Swine Flu: Are You Afraid?

on April 27, 2009 at 1:04 PM

When something as scary as news of 40 Americans coming down with the swine flu hits the Internet, parents often start to panic. President Obama has said that the outbreak is cause for concern, but "not a cause for alarm." Still, no one wants to even think about their child coming in contact with a deadly virus by simply going to school.

F_Stathouse's husband is so terrified that he says, "the kids are not leaving the property till this is over. No grocery shopping, parks, libraries, etc. One of us has to go while the other watches the kids."

Extreme or smart? Either way, he's not alone.

reddgoddess is also very afraid. She posted here on CM, "Pandemic: Swine Flu is trying to kill us ALL!!!" She added a link to a youtube video of Canadian officials talking about dangers of the virus.

There's lots more talk going on over at the CafeMom Newcomers Club about the real terror this is striking in people's hearts.

I'm not sure it has reached the threat level some parents feel, but I certainly understand the fear. In fact, several cases have been found in my state. When my boys come home today, the clothes come off and hands get washed immediately. For me, sometimes it helps to cut through the misinformation (check out Healthy Living Buzz on the subject). Also here are some key facts from the CDC:

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

What do we know about human-to-human spread of swine flu?

In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.

How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?

To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing.

Are you afraid of the Swine Flu? What precautions, if any, are you taking for your family?

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: health, swine flu

Comments (13)

busybee68

on Apr 27, 2009 at 2:16 PM

It sure is a scary thing. I've done a lot of research and I'm trying to stay positive and hope this will soon die out. Having just said that I intend on keeping my kids out of the stores and away from crowds until I hear this is over.

My 5yr old daughter is scheduled to take her first class trip on 5/21 to Phila. for the Ringling Bros. Circus. I'm afraid she's going to have to miss it b/c I would never put my children in harms way!

Precaution is the best medicine as far as I'm concerned!

Report this comment

san78

on Apr 27, 2009 at 2:21 PM

im in the uk and 2 confirmed cases here its scary!

c_k_71

on Apr 27, 2009 at 2:36 PM

I talked with my kids about it, (ages 13,10,8 &6) I told them that it is a good idea to wash hands a little more and be aware of covering coughs and etc.

I also explained to them that healthy people usually do not get very sick, it's more of an inconvience than a danger. Most of the 100 people dead in mexico did not go to the doc until it was too late. I know i have the doc # on speed dial, and have since they were babies. I'm not going to keep them out of school, but i think maybe avoiding unnesscesary visits to places with crowds is a good idea.

Elicia35

on Apr 27, 2009 at 3:31 PM

I'm not too worried. I will take some extra precautions like extra hand washing, staying away from crowded places, maybe taking some extra vitamins to shore up the immune system. I'm not going to go out and buy masks, quarantine us in the house and never go outside. Not yet anyway.

Cherrylinda

on Apr 27, 2009 at 3:35 PM

It won't hurt to be on the safe side and give my kids little bottles of hand sanitizer for their backpacks. Dr. Oz (on The View this morning) said that the masks don't really work because it is spread by hand so use the hand sanitizer until Friday when the country will know way more if this is going to turn into a major outbreak here.

mommashaybay

on Apr 27, 2009 at 4:00 PM

In the US only 1 of the 20 people from texas who first got smine flu had to be hospitalized, and only 1 had to be put on anti-viral medications. the symptoms are all the same as regular flu, most who had it had no clue. no one has died from it yet, so it seems to me that really there is nothing to worry about. if you get any flu like symptoms see your doctor.

on Apr 27, 2009 at 4:01 PM

*swine flu, my bad

Freela

on Apr 27, 2009 at 4:25 PM

I'm concerned but not panicked. I think at this point we do not know enough about the virulence of this virus to know how concerned we should be. The death rate per number of infected in Mexico is quite high, but at the same time the reported cases are not all confirmed and for every sick person counted there may be five more who had mild symptoms and never reported for testing. At this point there are no cases reported in my province so I am watching the news and waiting for more info. If cases are confirmed in my area and the virulence is higher than for seasonal flu, I may keep my kids home from school. I also stocked up on extras of non-perishables at the grocery store- not a hoard of food but enough to tide us over for another week or so should there be an outbreak in our area and I want to avoid going to the store for a couple weeks. I've also talked to my kids about the importance of frequent handwashing and things like that, though at 7, 4, and 2 I think only the oldest one is really taking extra precautions. Right now I am hoping for the best but preparing for the worst... time will tell, I guess.

lalasha

on Apr 27, 2009 at 6:17 PM

I am a little freaked out. I l took it upon myself in 7th grade(10 years ago) to learn about major health epidemics in the19th and 20th centuries and the one that really stuck was the swine flu 20 million died. I'm not worried for myself so much as my babies they are young and small and I really just don't want them to be affected antivirals are toxic to adults I would hate to see them being pumped full.

beadingmom17

on Apr 27, 2009 at 8:37 PM

Okay, I will admit that I rarely agree with Obama, but I'm with him on this one! People need to be concerned, but no more so than usual! Proper hygiene and common sense are going to battle this way faster and easier than mass panic. Wash your hands, wash your kids' hands, properly wash and cook your food and you should be just fine. The only people that need to be even more on alert are those that have pre-exisiting health problems or jobs that have them overseas and across international borders.