OT: Swine Flu

It’s the latest overblown scare thing besides the bees are dying, homelessness, AIDS, y2k bug, the ozone hole, acid rain, disappearing rainforests (remember that one?), (did I miss any? I’m certain I did fill me in) that’s going to kill us all, usually unless we vote for your friendly local Democrat politician too.

That said, it’s more interesting than those. Something basic about a nice old fashioned disease epidemic.

Don’t forget it’s sweeps time for the networks. How many people get infected with regular flu every year? How many die? Swine flu is not a legitimate concern or a legitimate news story. This is the same as when the networks focused on every kidnapping a couple of years ago. The news caused a panic, although kidnappings were down for that year.

that it will be as big of a deal as SARS.

So far, over 13,000 people have died in the US since January from the Flu.

Worldwide, over 500,000 die from the flu each year. Right now, there are a little of 60 hospitalized cases of the swine flu in the USA, yet it’s this strain that is getting the attention. It’s new, so its scary, so it gets ratings.

It’s a tough one, because it causes the victim to become severely dehydrated because of diarrhea and the like, which is why those who can’t beat it need to go to the hospital to I.V. fluids. Third world countries and rural areas (like Mexico) that don’t have the greatest medical care will see a higher death rate since those who contract this strain can’t get the IV fluids they need.

To me, SARS is much scarier.

And those walking around wearing surgical masks are freaking stupid. That doesn’t do a single thing from protecting you from the flu. Just wash your hands, don’t make out with someone who is sick.

Of course, anytime something like this comes out in the news, my thoughts immediately go to:

They basically want to isolate Mexico by cutting off all flights from Mexico to EU countries (which really is how many? Wouldn’t the vast majority of Mexico-Europe travelers pass through Miami?)

And Egypt used this as an excuse to kill all their pigs – even though they haven’t had any reported cases yet.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97S574G1&show_article=1

I spoke to a physician about it and he said there are two antibiotics that will completely knock it out and that even without those people are making full recoveries in the US from the disease. I normally eat out almost every meal, but I am going to stop doing that for a week or two just to be safe. Other than that, I don’t plan to change anything. The news channels are way over blowing this.

and now I’m freaking everyone at work out.

I just get beaten down by the ridiculous media overreaction to these kinds of stories. I’m sure it will be about as bad as Avian Flu and SARS, and people dying is terrible and all that jazz. But like Brandon Worley already said, hundreds of thousands die every year from vanilla flu. You never hear about that.

At least now every story isn’t about THIS ECONOMY. I am well past tired of every conceivable news story being framed IN THIS ECONOMY, so at least the media is flipping out about something else for a change. The first story I see about the effects of OMG SWINE FLU on THIS ECONOMY might cause me to eat a bullet though.

Also this:

haunted me throughout childhood.

Right when I got back from the Rangers home opener. Sat next to a woman on the flight down that seemed to have a cold.

Whatever. It hasn’t killed me yet. I don’t care what strain it is it’s just the f’n flu.

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ap-texashssports-swineflu&prov=ap&type=lgns

…is it REALLY that bad?

TAPPS: Swine Flu Notice

The TAPPS Board of Directors met in Executive session on Wednesday, April 29, to determine the TAPPS response to the Swine Flu Pandemic. After discussion and deliberation, the TAPPS Executive Board unanimously determined the following:

At this time, the TAPPS Spring Athletic Playoffs remain intact with no changes. TAPPS continues to monitor the situation and will advise member schools should changes be deemed necessary.

TAPPS is supportive of our member schools and parents. The welfare of students is best determined by parents and individual member schools. No sanction or penalty will be imposed by TAPPS should a school choose to not participate in the TAPPS playoffs in response to health concerns.

imho if they are going to “halt” events, the UIL needs to close schools as well….

This is ridiculous.

As most all of you know by now, I’ve been an ICU nurse for the past 3 years. I’ll cut to the chase….this swine flu is becoming a BIG deal.

The CDC spent some time in our ER yesterday restructuring triage and isolation. Suspected cases of swine have already occured within our 10-mile radius, schools are closing, etc.

Also, I have done a lot of research, and would like to point out that it is VERY IMPORTANT to remember that this is a recently mutated virus (thus the easy spread between humans), so what we know about it today might not be all we know about it tomorrow. So please, be as safe as possible until we know more.

These are a few little important tid-bits that I’ve gathered:
-asymptomatic incubation period can be 24-48 hours
-they (CDC, WHO) are now suspecting that the virus can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours
-simple surgical masks are not sufficient! (in the healthcare setting, we will be wearing N-95 masks made specifically for airborne precautions such as tuberculosis) Goggles or face shields are also necessary.
-the current WHO phase of pandemic alert is 4…the highest it has ever been. Please familiarize yourself with the scale: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html. In other words….if it hits level 5, we’re pretty much in trouble…..and I wouldn’t be surprised if that didn’t happen by the end of the day today.

I also encourage you to do your own ongoing research!!!!
http://www.who.int/en/
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

We’ve gotten an email at work…basically some standards that the state of texas wants us to use as guidelines as healthcare providers. I, however, think you guys might find it useful as well:

**************
Infection Control

Non-Hospitalized Patient

Recommended infection control for a non-hospitalized patient (ER, clinic or home):

§ Separation from others in single room if available until asymptomatic. If the ill person needs to move to another part of the house or clinic, he/she should wear a mask. The ill person should wash hands frequently and follow respiratory hygiene practices. Also encourage ill person and family members to use alcohol hand sanitizer frequently when appropriate. Cups, utensils and other items used by the ill person should be thoroughly washed with soap and water or by a dishwasher before use by other persons.

Hospitalized Patient

Recommended Infection Control for a hospitalized patient:

§ Standard, Droplet and Contact precautions for 7 days after illness onset or until symptoms have resolved.

§ In addition, personnel should wear N95 respirators when entering the patient room.

§ Use an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) with negative pressure air handling, if available; otherwise use a single patient room with the door kept closed.

§ For suctioning, bronchoscopy, or intubation, use a procedure room with negative pressure air handling.

Ill Individuals

Recommended PPE for personnel providing care to ill individuals in a clinic or non-hospital setting:

§ Use surgical mask (N95 respirator preferred). Depending on symptoms and nature of procedures consider using disposable gowns, gloves and goggles.



Treatment

At this time, testing indicates swine H1N1 influenza is sensitive to Neuraminidase Inhibitors (oseltamivir [PO] or zanamivir [Inhaled]).

Aspirin or aspirin-containing products (e.g. bismuth subsalicylate – Pepto Bismol) should not be administered to any confirmed or suspected ill case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection aged 18 years old and younger due to the risk of Reye syndrome. For relief of fever, other anti-pyretic medications are recommended such as acetaminophen or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.



Antivirals

§ Antiviral treatment for confirmed or suspected ill case of swine influenza virus infection may include either oseltamivir or zanamavir, with no preference given at this time.

§ Initiate treatment as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms.

§ Refer to CDC recommendations for dosing requirements and contraindications at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/recommendations.htm

§ If patients report difficulty in obtaining antivirals, the physician should contact the regional or local health department. Contact information for local health departments is at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/lhds.shtm and for regional health departments at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/default.shtm.

§ Information on individuals receiving antivirals due to suspicion of swine flu or contact with an infected individual should be entered into the Texas Immunization Registry, ImmTrac. This registry will be used to track antiviral medications given in this situation. The ImmTrac Disaster Information Retention Consent (DIR) form will be used to collect this information. The form is available in English and Spanish. The provider dispensing an antiviral prescription must ensure a form is completed for each individual. The form is available at: www.immtrac.com or by request from ImmTrac at 800-252-9152.

§ Recommendations for use of antivirals may change as data on antiviral susceptibilities become available.



Chemoprophylaxis

§ Antiviral chemoprophylaxis (pre-exposure or post-exposure) is recommended for close contacts of a confirmed or highly suspected case of swine influenza virus infection.

§ Chemoprophylaxis is recommended for health care workers caring for patients ill with confirmed or highly suspected swine influenza.

She obviously sent that out earlier because it has now been pushed to level 5 by WHO. Im not too freaked out about any of it but be damned sure if i start getting a cough or fever my ass is going to the doc ASAP

That like 7 people have died from Swine Flu. And thousands die every year from regular flu.

Yeah, this is turning into another scare debacle that was absolutely nothing..

The Tarrant Co. health officials were all there for the press conference, so I am betting more Tarrant Co. schools will close before Monday.

Watch the public service announcement HERE

I have a headache.

I think maybe it is…

cancel a week of games due to the flu? Would they play the games without fans?

In my posts above I was reasonably level-headed, I think, but I’ve got the dreaded anxiety disorder and perhaps that’s one reason I’m beginning to get nervous. I wasn’t until I heard about the FWISD shutdown. To me that sounds like a pretty extreme move that wouldn’t have been made lightly.

I’ve gotta be in Fort Worth tomorrow all day for business, in several places scattered throughout the city and surrounding area.

Honestly, I’m terrified of the regular flu. I had surgery a couple of years ago and went from a person who never, ever got contagious illnesses to one who gets them probably a little too often. And my insurance situation is weird…I do not have access to a doctor here in Dallas…my health plan is great, but it’s owned by a big hospital in central texas and I have to go there for anything. 150 or so miles away. So if I were to get something like this I would likely not see a doctor until I was so sick I required a hospitalization. I live alone, and can envision myself crawling around on the floor looking for the phone to call an ambulance, haha.

Okay, so I’m getting a little ahead of myself.

Questions:

I’ve read conflicting reports. CDC does not clarify. Who is getting this illness? How old are they? Who is getting hospitalized…old people and small children and people with extenuating circumstances like asthma or whatever? What I’m asking is — and surely they know the answer by now — is how does someone who gets this shit feel? Is it worse than regular flu? Again I’ve heard that the symptoms are about the same, and then CDC releases the very cryptic “…more recent illnesses and the reported death suggest that a pattern of more severe illness associated with this virus may be emerging in the U.S.”

There are fewer than 100 confirmed cases reported as of now; why are they not releasing demographic information about who’s likely to get infected and who’s getting so damn sick they need to be hospitalized? Surely they have this information…it’s part of their standard surveillance. They should set up a site like this one, which they have for the seasonal flu.

Dammit, now I’m all freaked out. Probably over nothing, too, which will really piss me off later.

I also have anxiety and this is deff. triggering it and freaking me out. Now i keep feeling my head to see if i have a fever and i keep wondering “does my throat and body hurt” im creeped out. can you guys give me some advice on how to deal with anxiety and anxiety about this situation. thanks

this happens to be the one weekend that i am going to (and staying) dallas.

what wonderful timing………………………………

I covered it briefly in an earlier comment, but I will put it down here again. There is a slight possibility of alterior motives in the case of FWISD shutting down. We all know FWISD has more lower performing students than area suburban districts. There is some talk that TEA will not only allow FWISD to not make up these school days, but they might also allow them to not make up TAKS. If no TAKS tests are taken in FWISD, they avoid accountability ratings for this year. If they avoid accountability ratings, they avoid Average Yearly Progress, or AYP ratings. Any school with a declining AYP rating for 5 consecutive years is shut down. FW Poly is sitting right at that mark. If there AYP rating does not improve, they will be shut down after this school year making a huge mess for FWISD. Maybe, just maybe, FWISD saw this as a way to save Poly and some other campuses for 1 more year and see if they can’t get stuff fixed.

Just a theory floating around the educational world…

lewisville closed schools for the next week.

Should assuage some people’s fear. LINK

But if it is more like the 1918 flu than we think, we’re in for a rough ride come next flu season. Nature may be giving us a warning sign. The good thing is, the government seems to be paying attention and by then we should have a vaccine for it.

We well all live, after all.