Are you worried enough about swine flu?

From the Community…

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  Posted by Katie B Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:46pm PDT

  No, I am going to continue to be aware but not scared... I am a healthy adult... that rarely gets sick (I am more often than not a carrier of such sicknesses) with the exception of allergies and sinus infections... so all I am doing is trying to keep myself healthy and my nose clean (literally) and I think I will be ok.... I have never believed in flu shots anyway, having seen my dad always required to get one for his job and getting the flu not long after the shot every year...

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  Posted by Rowdygirl Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:53am PDT

  I think that encouraging people to be smart is a good thing.. encouraging them to freak out is crazy.

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  Posted by April Hughes Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:31am PDT

  You are much better off getting swine flu now, more people have died from regular influenza. My kids had swine flu a couple weeks ago, I didn't get it. Turns out some people are immune. My kids had high fevers for three days, but then they were fine. I'm glad they got it now, and I know that I am immune. There are risks with the vaccines that you will need to get. I work in a school health office, and knowing I am immune in the fall will give me peace of mind. What I am most upset about is that the Health Department is doing nothing to stop the spread. They know there is a significant outbreak in my area, but the media is no longer interested, and people continue going to public places to spread the virus. It seems to me they health departments want the virus to burn it's way through the population while it's still mild. Conspiracy? Hmmm.

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  Posted by LB Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:58am PDT

  April H, seriously? They'd prefer people didn't have it, because producing Tamiflu costs serious money, as does the research into the flu itself. And just because there's an outbreak, they're not going to stop people from going to public places. There's no point in inciting hysteria, seeing as the flu is almost always harmless.

  A friend of mine had swine flu, meaning it's in my little town. I'm not worried, though.

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  Posted by Elizabeth Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:28pm PDT

  April H, just because you didn't get it when caring for a sick individual does not mean you are immune. Influenza does not have a 100% transmisson rate, meaning that you can be in contact with a sick individual, and not get passed the disease. You are not immune. That's what's so important about a novel strain. No one is immune because no one has been exposed to it before. People exposed to the 1957 novel strain may show minor immunity, but unless you were exposed to it over 50 years ago, you have absolutely no immunity.

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  Posted by xo Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:36pm PDT

  April H, so what do you do in that school health office? Unless you're a medical profession with a RN or MD after your name, you should not be making medical statements about things you have no idea about.

  First, how do you know your kids had H1N1? We're not calling it swine flu anymore, just in case you didn't get that memo from the CDC or WHO. How in the heck do you know you're immune???? My god, the assumptions that people make about things they have no idea about! There are many places in the US where H1N1 is going around, but there are a whole lot of cases that are going unreported.

  You know, the whole conpiracy BS is ridiculous. Why not put the aluminum foil on your windows so the government can't look inside.

  Look, basics include washing your hands, using the alcohol-based antibac hand santizers, covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, staying home when you are sick, if you are given antivirals to take then take them as prescribed and don't stop them if you feel better but still have pills left to take.

  Other steps include getting plenty of rest, eating well and exercising.

  It is pretty simple.

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  Posted by ♥sunshinelady♥ Wed Jul 1, 2009 10:08am PDT

  I'm worried about this fall and winter. I heard it may be stronger then.

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  Posted by Lisa Tue Jul 7, 2009 11:49pm PDT

  HI, my son had h1n1 from June 11th until June 30. He had a high fever for 7 days , it went away for 5 days and then came back for 3 days. He was tested positive for INfluenza A at the hospital. I had a low grade fever for a few days, and it went away, however, now it is back, and I believe I may have bronchitis. I have had a low grade fever again now for about 5 days, and i keep coughing and have chest tightness. I am coughing up some sputum, but not a whole lot. but a litle bit like every few minutes, I guess I will call my Dr tommorrow, I dont think I have ever had bronchitis before, but my upper rib cage feels tight and I am constantly clearing my throat of phlegm. Its scary, cuz I know my son had h1n1 and it took him three weeks to get better, and he had a high fever. So, wish me luck. I live about 2o minutes from Chicago, so I know there are plenty of the novel strain going on around here.. I wonder how long bronchitis lasts? Ive heard any where from 3 days to 3 months. Doesnt help my husband smokes in the house, and everytime I ask him to smoke outside he yells at me... LOL.. MEN... I quit smoking over a year ago. anyone else had bronchitis? HOw long did it last? what were the symptoms?

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  Posted by Lisa Tue Jul 7, 2009 11:54pm PDT

  ALso, flu viruses mutates several times a day, therefore, a flu strain that circulated last year is totally different. Thats why there is a NEW flu vaccine every year APRIL, if your kids had Novel H1n1, you may have been exposed and u may be immune to the current strain, but if it mutates, which is what viruses do, you will not be immune to the changed strain... so keep eating right and washing hands alot...

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