Swine Flu - Page 3

I can't remember if I commented here or somewhere else that this was going to be more dangerous for our livestock. Just imagine if it were to spread and make enough of a dent that it affects food supply in some regions.

And what really makes this worse is that, honestly, the general public is...well stupid. Before anyone denies it think about all the dumb and dangerous drivers you see every single day, and people who do incredibly dumb things that makes no sense to the rest of us that do think first.

You start pumping out a lot of information to people who do not understand even the slightest thing about viruses and medicine and it's like magic to them somehow. Since they can't comprehend it, there's fear.

Well, I wasn't sure if I should post this, because since this swine flu thing has gotten so out of hand, I may have the goverment storming my house to take me away and put me in quarantine . On Wednesday, I got up very early to go to the sanctuary. Well, I wasn't feeling right. I was very tired and got winded just going up the stairs. I couldn't really eat, but just thought I was just over tired from working 6 day shifts in a row. (I get up at 4 am when I work days and I got up at 4:30 that morning) Well, about 20 or so minutes into my drive to the sanctuary, I really began to feel terrible. My head started killing me and every joint in my body hurt. I started to laugh, because what I had posted earlier here. That evening, I was so cold, that I could not stop shivering, my head was killing me and nothing I took helped it and I had to get away from the big cats (for those who know me, that has to take a lot). I ended up going to bed before 9pm that night and slept until a little past 10am the next morning. I never went to see the doctor, because I thought good God, they are going to think I have this stupid swine flu and cart me off to quarantine (I don't go to the doc when I have had the flu in the past either, so why now?) I doubt very much that I had this so called swine flu, but I sure did have flu like symptoms. I went to work tonite, but still do not feel 100%. I have had the flu a lot worse in the past. The last time I had it bad, was in the early 90's. I had a 102 fever for 3 days and could hardly even walk I hurt so bad. So, I do not know what I had, but I was beginning to think I stuck my foot in my mouth by saying, I'm not worried about it P.S. I'm still not worried about it

Almost certainly just the regular flu. When you feel cold, have chills, etc., that is your body thermostat turning up the heat (fever) and telling the body it's too cold.

Regular flu is nothing to mess with, but unless you get a secondary bacterial infection, there's not much a doctor can do for you. "Take aspirin, drink lots of fluids, get lots of rest, and see a doctor if the symptoms get unbearable or last more than a few days."

The standard seasonal flu is still going around, as tests for the swine flu have shown. Take it easy.

Anyway, this outbreak apparently isn't as grave as first thought.
Outbreak in Mexico May Be Smaller Than Feared

I guess the real concern here would be, is if during the summer months, this virus mutates and returns next flu season much stronger. I think it needs to be watched closely, but the media needs to stop hyping it like they are.

I have to say that right now I am glad I'm in Canada, not because of the risk of swine flu, but because I'm not being bombarded with news on the swine flu! The news reports here are much milder here, it's great, more just presenting the facts, it was one of the first things I noticed after moving to Canada.

Canada: Farmer possibly gave swine flu to pigs

Well, as Gary pointed out, we're sure setting ourselves up for a real problem with the false alarm. Who's going to pay attention the next time the CDC raises something to a level 5?

Laurie

Exactly right! I saw on the news this morning that the peak of the flu is over in Mexico, and that the numbers are dropping.

Boy, you said it in this post.

I soooo much want to ask the moronic media the following question, "why are you guys in a frenzy of this flu that has killed ONE person but you totally ignore the 36,000 people that die of the flu every year in this country?"

Because no one wants to hear that story? If you want to ask them, do so. Send emails to various networks - I know NBC's Nightly News will actually sometimes answer them on air. Send actual letters to newspapers. Who knows, maybe someone out there feels the same and will address it.

It's typical of the stupid media. They exaggerate everything just to improve their ratings.

This is the advert that's on our t.v's at the moment, and were all getting the leaflet through our doors tomorrow.

http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/sm...ineflutvadvert

The first thing i do when i get home is wash my hands for this reason

And everyone believes them! We just got instructions from our mother company in the US that we have to buy masks, thermometers, gloves, etc. and check everyone before they are allowed to enter our office suite if they upgrade to stage 2 from stage 1. Talk about paranoia!

There was a doctor on breakfast t.v . on friday, and he said masks are pointless, because moisture builds up in them and germs still get through.

Just do what they do in hospitals and elderly peoples homes here, which is to have an antibacterial gel on entering the premises and again when leaving

Susan, there has been controversy over how much of that antibacterial gel we should be using or is good for us to be using some months ago.

I honestly think there is just too much hype. Yes, there have been some cases of swine flu and the public has been made aware of it. Use normal precautions of washing your hands, using tissues to blow your nose and then quickly dispose of it and if you feel sick stay home.

How many people have actually died from the swine flu as compared to the normal flu that goes through the communities every winter?

Thats a very good habit to have regardless. When I was working this was the second thing I did after coming home (first was to take my shoes off ) because often my hands actually were filthy.
I normally do this anyways because of the C. diff incident and because I wouldn't want to bring anything home to make my kitties sick.

I hate that waterless gel to wash my hands with and will not use it. That stuff is pure alcohol.

I am definitely not a germaphobe.

I went to visit my great grandparents on the weekend who are both currently in homes/respite care and they had big signs up saying to use hand sanitizer but I didn't?! I don't know why. I'm usually addicted to hand sanitizer and use it always at home - when I'm cleaning litter trays and stuff or scooping poop I normally use it instead of washing my hands. Is that good or not?

Bad actually. Alcohol doesn't kill all bacteria or even all viruses. And just spreading them around on your hands does nothing, to where as actually washing your hands with soap and water will remove more spores.

At brief glance in fact, it looks like just about any of the ones that hit the GI tract are actually fairly resistant. Probably because they have to be able to survive getting through the stomach...

Thanks for that info. I guess that's why they say it kills 99.9% of bacteria?!

I'm not sure why it even says 99.9% , surely the amount left is higher than .1%.
Supposedly that's tested on surfaces and not hands? (I'll have to further look that up)

Either case, use them but wash your hands regularly, too. You can sanitize your hands all you like, but if you get kitty poo on you (while cleaning a litter box)... ultimately you'll still have kitty poo on your hand until you wash them - it'll just be sanitized kitty poo.

I stand corrected. Outhouses and port-a-potties ARE good reasons for hand sanitizers.