H1N1 Flu

[pegkerr]

It has arrived at Fiona's high school. Two cases have been confirmed, but following the new protocol, the school will not close.

All right, I'm nervous, but not panicked. I knew this would have to happen eventually.

What I did today to make the world a better place: Took about ten pairs of the girls' outgrown shoes to church for recycling. (The materials will be ground up and used as the base material in sidewalks.)

Comments

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Having already dodged the bullet in Mexico, yes.

Well, the cases we're getting don't seem to be more serious than normal flu, yet (which is serious enough, but almost always for people already in trouble).

I'm still wondering if it somehow magically moderated when it left Mexico (which seems really weird), or what's going on. Maybe there's a second round that's going to happen and be like Mexico (and the first round in Mexico was missed). More likely some more prosaic error has made things look worse there than they are.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

Oh, gaaack, that's R's high school as well. Sigh.

[folk.livejournal.com]

That must be concerning, but everything I've read seems to indicate that it's a fairly mild flu, especially if one gets dosed with Tamiflu. I'm sure you're concerned as a mother, of course!

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

This is the most overhyped, ridiculous thing of the year so far.

So far, in the last month, worldwide, it's killed about 1/3 the number of people that normal flu kills every week in just the US.

It's not a bad flu, and it's not particularly contagious. It's just the mass media with nothing to do.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, with your trip to Mexico I was nervous anyway.

Hopefully it's no more dangerous than any other flu strain. The scariest part is that none of us have any defense against it 'cause it's brand new.

See if your doc will let you stock up on Tamiflu...I hear this strain really responds well to it.

[sternel.livejournal.com]

Fuzzy logic: Inoculation works by exposing oneself to the disease in question to allow the body to activate its natural defenses.

So the answer is really quite simple. MOAR BACON.

(I know, I know. But any excuse for bacon, right?)

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

A Canadian lab has sequenced the virus and determined what's in Canada (and presumably the US) and what's in Mexico is the same strain of the virus. They think the differing mortality has got more to do with underlying health issues. I wouldn't worry too much -- just keep handwashing etc.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/05/06/swine-flu-sequencing060.html

[arian1.livejournal.com]

Hamthrax! Everybody panic!

[shakespearechic.livejournal.com]

Yeah, our local school district as well as most of the surrounding ones have been closed all week. Ah, Texas.