Working with seriously immuno-supressed patients in NYC, we've been receiving daily CDC updates; the news regarding why H1N1 hit Mexico so hard and the rest of the world less violently is mainly due to cultural behavior around illness. In general, the people of Mexico only seek a doctor's care when they are very seriously ill -- "routine care" is still very rare, and homeopathic remedies are still used in 9 of 10 cases of routine illness. When flu-like symptoms appeared for H1N1, those affected treated it like a normal flu -- and only sought physician assistance when they were so ill that their chances of surviving any normal influenza were spotty. Mexican clinics and hospital services being what they are in the affected geographic regions (open waiting areas, non-private treatment rooms, etc), those carrying the illness in advanced stages exposed others who were also seriously immuno-compromised (because of the tendency to only seek care when seriously ill). That started a cycle where the weakest people were exposed to a new illness -- never a good situation.
The illness was passed to countries where healthcare is sought more routinely, for less serious issues (those Americans with health insurance and easy access to facilities are quick to avail themselves, and there's no stigma of weakness attached to seeking medical attention). Those who are contracting the flu are those who are in "germ factory" situations -- closely quartered buildings like schools, cramped offices, etc -- in other words, the same population that contracts any other influenza.
Peg, as far as easing your nervousness, it makes sense for you to call your family physician and explain about the trip to Mexico and the bacterial illness that affected your family, and see if s/he recommends any additional precautions for you or the girls. And make sure they know the proper way to wash their hands in public restrooms (turn on the faucet, let the water run warm, wet hands, add soap, scrub (not under water) for 15 seconds (sing through "Happy Birthday" twice), rinse well, dry hands with a paper towel, then use the towel to turn off the faucet and open/close the door).
The thing to remember is that this flu is not behaving as a pandemic -- a strain of illness which strikes the young and healthy (teenagers and young adults) rather than the physically weak (infants and seniors) -- and isn't an unchecked epidemic, either. It's a new version of the flu that we need to be cautious of, but needn't go zipping ourselves into biohazard suits.
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Date: 2009-05-06 08:54 pm (UTC)The illness was passed to countries where healthcare is sought more routinely, for less serious issues (those Americans with health insurance and easy access to facilities are quick to avail themselves, and there's no stigma of weakness attached to seeking medical attention). Those who are contracting the flu are those who are in "germ factory" situations -- closely quartered buildings like schools, cramped offices, etc -- in other words, the same population that contracts any other influenza.
Peg, as far as easing your nervousness, it makes sense for you to call your family physician and explain about the trip to Mexico and the bacterial illness that affected your family, and see if s/he recommends any additional precautions for you or the girls. And make sure they know the proper way to wash their hands in public restrooms (turn on the faucet, let the water run warm, wet hands, add soap, scrub (not under water) for 15 seconds (sing through "Happy Birthday" twice), rinse well, dry hands with a paper towel, then use the towel to turn off the faucet and open/close the door).
The thing to remember is that this flu is not behaving as a pandemic -- a strain of illness which strikes the young and healthy (teenagers and young adults) rather than the physically weak (infants and seniors) -- and isn't an unchecked epidemic, either. It's a new version of the flu that we need to be cautious of, but needn't go zipping ourselves into biohazard suits.