an automatic mucus sucker in my nasal passages, and I am subsisting on ionized water and grain alcohol to preserve the integrity of my precious bodily fluids. I have banned all radios on the base. No phone calls in or out, and I have notified Col. Batguano to mobilize his entire attack wing in the unlikely event any unauthorized microbes should penetrate our perimeter. Finally, I have corked all the swine within a 100 mile radius of my position, and have a GPS track on the rest out to 200 miles.

[RebelOne]

32. I keep reading in the news to wash your hands, wash your hands.

But clean hands are not going to prevent the disease if an infected person coughs or sneezes in your direction,

[DiverDave]

36. Good point, but it sure

helps when that knucklehead that just sneezed into his hand opens the door that you need to open soon after...

[TZ]

55. Not necessarily

It's not 100% transmissible. Washing your hands IS the best defense

[kestrel91316]

56. Google "fomites influenza". I bet you will change your tune.

[patriotvoice]

73. "influenza ... survived for 24-48 hr on hard, nonporous surfaces such as stainless steel..."

"To investigate the transmission of influenza viruses via hands and environmental surfaces, the survival of laboratory-grown influenza A and influenza B viruses on various surfaces was studied. Both influenza A and B viruses survived for 24-48 hr on hard, nonporous surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic but survived for less than 8-12 hr on cloth, paper, and tissues. Measurable quantities of influenza A virus were transferred from stainless steel surfaces to hands for 24 hr and from tissues to hands for up to 15 min. Virus survived on hands for up to 5 min after transfer from the environmental surfaces. These observations suggest that the transmission of virus from donors who are shedding large amounts could occur for 2-8 hr via stainless steel surfaces and for a few minutes via paper tissues. Thus, under conditions of heavy environmental contamination, the transmission of influenza virus via fomites may be possible."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6282993

It's real simple:
* Wash your hands.
* Don't chew on your nails or rub your face.
* Wear a mask in, or avoid, close-quartered public spaces.

[Mother Of Four]

115. Thank you!

Very good common sense advice, I can't stress it enough. "Hygiene, Hygiene....HYGIENE!"

Here's a good quote from the Chinese Pandemic flu site.
http://chinese.pandemicflu.gov/pandemicflu/enzh/24/_pandemicflu_gov/plan/healthcare/influenzaguidance.html

"(ii) Cleaning and Surface Disinfection in Homes, Schools, and Businesses:
The adherence to good personal hygiene, proper hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, and cough etiquette is especially important for preventing the spread of influenza in non-healthcare settings in the community (16). Schools may dismiss classes, and businesses may consider implementing social distancing as an influenza control strategy early on during a moderate or severe influenza pandemic (17, 18). While school remains in session and when businesses reduce onsite staffing, environmental infection control for non-healthcare settings focuses on regular cleaning for most surfaces and targeted use of disinfection for surfaces touched frequently by hand:

Keep housekeeping surfaces and countertops clean of visible soil by cleaning with detergents and water or proprietary cleaners, followed by rinsing with water. Repeated application of disinfectants to table and desktop surfaces is unnecessary. Frequent use of room air deodorizers to disinfect the air is not recommended.

Follow label instructions carefully when using disinfectants and cleaners, noting any hazard advisories and indications for using personal protective items (such as household gloves). Do not mix disinfectants and cleaners unless the labels indicate it is safe to do so. Combining certain products (such as chlorine bleach and ammonia cleaners) can be harmful, resulting in serious injury or death.

Clean and disinfect bathroom surfaces on a regular basis using EPA-registered detergent/disinfectants. Alternatively, clean surfaces first with detergent and water and then disinfect with an EPA-registered disinfectant in accordance with manufacturer instructions. (Note: Disinfectant products available in grocery stores or hardware stores are all EPA-registered.)

If EPA-registered disinfectants are not available, use a dilute solution (1:100 volume/volume, approximately 600 parts per million ) of household chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) to disinfect bathroom surfaces. To prepare this solution, add ¼ cup of bleach to a gallon of clean water, or 1 tablespoon of bleach to a quart of clean water. Apply to a cleaned surface, preferably with a cloth moistened with the bleach solution, and allow the surface to remain wet for minimally 3 – 5 minutes (13).

Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces in the home with a detergent/disinfectant in accordance with label instructions (e.g., microwaves, refrigerator door handles, door handles).

Wipe frequently touched electronic items (e.g., remote controls, hand-held gaming devices) with hand-sanitizer cloths.
Carry hand-sanitizer cloths in cars to use on hands and surfaces in cars."

[high density]

33. Curious but not worried

I am very amused by the AP's current article about how the economy can't recover now because of the flu.

[OhioChick]

34. Very concerned. n/t

[bdamomma]

38. the media promoting their fear tactics to Americans again.

[Echo In Light]

42. Makes it hard to take the threat seriously, for sure

[bdamomma]

65. watch how many people run to the Emergency Rooms.

did this flu originate in Mexico first?

[kestrel91316]

39. Somewhat concerned, and watching CDC updates.

What bothers me is that the case statistics coming out of Mexico are still iffy, IMHO. We need to monitor confirmed cases in industrialized nations and then look at associated mortality to get a real feel for how dangerous this bug is.

Until then, it would behoove us to be EXTREMELY cautious. Better safe than sorry.

[Phoonzang]

40. Not worried yet. Alert, but not worried. If anyone in the US starts dying however,

I expect to go into a full-blown panic.

[mwb970]

125. 35,000 die every year in traffic.

Yet nobody "goes into a full-blown panic" every time they drive.

:shrug:

[TheMightyFavog]

43. An old high school friend of mine is now a microbiologist.

He says that this outbreak is really nothing to be afraid of unless you are elderly, a baby, or immunocompromised.

[Forkboy]

45. I haven't even reached the worry stage yet.

I'm still more afraid of Ice 9. :)

[JitterbugPerfume]

130. ice nine

:scared:

[Varner911]

46. Extremely disturbed and alarmed.

I have cordoned myself off.

[Lorien]

62. Turn off your TV

You'll feel much better!

[thewiseguy]

80. Yes, denial makes you feel better.

:eyes:

[MindPilot]

52. Did someone cry wolf...again?

Teh news tells me the sky falling yet I look outside and everything is perfectly normal. From Y2K, WMDs, killer bees, Communists and terrorists, I just can't take the threats seriously anymore.

[TZ]

61. I suggest you listen to scientists not

The illiterate msm. There is a definite threat here but it's not panic time right now.WHO is concerned and they ARE knowledgeable

[ZombieHorde]

57. Not worried, not annoyed, I voted "other". nt

[Javaman]

63. I'm following the news reports with caution. nt

[bdamomma]

69. caution is right, the media is going to cause a panic.

just what we do not need.

[NeedleCast]

67. I wonder how many people are mistaking mild to moderate spring allergies

For dreaded swine flu here in the US

[cboy4]

71. Since my state borders Mexico and there have been numerous

cases here, including the shutting down of an entire school, I don't see how I can't be just a little bit concerned.

[JuniperLea]

82. Same here

We should all be concerned. I think people can be concerned and cautious without freaking out... just yet anyway.

I'm two hours from the Mexican border...

This is much like anything else on DU, it depends on where you live.

Just because DUers in Iowa, Washington, Montana, etc., aren't concerned... I have the same issue with the housing market... unless you are here, you probably just don't get it.

[damntexdem]

74. "Scared shitless" is not a very apt phrase for reactions to the flu.

Flu symptoms are more likely to highlight he opposite condition. ;-)

[Initech]

78. I'm more pissed that the swine flu panic has....

knocked all the Bush / Cheney prosecution news off the front page.

[LynneSin]

79. I'm still waiting for the Killer Bees to come kill me

:eyes:

[Orrex]

86. They were all killed by cellphones

[defendandprotect]

85. Vitamin D, anyone? Guess I'm going out to buy some . . .

Yes, I'm a bit concerned for various reasons -- the fact that I had never ever

had a flu-like thing in my life and then had a virus/flu thing two yeas ago which

kept me off food for more than 5 days -- and not much into food for weeks and weeks

later. I'm a vegan . . . and I knew the instant I got it -- it activated 24 hours later.


So -- I do think that we're really a very unhealthy society -- especially in cleanliness

these days re our food, restaurants, food stores -- people in general.


And, my son was sick last week -- he thought it was food poisoning -- took pretty much a

week to begin to feel better.

[Orrex]

93. Well, the vitamin D probably won't hurt you

Not likely to do much to shield you from swine flu, either; but at least it won't cause you any additional problems.

[mainer]

88. My family has Tamiflu on hand already. Have had it for several years.

So yes, I'm worried. I was castigated for my possession of Tamiflu a year ago by other DUers who accused me of pushing the drug company's agenda, but now I'm glad I have it on hand. And yes, we are a family of medical professionals, so we know the indications for when to give it. We were privy to info about the status of pandemic planning, and realized that when and if a panic situation arises, there may be no medical resources to fall back on.

[MercutioATC]

92. Tamiflu's shelf life was upgraded to 7 years in November of last year.

Good news.

[depakid]

95. I'd certainly prefer not to get it- and will take the appropriate precautions

Though that holds true for any strains of influenza that might be expected to go around.

[damonm]

97. YAWN.

[cliffordu]

98. I'm wearing a bodycondom right now.

[Raine]

99. Zero

worried

[jsamuel]

100. The only reason why I am worried at all is because my wife is 7 months pregnant.

[defendandprotect]

106. That's a worry . . . !!!

[Fuzz]

101. I just shit my pants.

Clean up in aisle 3.

[MrSlayer]

104. There is much of anything that terrifies me.

Certainly not some hyped up nonsense such as this.

[BlooInBloo]

105. WE'RE ALL GONNA DIIIIEEEEE!!!!

[Holly_Hobby]

107. Not worried, it's only killing Mexicans

:tinfoilhat:

Sure does beg the question why. Those poor people have been through enough.

[Feron]

108. Other.

Swine flu is a concern and I don't mind extensive coverage of it. However I don't think that it deserves the constant coverage it has been getting. I hope that makes sense.

I do hate the fearmongering in the media. There's no need to make everyone panic. It's only a matter of time before some dolt duct tapes plastic sheeting to his house--again.

[grahamhgreen]

109. It's a way to sell tamiflu, that said, my snout has been running all day...

[Orrex]

110. My understanding is that a runny nose is NOT one of the symptoms

Not of swine flu, at least. It's probably a symptom of something...

[HughMoran]

112. It spreads readily from person to person. Stage 4 of 6 on the pandemic scale

If you're not worried about this, you're whistling past the graveyard.

[Orrex]

119. That remains to be seen

We have no idea of how widespread it is as yet, even in Mexico, so the apparently high death rate in Mexico could easily be an illusion. That is, it's worth being concerned if 200 people die from it, but if 2,000,000 people have the disease, then the rate of fatality isn't all that high.

[Strelnikov_]

113. One of our most famous swine has . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7CclVneVpw">this view of the crises

[Mother Of Four]

114. My husband was stationed at Ft Dix- I chose "Other"

In 1976, Feb. Basic

He came down with the version they had then, and they put him in the medic area with ice packs under his arms.

A few men died, it wasn't pretty. From what I understand he was a very sick young man.

The reason I chose "Other" is because I'm not really in a panic or worried. I look at it this way, nature will always find a way to force things into balance. There really isn't much we can do if it's already crossed into the US except keep ourselves clean, use common sense and if we catch it don't spread it. Try to eat as well/healthy as you can, make sure you are pre-emptive with preventing dehydration. (Most don't drink enough fluids as it is)

With our lifestyle, and four kids it's almost impossible to prevent some kind of exposure unless we all stay locked in the house.

Hubby said it was like regular flu on steroids, his whole body hurt- he was burning up. Felt like an elephant was on his chest...the whole nine yards.

So, it's "Other" not because I'm being blah about it- but because what can we do, really, except weather this out whatever the outcome?

[harun]

116. Other: Not worried and find it scientifically interesting so appreciate the news

coverage.

[raccoon]

117. Swine flu is NOT 100% fatal. nt

[havocmom]

118. a tad worried, but that is my normal state

People where I live will not stay home when ill. They INSIST on seeking out company and spreading bugs around. They annoy the crap outta me.

[MedleyMisty]

122. I was thinking about that

Not calling you out or anything - it doesn't sound like you're talking about work.

But in another thread, someone said that people who came to work sick were selfish.

Obviously that person has always worked in places with good policies.

I used to work in fast food. You had to have a doctor's note to call out sick, and most of us didn't have insurance and sure as hell didn't have enough money to pay for a doctor's visit out of pocket. So it wasn't selfishness to come to work sick, unless you think that wanting to have a job and be able to pay your bills is selfish.

And yes, I've always wondered why anyone is against national health care because even those who don't give a damn about other people would probably care that the people who prepare their food are forced to come to work sick. But maybe they just don't think about it unless they see someone actually sneezing on their sandwich, and then they only think about it enough to look like they just stepped on a roach and to ask for another sandwich made by someone else.

[havocmom]

134. Most people in my community are self employed and I am talking about work

In other threads, I have pointed out that a lot of people do not get sick time. Of those who do, some have to provide a doctor's note after 2 or 3 days, which is ridiculous in many places where you can't get an appointment within 2 weeks or more. I know what it is like to be sole support and have no benefits. I defend the people in THAT situation.

But I live in a small ranching/farming community where probably 90% of the population is self employed. They CAN stay home if they are sick. If they can take the time off to come in and hack all over me during the day, the chores are waiting so they could've stayed in bed.

It's like they have to have witnesses to their misery. And they spread the crud seeking attention.
THAT is selfish.

[Mudoria]

121. Overblown by the media

No doubt there is cause to be concerned but not to the extent the media has been playing it up.

[oedura]

126. We have no idea what a real pandemic looks like.

The Black Death...now there was a decent pandemic!!! One third of the people on the planet wiped out!!!

Even if this "Swine flu" went apeshit and infected people in every corner of the globe, killing millions of people, it'd be a drop in the bucket.

[JCMach1]

127. Much bigger threat than terrorism...

[demokatgurrl]

128. Please, it's a flu. We have them every year

some years the vaccine is right, some years it's not and there's an outbreak.
I tend to think all the deaths in Mexico are due to poor conditions and close living.
No one has died here yet. And in a typical year, tens of thousands die from flu. Give it a name like "swine", and all hell breaks loose.

[dustbunnie]

131. When the city is shrouded in gray mist and the horse-drawn carriage comes rolling down my street -

at night; when I hear the dreaded bell and the somber words "bring out your dead," I'll be worried. Till then, I'm sure the Charlie Eppes's of the world are working to contain this.

[Dogtown]

132. Other

Not very concerned.

Had a flu shot in January which should give partial protection and I'm not social, so my contact is very limited.

Flu is very low on my list of concerns.