The Swine Flu.

[lucyloo]

Poll coming shortly....

[Gin please!]

I was worried about it because I was going to hospital next Monday but I cancelled that so now I'm not worried about it...

[jenr]

Just watching The View before they were talking about it? It could get quite serious?
Wonder if having a flu shot will help?

[Mandi]

Jen according to the Health Department the regular flu shot won't stop you getting swine flu however it 'could' lessen the symptoms if you were unlucky enough to get it.

Unfortunately for our Health system every Ron, Jane and hypochondriac Harry will be heading to the GP or worse - Emergency - saying they have the swine flu which will clog things up worse than they already are!! I feel for our health workers when faced with a media hype-up such as this one.

Seriously, 149 deaths in Mexico out of what.. 1.3 million people? 327 people died on Qld roads in 2008!

IMO, there are worse things happening in the world than an outbreak of 'the flu'.

[Hot Alpha Female]

I think that the swine flu has the potential to turn into something very nasty and very viral. I took to the poll and it was amazing to see the results. The majority of you guys are not worried about it at all.

I'm not usually paranoid about these things, but for some reason this one, I'm a little weary.

Anyways always good to hear your thoughts.

[Naomi]

Yeah it has potential, it's already evident around the world. I haven't seen much of it in the news here (but I don't really keep up with local news :blush:)

We have shares in a company that developed an anti-viral vaccine, they have jumped a huge amount in the last day or two :O

[lucyloo]

We have shares in a company that developed an anti-viral vaccine, they have jumped a huge amount in the last day or two :O

They are sure to keep climbing as well Naomi...

[sandydee]

I voted maybe:yes: could be a worry but I am not overly concerned.

[Naomi]

We have a lot of travel planned this year especially around July so if it gets worse, I'll probably worry more then. At the moment I'm still living in my protective little "she'll be right mate" bubble. I also feel (maybe wrongly) that we're generally a fairly healthy family so even if one/all of us got it, we'd get through it ok.

[Binx]

I take public transport to work & working in a large double digit storey building.
I always get the common cold; multiple times during the year - so if the swine flu get airborne (I don't know if it is or not) then no doubt I will easily pick it up.

I can't wait to wear a surgical mask around, I can drawn on it, write down a to-do list... it could be so useful!

[Di Nana]

I am to old to be worried , they have quantied some in NZ already as they travelled from Mexico , what ever happened to the bird flue they all had us pulling our feathers out over that , ok as I am typing this hubby has just come in and said that they have all tested positive so I guess it is here

[Mesmereyes]

they are testing a heap here in qld as well, I am with what Sandy said.

[Melinda]

Ii am not sure which way to vote......will think about it tonight

[Alexa]

Didn't we go through this a few years ago with "bird flu" never meet or heard of anyone getting that...

Seems like a lot of fuss over nothing.

More people die of alcohol related deaths.

[jazmine]

I think with any kind of flu or virus out there you have to be worried about catching it so yes i am.

[miss kiki]

i am worried, but then again i'm not..if that makes sense.

[Di Nana]

Nope Kiki It didn't :hehe:

[lucyloo]

Apparently they are testing 88 cases of suspected cases in Australia that were on the plane with the kiwis that were infected....

[Melinda]

Apparently they are testing 88 cases of suspected cases in Australia that were on the plane with the kiwis that were infected....

yes it is a worry.....but i must say the people in charge of all of this sound organised....

[lucyloo]

The media give me the shits, they make everyone feel scared, and most likely for no reason.

[miss kiki]

that's what i mean..they make us feel scared and then i get worried, but then again i have to think of the chances and all, so it doesn't worry me as much..

[catnip56]

I just hope something is found to cure it before Sept, my miss N is doing a Contiki tour through Europe and on the news the other day it had been detected in France and Italy!!!

[jenr]

What is really pissing me of is the media hysteria over this!
Front page of the paper this morning Fatal swine flu hits the North?:brow:

[lucyloo]

better watch out Jen !!! LMAO

[Mandi]

Excerpt of news report below..

A member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed claims that more than 150 people have died from swine flu, saying it has officially recorded only seven deaths around the world.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5530853/7-confirmed-swine-flu-deaths/

Typical bloody media hype !!

[Gin please!]

Thats the problem with the media, they get a hint of a story and then run madly with it without thinking of the panick it might cause..

[Naomi]

On one hand I'm glad the government has a quick response in place as a protective measure (probably as a result of the potential epidemic identified when bird flu happened) but yeah, the media does seem to beat it up into more of a panic than is needed.

I googled and according to some sources there are a few cases here, but according to others, not yet confirmed :dk: In any case the odds of it affecting me personally are very small.

[chooks54]

I agree this Swine flu is quite dangerous but what part do the media play in the hype of it all, if I had the sniffles and the feeling of unwellness I would go to see the doctor and get treated accordingly, they say if you have these syptoms and get to the relevant medical authorities then you can be treated and cured. I would like to know a lot more about it before I panic. Just think, before you get Swine Flu you could get hit by a car, kick your toe, cut your finger, lose a boyfriend, which is more likely? I think this thing has to be put into perspective.

[Stormy]

I did think it was mildly hilarious that the radio announcer on B105 stated that at level 4 is when we should all start to worry. The scale goes up to level 6. We're only on pandemic alert but we were on pandemic alert (level 4) for most of 2008 and no one batted an eyelid about it really. I think they really need to calm down and not over worry people. After all, we are headed into the winter coughs and cold season anyway - every man and his dog almost will have a runny nose and a few muscular aches and pains associated with standard flu.

I'm anticipating a bad couple of months ahead of me at work just because everyone will be convinced they have damn swine flu. :headh:

[Nicole83]

I'm a little concerned about it.. I just hate hate hearing stories of outbreaks.. I was the same with the meniccougal thing.. a little concerned I would get it.

What is it exactly? Is it just a bad case of the flu or is it something that kills you in an hour or what? I've heard heaps of media about the amount of people that have it and where it is etc.. but noone has actually said the symptoms and the chances that someone can surivive this?

[Stormy]

Here is some information from the Centre for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm) Nicole, it is plain spoken language.

[miss kiki]

i'll have to check that out too stormy..thanks for the link. was wondering the same thing nicole.

today at work, the E.R. was packed with over 20 holding patients that were being examined and taken care of in the halls..:blink: not sure if everyone is being a hypochondriac about the swine flu or not, but jeez..

[lucyloo]

A little toddler has died in the US from swine flu.

The WHO has raised the outbreak to a level 5 as of today.

[Heather]

The facility where I work now have warnings regarding an increased risk of colds and Flu' posted in the Foyer and and the entrances to each section. They are asking everyone to wash their hands before and after each visit, providing an antibacterial wash and requesting that visits be limited to just one person where possible.
This is not as a precaution to Swine Flu' as such.....just because it is the season.

[Kekka]

Cor, hope my Sydney trip isn't cancelled....I've planned my activities....:( Fingers crossed it doesn't spread.

[sandydee]

seen a couple out doing their shopping at the Hyperdome today with masks on:yes: everyone was looking at them and sniggering:yes: they did stand out a mile.

[Melinda]

seen a couple out doing their shopping at the Hyperdome today with masks on:yes: everyone was looking at them and sniggering:yes: they did stand out a mile.

priceless....

[sandydee]

it was funny looking :hehe: one cheeky lady went up and stood near them and started coughing.....
I really dont think I could wear one unless a lot of people were:hehe:

[Stormy]

You've got to be kidding me. :blink:

I would have pissed myself laughing if I'd seen that....not sure how you contained yourself. :hehe:

[sandydee]

umm ...:hehe: I didnt really.....I was laughing to myself when my client said....Sandy are you ok?LMAO

[Naomi]

ok but what if THEY have pig flu and they're just wearing it for everyone else's safety? LOL

To be honest if I was that concerned about airborne disease, I'd probably stay home, do internet groceries and clean out my panic room.

[Mad Old Cow]

Yes Naomi i think thats what i would do as well

[miss kiki]

i probably would do the same. :yes:

i saw a couple and their child wear masks yesterday too. :yes:

[sandydee]

ok but what if THEY have pig flu and they're just wearing it for everyone else's safety? LOL

To be honest if I was that concerned about airborne disease, I'd probably stay home, do internet groceries and clean out my panic room.

:yes: exactly ,thats what I would do too.....really would feel silly going out:hehe: they were around 50 years old:yes:

[Alexa]

Talk about paranoia. :blink:

[Rachel]

I put maybe. If I weren't spending the whole of June overseas I wouldn't be too worried but being in highly populated tourist spots with other people flying in from all over the world does worry me a lttle.

[Stormy]

Queensland Health now has a dedicated website for Swine Flu here (www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu). The broadcast we received this morning indicated no confirmed cases and minimal suspect ones.

It doesn't hurt to be prepared so I am glad they are taking it seriously BUT it doesn't pay to panic either. It will be interesting to see what develops over the coming weeks.

[jenr]

Thanks Stormy good advice!

[Heather]

Sorry Ladies.....I brought this up again as my cousin has just sent me an Email that had me giggling.....in a most unpolitically correct way.....

It was once said that when a black man became President pigs would fly.
Indeed, 100 days into Obama's presidency we have......swine flu.

[miss kiki]

LOL i got that joke too just a few days ago. love it heather! :)

[Stormy]

Still no confirmed cases in Australia, minimal suspect ones, less than 50 the last time I checked my work mailbox. I would think the public health units in Australia would be more concerned about the outbreak of dengue fever in the north TBH but you don't see that hitting the 6am news every day. :dk:

[lucyloo]

Thanks for keeping us informed Stormy :)

[Mandi]

Probably not the right thing but I'm loving some of the swine flu jokes going around.. this is my fav at the moment....

The big bad wolf said "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!"
The little pigs replied "Bugger off or we'll sneeze on you!!"

LMAO

[lucyloo]

Probably not the right thing but I'm loving some of the swine flu jokes going around.. this is my fav at the moment....

The big bad wolf said "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!"
The little pigs replied "Bugger off or we'll sneeze on you!!"

LMAO

Ha ha Mandi LMAO

[jenr]

Someone once said that when a black man becomes President pigs would fly.
Sure enough 100 days later swine flew!:hehe:

[Mandi]

If you're ever bored on public transport, take out your mobile phone and pretend to talk to your friend about your recent holiday in Mexico.. then start coughing.........

LMAO

[Nicole83]

hahaha thats funny Mandi!! LMAO

[Stormy]

This little piggy went to market, careful to make sure he had alcohol handwash and surgical face masks in case of contact with sick people
This little piggy stayed home just in case his sniffly nose was really swine flu
This little piggy had roast beef because he heard that it was safer than eating pork
This little piggy had none because it was too close to eating roast pork and figured it was best to be safe than sorry
And this little piggy went sneeze, sneeze, sneeze all the way home because he was the one confirmed case of swine flu, but not to worry because he's all better now.

[miss kiki]

:hehe: ladies!

[lucyloo]

Well, it seems to be spreading with 50 cases now confirmed in Australia, bot not as dangerous as we first thought....

[sandydee]

:yes: seems to be increasing

[miss kiki]

yeah, it does sandy.
two people in NY already died..:blink:

[Gin please!]

I don't get this....

Why is it that we have this dangerous new strain of flu and our borders are letting ppl leave a cruise ship that has about 17 ppl on it with the virus? Why didn't they quantine the whole ship?

[sandydee]

:yes: I couldnt understand that either:blink:

[Happy]

I don't get this....

Why is it that we have this dangerous new strain of flu and our borders are letting ppl leave a cruise ship that has about 17 ppl on it with the virus? Why didn't they quantine the whole ship?



I heard on SKY that they cannot quarantine you if you don't want to be.
Not sure why but that is what they were talking about.
I don't understand?

The swine flu is now in Port Macquarie my parents live there & they don't need to be subjected to this as my Dad was very sick in March with a bad virus.
He lost a stone in 10 days,he is 86 & just getting back to feeling a bit better.:hug:

[Gin please!]

They are now saying that we all have a 1 in 3 chance of getting it...now that is a worry!

[Melinda]

its certinly spreading...maybe a new poll is needed and see if people are worried now.

[Happy]

We have been told at school to get our injections up to date.
Just a friendly suggestion at a staff meeting this afternoon.

[Melinda]

We have been told at school to get our injections up to date.
Just a friendly suggestion at a staff meeting this afternoon.

what injection....do you mean the flu injection if so that doesnt cover the swine flu.

[Happy]

Well that is interesting.
Wonder why they offered that bit of info then?

I will ask tomorrow.

Thanks Mel:)

[lucyloo]

My kids bought a note home from high school yesterday, telling us all about the swine flu...it was put out from the dept of Ed....

[miss kiki]

lots of schools in new york that were closed because of the flu just went back this week..i know we have someone that lives 20 minutes from me that has swine flu..it's a bit scarey..and i have the flu now, so i hope i feel better soon. i can't imagine what these poor people are going through..