So the virus has killed, and spread alot more, yet the comments have diminished.....gee...what's that say?? Not too worried anymore are ya?

BTW~By equipment, I also meant keyboards, telephones, doorknobs, etc. Have a NICE Day!!

momof1-Yes, it is my job to wash my hands before and after each patient contact and to disinfect equipement. It is NOT a requirement for me to wear a mask. I was reinforcing the protocols we have in place as well as what I am doing to go above and beyond that scenerio. Your comment was really uncalled for.

laurie~The CDC also has the same information on their website as what the Dr wrote to staff here. Maybe you can share your knowledge with your medical license?

LP_HG: If your friend is still concerned, please ask here to go to urgent care and be an advocate for her child. Demand that she/he be tested. That is my advice.

To oversimplify, as the World Health Organization defines it, an epidemic is generally localized to one country. A pandemic is when more than one country is subject to an epidemic. Edgewater's point is also important: it does not refer to the mortality of the disease.
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That said, even a "seasonal flu" equivalent would mean up to 30,000 people dying in the US -- which is how many Americans die from the flu every year. The model to consider in this instance is the Hong Kong flu of 1968-69.
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The thing to keep in mind, now and in the future, is that modern transportation links make almost any new virus a potential for pandemic. Modern health science is much better, but so is the potential for a virus to find a population without immunity. What we're seeing right now is some news media hysteria, but also the global mobilization of a public health response, which will be essential for this virus or perhaps one that is even more lethal.
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And if it gets more people to habitually wash their hands, or sneeze into their elbows, that's just a bonus.

Also, epidemics and pandemics do not have range levels of severity. They only refer to geographic locations.

An epidemic only makes your skin sick.

A pandemic makes your cookware sick.

;-)

An epidemic occurs when a disease affects a greater number people than is usual for the locality or one that spreads to areas not usually associated with the disease.

A pandemic is an epidemic of world-wide proportions.

Scientist at this time feel that at this time this strain of H1N1 (swine) flu is not even as virulent as our seasonal influenza we see every year. It is not expected to be as lethal as the 1918 strain. As alsways, caution and good hygeine practices are warranted. The virus may mutate, but it is not predictable. No need to panic at this time!

A friend of mine bought her very sick 3yr old to Mercy, not once, but twice. They did not even test for swine flu. He presented with ALL symptoms. They were told "it is just a virus, let it run it's course".
We wouldn't know if we had Swine Flu in Janesville.

just another pork-belly project!

Nurse4u: good for you. Guess what???? You should be washing your hands before and after every patient visit, and you should be making sure all equipment is sterilized.....DUH....THAT'S YOUR JOB!!!

nurse4u: Thanks for all the great information! I believe that the current virus is the decendant of the 1918 strain, so we do need to take it seriously!
That being said, I think a lot of people stand to make a lot of money off this panic, as happened a few years back with the bird flu hoax. The timing of this is just too suspicious. Of course either of us could be wrong.
I am glad that you're a frequent hand washer! Too many in the medical field don't wash their hands often enough. It's something all of us need to do more, regardless of this new flu virus.
Stay safe :O)

A DR. at Mercy ??? O.K. than I feel much better!!

1918 is quite a leap from 2009 in terms of care and availablility of treatment. also in 1918 appendicitis was considered a terminal condition.

I wish the media would stop the fear mongering about all of this. In 2008, there was 36,000 deaths from the regular flu.

BTW~ The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was an influenza pandemic that spread to nearly every part of the world. It was caused by an unusually virulent and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1.

This is the same subtype that is affecting us NOW.

Still think its not serious???

Viruses are constantly mutating. These viruses are smart. We are their hosts and they are out to get us. According to one of the doctors here at Mercy, a person should be considered contagious one day BEFORE symptoms appear and seven days after they appear. Swine flu symptoms manifest as a fever greater than 100 degrees, body aches, sore throat and a cough. Some people are having diarrhea and vomiting.
According to the CDC, there are two antivirals that are effective with the virus..oseltamivir and zanamivir. They are also starting a vaccine. However, the viruses mutate and we can not be positive which way they will mutate. The virus could become less deadly or more severe. We have no way to predict for sure.

Be safe. Limit travel. Stay away from large crowds, and most of all..WASH your hands frequently with soap and water for at least twenty seconds or about the time it takes to sing the ABCs.

Superdave~I am sure many thought as you did during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. BTW~millions died.

As a RN, I am taking every precaution that I can to not contract the illness or spread it if I have a patient that could be contagious. I am washing my hands for at least thirty seconds with soap and water for at least thirty seconds before and after every patient contact. In addition, I am ensuring that all equipment is cleaned before and after each patient use. I am wearing a surgical mask with each patient and changing those as I leave the room.

I would rather be safe NOW than sorry Later.

I am not worried about this alleged pandemic. It is an overblown story, being promoted by forces unknown for reasons unknown.

They say laughing aids healing - read the comments from the beginning -- it is laugh out loud FUNNY! We got the little piggy's minus the last one, a rooster who should be more worried about chicken pox, lonely and unloved pigs. Then there is Stephen King, Chicken Little, something about Kansas ..... some how the swine flu affecting your Hamstring - porkers being affected - and bringing home the bacon. The amount of bacon brought home may be affected IF -- we're allowed to leave home to go to school - IF we're allowed to stay home when sick due to greedy employers and be sure to turn your head and cough (into your sleave) because most men don't wash their hands after a personal trip to the bathroom. Where did all this start - in a pig pen. Thanks to all - I needed a good laugh - I found comic relief!

Wildcat02, you have some points -- levels of sanitation and health care do affect the spread of an epidemic -- but it's far from certain that advanced countries will not themselves suffer even thousands of deaths, simply because this flu is pretty serious. The seasonal flu generally does not kill people in their 20s to 40s, even in Mexico, but this one does. Even without deaths, we could still suffer a serious outbreak of illness, swamping our health facilities and closing businesses, schools, and government facilities. We can congratulate ourselves in the US for having built a world-class public health system (not quite the best, alas, but close to it) and that will likely keep us from experiencing a more severe outbreak and prevent many unnecessary deaths. That said, we can't pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist or affect us, and there may well be many countries where this epidemic is quite serious.
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The appropriate response is focused concern. If everyone follows simple advice like washing their hands frequently (2/3 of men don't after urination, studies show!), they can reduce their own risk. Cough into your sleeve, not the air or your hands. Avoid close contact with infected persons (airplanes and elevators are both potential zones). Get enough sleep and eat the right foods to boost your own immune system.
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It's necessary to have wide publicity for a coordinated public health response where personal responsibility is a factor. The 24/7 news media of today can make that seem like hysteria.

The news making mountains out of mole hills once again. The reason Mexico is having a difficult time with this is obvious....millions of people in a very poor country. Lack of health care? lack of sewer systems. This flu is like any other. It is actually a mild flu. We have over 30,000 people nationwide die from Influenza every year. We don't hear about that do we? no, of course not. If your ill, stay home, wash your hands, etc. this is not a contageous human killing cancer... we will survive. Thankfully its not the black Plague, now that I would be concerned about!

Stay home if sick. Yeah, employers love that. Not. And so many don't pay you if you are out sick. It's no wonder stuff spreads.

I see Mercy started blogs and have some good information on the topic. http://www.mercyblogs.org

And the people who bring home the bacon.

Not sure teach but I think it is affecting porky people first

Maybe swine flu affects your HAMstring?

Swine flu symptoms in people are similar to symptoms of regular human flu:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Fatigue
- In some cases, diarrhea and vomiting have been reported
In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may worsen underlying chronic medical conditions.
Things to do to prevent getting the flu:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Try to stay in good general health
- Get plenty of sleep
- Be physically active
- Manage your stress
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Eat nutritious food
- Try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus
-Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.

If schools are closed for a few days, do the kids have to make them up later?

How can you tell the difference between the flu and the swine flu???

Has anyone seen The Stand base on Stephen King's novel? Sound familiar?? Interesting and scary at the same time. Only God knows what His plan is. One question. How are we supposed to get medical help if we're not to leave our home? Another question. Why are so many dying in Mexico and only 1 in the States?

Would you people rather a bunch of "Chicken Little's" running around?

The sky is falling! We are all going to get the swine flu! Nobody leave your houses! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!

Lighten up. 2 cases in Wisconsin is not the end of days.

Apparently it is.

This is nothing to joke about people!

See what happens when people make out with pigs? They get the flu! And those pigs don't even get a phone call the next day...


My thoughts and prayers go out to these poor unloved pigs.


And DRIVE CAREFULLY!

Lets not be Geniuses or anything here. The Swine Flu is making its way to a city near you by Ports. Stop importing goods from other countries and try to become self dependent.... Althought I'm baffled how it made its way to Kansas......

rooster shouldn't be afraid of swine flu. He should be afraid of chicken pox :-)

i fear nothing. this little piggy went to clinic, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had a temp of 105' this little piggy had none, but this little itty bitty piggy went wee, wee, wee into a sterile bottle and was diagnosed with the deadly flu.

Get ready people- this could be something we have feared for decades!