Swine Flu – A Global Pandemic?

17 Responses to “Why do people ignore the swine flu and act as if it's not serious?”

1. admin Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
   I think it's good to be safe, but you can also be safe and go out to do things if you choose to do so. They recommend washing your hands once an hour or so, and avoiding very large gatherings. We still go to the store and shop around, and we live in Texas. We also make sure to keep our hands clean and clean off shopping carts with wipes.
2. admin Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
   remember the bird flu? same deal.

   I'm not NOT worried but I'm not going to freak out and stay inside. I'm worried about my son getting the regular flu too. OBVIOUSLY everyone would prefer their child's health over a vacation…

   it's presented all over the news everywhere because that's how the media works. it picks up a story and runs with it. my little dinky news station was talking about it and there's been no cases in my city (in my state there has been). but I don't know. I was worried about it and I decided I'm not going to be anymore.

3. admin Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
   i think its ok to worry, but its a little nuts to obsess about it.

   im a little worried since i will be going on a 5hr. flight with my 18 month old next week to hawaii from california, and im pretty sure airplanes used recycled air, and not everyone practices proper hygiene. im worried, but im not going to cancel my vacation that ive been waiting for since january.

   just be cautious. staying home all the time i dont think is the answer. if you or your child get sick, then go to the doctor to be evaluated.

   edit: im sorry, but i think you really do need to relax a little. im a huge worry wort, and im worried about this, but im not going to live in a bubble. everyone still needs to live their lives. i never said that my families health is less important that my vacation, i just think its crazy to stay home, and obsess about it. what are you going to do when you or your child needs food, diapers ect. ? you cant be too scared to live your live. again be cautious. dont be nuts

4. admin Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
   I am very worried too. I have a 3 month old girl and we went to the mall today and I have never been so o.c.d. of putting on hand sanitizer! I will still go out but I will be crazily putting on hand sanitizer and if anyone trys to look at the baby while grocery shopping I will tell them very nicely can you please step away …im petrified of the swine flu….

   Its our children. If they get them sick we will be the ones in the hospital scared for their life.

5. admin Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
   The thing is that it's not serious. It's influenza, just a new strain. People get the flu all the time (hence the flu shot) and no one worries about it. What you SHOULD worry about is your 3-month old, because people such as young kids and the elderly have a compromised, or undeveloped Immune system, and they are more likely to die from something such as the flu. No one has anyone natural protection from this new strain (like while you can stand around a bunch of people with a cold and not get it yourself), BUT there is a cure for it. Unfortunately I can't stay home from class as finals are coming up and I have to work to pay for college. I've never had the flu to memory so again I am not extremely worried. the CDC has sent out double the anti-viral meds, don't remember the name of it, though I guess because it's still spreading people are asking for more. It is right now at a level 5, and honestly deep down somewhere I am worried because are killed by the flu.

   But you won't get it from eating pork, and it passes on like any other seasonal flu, as the CDC is reporting it. With contact from sneezes, and coughs. So wash those hands, and carry anti-bacterial as a quick fix.

   it's scary but the world can't stop because a people are sneezing.

   EDIT: It's not the normal flu in the sense that it's a new strain of the pig flu. The Swine flu has been around for a while and will continue to be here. Just like cold bacteria changes (which is why we even get colds), the Flu strain changes too but usually at a slower rate.

   Just for fun while you're sitting in the house, google Pandemic 2, it's a fun game. According to the game everyone will die except Madagascar (you'll get it once you play. )

   Taking simple precautions such as being sanitary can lower your risk of Influenza.

6. admin Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
   I live in San Antonio TX, and I don't think is that big of a deal, there are many risks in out day to day lives that are more serious than this flu.
   Just be hygienic, staying at home is not really the best solutions but if it makes you feel better then do so.

   The other thing is that here we have good health care, that little kid died because he had a very advanced case, but if the flu is cough on time its curable.

7. admin Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
   The only people who have died have been from Mexico (that boy was Mexican and just visiting Texas). I am not worried right now at all. People die from all sorts of things. Just traveling in a car is extremely dangerous, but do you still drive? I'm just using that as an example. I go to college and work and I've gone shopping and out for walks. I'm not going to stop living my life and hole up in my house until I feel it is necessary and I do not think it's at all necessary right now. That's just my opinion anyway. It's your life, your child, and your decision. I couldn't stay home 24/7 because of a minor risk. People get the flu all the time. Just because it has the word swine before it doesn't mean it will "get you". It can be treated as well, so if you have health insurance I'm sure you will be absolutely fine.

   And you can catch it at home if your husband brings it. But that's even more unlikely that you getting it by going out.

8. admin Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
   I dont think you can, as there is a couple in edinburgh near where I live them and a friend have been told to stay in their home until the results come through, I can understand your worry and you need to do what you think is right stuff what other people are doing
9. admin Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
   First of all you shouldn't contract the swine flu if you stay in your home because it isn't airborne. If someone comes into your home with it you are more likely to get it. Its spread like the regular flu, through touching things contaminated and then not washing your hands and touching your mouth or eyes.

   Secondly the reason people act like there is nothing wrong is because it is being presented as though it were a "normal" flu, they go in when they get the symptoms and it is treated with a shot like the flu. And people seem to be responding to the treatment.

   Hope I helped ya out!

10. admin Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
    I don't worry about that sort of thing. I worry about if whether I can drive to the store without getting slammed into by a drunk driver or having my child kidnapped at the playground.

    You can't keep yourself hibernated in your home, that is not healthy. Babies need fresh air too. There are more things to worry about.

11. admin Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
    I'm not worried at all, to be completely honest. If you take the necessary precautions, steer clear from people that appear sick or are, and wash your hands and keep your house clean – you should be fine. The media IS making this whole ordeal out to be bigger than it really is – just face the facts. It's NOT a pandemic, nor will it be. They freaked out the same way with SARS and AIDS.
12. admin Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
    I'm horrified. I teach kindergarten, and I can't help but cringe anytime someone sneezes or coughs. We went over proper handwashing strategies today. I mean just think, how many people do my 25 students come into contact with each day. If only one of them contracts it, passes it on to even a few in class, then they pass it on to a few people they come in contact with, etc. etc, etc. You can easily see how something like this can spread rapidly! Yesterday we met with our principal and we went over our pandemic strategy that was planned when the Avian flu was going around years ago. I feel pretty confident that the schools will close if there is even a chance that one of our students has it. After all, children tend to be the most likely to transmit germs from one to another.

    I get nervous about bringing it home to my young children. My husband had the regular flu back in February, and he had to be hospitalized. I saw what that could do to an otherwise healthy 26 year old…I can't even imagine a child having to survive that.

    If it is any consolation, the child that died in Texas was a resident of Mexico who they say had underlying health issues. It looks like the poor little one already had a weakened immune system before he contracted this.

13. admin Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
    For me…There isn't much I can really do now that I don't already do. I will continue washing my hands and taking all the other precautions I do to prevent disease transmition…but I'm not going to lose sleep over it…
14. admin Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
    Anyone that comes into your home can give it to you. If your husband works he can catch it and bring it home, your visiting mom, friends, anyone. You can't just stay locked up for the next year or however long it takes to run it's course. Life goes on. Wash your hands and carry your baby close to you to avoid contact with strangers that could be sick. Use wipes on shopping carts and sign with your own pen if you use a credit card.

    People die in car accidents every day. You do the best you can to protect yourself and your baby by being a safe driver, using a car seat, and wearing your seat belt but you can't just not drive anywhere because you could be killed in a car accident. The same goes for illness, the flu isn't the only deadly illness out there.

15. admin Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
    The swine flu is just like the seasonal flu: nausea, sweating, diarrhea. My heart breaks for the boy's family that died, but children in the US also die from regular influenza. Little children need to get treatment right away to prevent serious dehydration.

    I would only isolate yourselves if you would do the same during regular flu season. Swine flu is not more contagious, deadlier or easier to catch. If you take general precautions, you should be okay.

16. admin Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
    Tens of thousands of people die from the regular flu every year. That is why nobody is taking this seriously, because there aren't enough cases for this to be considered serious. People are freaking out for no reason.
17. admin Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
    I am not ignoring it, I am just not stopping my life and locking my family in the house. My daughter and I just got over being sick, so we have already been washing our hands more and sanitizing things, and I am just not stopping with it this time. I am keeping up on the news, and taking some precautions.