Swine Flu - Do you live in an affected state?? CA, KS, TX, NY, OH?

[icnmgrjill]

You should all be aware of the new national alert about Swine Flu. Any news website will share that it's now been found in five states... California, Texas, Kansas, New York and Ohio.

The Centers for Disease Control Released the following guidelines for residents of those states.

Residents of States with Swine Influenza Cases

CDC has identified human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in people in the U.S. CDC is working with local and state health agencies to investigate these cases. We have determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, we have not determined how easily the virus spreads between people. As with any infectious disease, we are recommending precautionary measures for people residing in these areas.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

There is no vaccine available at this time, so it is important for people living in these areas to take steps to prevent spreading the virus to others. If people are ill, they should attempt to stay at home and limit contact with others. Healthy residents living in these areas should take everyday preventive actions.

People who live in these areas who develop an illness with fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, such as body aches, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, should contact their health care provider. Their health care provider will determine whether influenza testing is needed.

For more, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm

[mary124]

Thanks - yes there has been a handful of confirm cases outside the San Antonio Area. There hasn't been any cases here where I am at- I live near Austin.

[ICNDonna]

This is one of the negatives of living in a mobile society --- all it takes is one person on one train/bus/plane to spread a disease to a multitude of people.

Even though we don't have any confirmed cases in Oregon, we are stepping up the handwashing in our house. And I carry antibacterial lotion in my purse.

Donna

[aleet7]

Thanks for the valuable information. A 9 year old child has been confirmed to have swine flu in my town. I will definitely be careful and tell my kids to be cautious.
Best Wishes,
Aleet7

[kadi]

Yikes,
I keep a big pump of hand sanitizer next to the kleenex in my classroom & insist the kids use it.
And another bottle of hand sanitizer & kleenex (NOT for student use) on my desk.

Still caught the regular flu this year in spite of the flu shot though... And that was bad enough! Knocked me flat for 9 days...

[aleet7]

Smart thinking to have the hand sanitizer for the class and a personal one. I was wondering if I could put a small one in my kid's back packs.

I also got the flu this year. My sister in laws came to visit and one was a walking petrie dish! She gave the flu to me, my 8 and 4 year old! I was furious that she decided to share the bug with us! Dear husband avoided and told me not to be angry she didn't do it on purpose(I wonder if he would be so happy if she gave it to him)? I had a kidney infection on top of having the flu!

I'm sorry that it had you on your back for 9 days....wow!

[ICNDonna]

In our area most grocery markets have wipes in the cart areas --- use them! And wipe your hands with them after you clean the cart handle. Grocery stores and pharmacies are very good places to pick up germs --- understandable because even if we don't feel well we need groceries and meds.

Another thing I do is after I wash my hands in a public restroom, I use the paper towel to open the door --- most restrooms have garbage bins near the door.

Clean hands have almost become a fetish with me. I had three illnesses this past winter and I absolutely don't want more!

Donna

[ABliske]

My coworker and her family are sick with the flu. She came to work too!

[aleet7]

That's excellent advice Donna!!!!
Grocery stores, pharmacies and public restroom are notorius for breeding germs!

[kadi]

A student got sick during our standardized testing today. She nearly threw up in class & went home sick. The class handled it really well. No one said anything mean. I waited til everyone was gone, got out gloves & washed her desk with lysol wipes.

I have actually wondered about that HORRIBLE flu I caught in early March. It was sooo awful & I got it in spite of my flu shot, my 17 years teaching/germ exposure which usually wards off bad things & my total fanaticism about handwashing & sanitizer.....

[Briza]

Ok, I live in south Texas on the border...like 30 minute drive from the border. MANY people where I live cross the border to Mexico and return to Texas on a daily basis where I live.

As some of you know I am now working as a research asst/student outreach science program coordinator....I had my first two student groups yesterday and today! None of the students appeared to be sick nor did they complain of being sick:bow::bow: But I will tell ya that my pump bottle of hand sanitizer is EMPTY as of today....every student, employee, volunteer was liberally dosed with hand sanitizer. In addition, the teachers and parents that accompanied the students on their field trips to where I work today brought their OWN big bottles of hand sanitizer.

AND as of this morning, WALMART was down to just a few small bottles of hand sanitizer. Hopefully they are shipping it in FAST and will have the shelves restocked by tomorrow morning before I go to work.

When I worked as a classroom teacher for 10 yrs, I DID find that the number of airborne and otherwise transmitted illnesses (colds, stomach viruses, etc.) that I was struck with was GREATLY reduced by using hand sanitizer on my hands AT LEAST hourly, and I also apply it around the outside of my nostrils and lips/external mouth area frequently.

Since I am again working with students (many who very well may be crossing the border on daily basis to visit family in Mexico) and the general public (again, tourists VERY likely to have made a day trip to Mexico while vacationing where I live), hand sanitizer and nonlatex gloves and soap and water are my best friends right now!

In Texas, near Richardson (outside of Dallas) there was today a confirmed case of this flu in an elementary school (a student I believe, not staff or faculty). My sister is keeping her pre-school age son home and not visiting the usual many places that they would on any given day and has talked with the parents of his "play group" and they will only be playing with eachother, and only at home.

[Briza]

Yikes,
I keep a big pump of hand sanitizer next to the kleenex in my classroom & insist the kids use it.
And another bottle of hand sanitizer & kleenex (NOT for student use) on my desk.

Still caught the regular flu this year in spite of the flu shot though... And that was bad enough! Knocked me flat for 9 days...


When I was teaching I stood at door of my classroom as students entered with giant bottle of hand sanitizer in my hands and gave each one a generous squirt as they entered... and yes, I also had my own personal box of tissue and bottle of sanitizer.

[aleet7]

Kadi,you handled the sick child incident well! In my mind I would've been freaking out over the whole thing but you kept your cool and acted accordingly. I'm a little worried because my 8 year old brought every sickness home to me(Fifths disease, colds, stomach viruses etc....) I'm putting the sanitizer on him as he enters the car to come home from school from now on!

Aleet7

[Preacher-Girl]

We have a terrible flu. My husband just got it and I have had it since Monday. My 4 yo has it but as usual she is bouncing around. We don't live anywhere near the areas affected but since we are in public a lot how do we know someone hasn't recently travelled? Grrr. We don't have any of the emergency symptoms but I called the pediatrition anyway. I think I have to call our primary. Again we have none of the emergency symptoms listed.

So I am left wondering, especially with my very recent horrible flare,how much more can one person possibly take?!

I hate to complain but :cussing:

[aleet7]

We have a terrible flu. My husband just got it and I have had it since Monday. My 4 yo has it but as usual she is bouncing around. We don't live anywhere near the areas affected but since we are in public a lot how do we know someone hasn't recently travelled? Grrr. We don't have any of the emergency symptoms but I called the pediatrition anyway. I think I have to call our primary. Again we have none of the emergency symptoms listed.

So I am left wondering, especially with my very recent horrible flare,how much more can one person possibly take?!

I hate to complain but :cussing:

:grouphug:Hugs Preacher-girl!
I'm so sorry that your family has the flu! I was angry and miserable when I had it a couple weeks ago( my 4 yo was still bouncing around too). Any illness combined with IC is a nightmare:help:!

Well, we just had a station break to tell us that several people were now suspected of contracting the swine flu in my city! I'm praying that they'll be ok and that no one else gets infected. I'm afraid that some will start to panic over this. I heard my mom raise her voice at the grandkids because they came home from school and went straight in the kitchen w/o washing their hands! They got a long lecture on the swine flu that moment!

About your flare, all you can do is stay on top of it(plenty of water, pyridium,heating pad etc...)

Get well soon
Aleet7

[ScrabbleMom]

It has been found in my county in TX-- I sent my son off with purell in his pocket today!

[Preacher-Girl]

Thanks Aleet! It seems to have passed...mostly. I still have some sore muscles and I am wondering if my bladder was inflamed for this same reason because I really was doing all that I could and eating a really safe diet. This too shall pass.

[aleet7]

It has been found in my county in TX-- I sent my son off with purell in his pocket today!

Scrabblemom,
Good for you..taking control of things! I wondered if I should do the same thing. My kids came home with a warning paper yesterday talking about the Swine flu. We have several more cases of the flu in our town, but not sure if it's another strain or swine flu. The docs are testing to make sure.

Aleet7

[leelee88]

It is in Louisiana now.. Some schools have closed..

[kadi]

Some of the kids today refused to sit next to the Mexican kids in class, saying they didn't want to catch swine flu. It didn't happen in my room (they wouldn't dare!), but in my coworker's class. Sad. I hope this blows over soon...

[amaranthe]

Some of the kids today refused to sit next to the Mexican kids in class, saying they didn't want to catch swine flu. It didn't happen in my room (they wouldn't dare!), but in my coworker's class. Sad. I hope this blows over soon...

Oh no! How terrible! Like you, I hope this passes soon, but fear it will get much worse before it gets better. :(

[ICNDonna]

That's terrible, Kadi. Kids can be very cruel sometimes.

:(
Donna

[luvsterriers]

There are 2 people in Virginia who have swine flu. They just vacationed in Mexico. But I'm wondering if swine flu can be spread on planes. I'll be traveling to Portland Oregon at end of the month.

[ICNDonna]

They think we have some in Oregon now. The cases aren't confirmed yet, however.

Donna

[jen74]

There a few cases here in Chicago. They have closed one school so far and have closed a few schools in the neighboring suburbs. Hopefully this will a pass very soon.
Jen

[Soozie]

Yes-- In Illinois, we now have 3 confirmed cases and about 51 suspected cases. Most of the reported cases (confirmed and suspected) are in Chicago. The rest are reported throughout Chicagoland in the burbs.

[L. Thomas]

I was suppose to leave Tuesday for Dallas to visit my 93 year old aunt but the flight was cancelled because of the Houston flood. I rescheduled it for the 18th. My son and his wife are having a baby on Monday in TN. I was planning to wear a mask on the flight even though I know it is probably being overly concerned. Maybe by the 18th things will have either settled down.

I just don't see any reason to take a chance taking anything back to the baby. I also think that the VP knows a little more than the general public about the situation. Everyone jumped in quickly to clarify that the statement about staying out of confined spaces was his own personal opinion.

[amber sevy]

They have closed schools in Utah and I think there are about 6 confirmed cases. Good thing I don't get out much.

[mary124]

Don't know if it has been confirm here or not, but we have a few "suspected cases" in Austin. I know that a couple of schools (both Private) closed for a few days.

[Briza]

Don't know if it has been confirm here or not, but we have a few "suspected cases" in Austin. I know that a couple of schools (both Private) closed for a few days.

A friend of mine teaches at a school in New Braunfels/Comal ISD...her middle school is closed til May 9....I'm not sure if it is the entire district but her school for sure.
------------
A 16 yr old girl who volunteers at the same place I do (tho I have not met her) is in quarantine with confirmed case of this flu...she lives about an hour away from me. Praying that she is getting the best of treatment and recovers quickly.:pray:
---------------
Kadi :( I am so sad to hear that about your students...and yes, students can be so cruel at times, but so much of it comes from what they are exposed to/told at home. :( That doesn't help, but I know you know that. Sad.

[amaranthe]

There are now 2 confirmed cases in my state (not one of those listed). Both of them are in my county. One case is in an infant, who recently had been to Mexico. In the other case, the person had went to Mexico for spring break. The infant is hospitalized, but the adult isnt. These are scary times!

[dyno]

We have a few confirmed cases in IA now. One of them is in the county where my mom lives. They have closed the school there for the week. That town has a large hispanic population that work at a meat packing plant and the speculation is that many of them went back to Mexico for Easter and brought it back with them.

[mydimples6]

We have 755 confirmed cases in Utah! I work at a small hospital on the medical floor so we get all of the swine flu patients that are not in the icu. Last time I worked we had 17 patients, that is just a small hospital in utah. The larger ones have many more. :shake: A swine flu patient that was admitted came up to the floor and the people in the admitting department didn't have this patient wear a mask!!!!! She stood in front of my desk for a several minutes! UGH!! :headbang: Now I have flu symptoms and so they sent me home from work, I really don't think that I have it, but I definately have some respiratory thing going on. Hopefully I can get to my doc's tomorrow. :pray:

Also, my oldest daughter is 7 months pregnant and three people that work in the same office have confirmed cases of swine flu. I sure hope she doesn't come down with it. It is dangerous for both of them.

[jen74]

I live in Chicago and I know the swine flu is here. My pharmacist had it. She likely got it at work ( walgreens), which is like 5 minutes from my house. She said when she went to the hospital the doctors there said sooo many people are getting the swine flu there that they are not even testing anymore they are just treating right away with the tamaflu. I have some nasty virus right now, I had a fever and severe pain in my muscles and severe sore throat the other day and now I have a nasty cough that is just awful. I cough so hard my ribs are now hurting. I do Not believe it is the swine flu though, my hubby was sick before me with the same thing, and it did not effect him as bad though. Anyhow, I just pray noone in my family gets the swine flu, especially my son, he has asthma. He works at chucky Cheese Pizza place, this worries me because he is around little kids all day long. My son in 17 and he is not very hygenic. He does not even like to wash his hands. I always have to remind him to wash his hands and use hand sanitizer. I hope this flu will pass soon and be gone!

Jen

[aleet7]

Dimples, I'm praying for you and your daughter(and unborn baby)! I pray that you don't have the virus nor your daughter contracts it. I haven't heard much about Swine Flu lately but it's apparently still spreading. Please take good care of yourself and let us know what the doc says.

Hugs,
Aleet7