Swine flu: How worried are you?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Poll question: Swine flu: How worried are you?

[Zenlitened]

1. Other. Concerned and watching the news, but feeling encouraged...

... that capable people* are in place where we need 'em, and doing a good, measured, generally thoughtful job so far.

*On edit:

There are, of course, exceptions to every rule:
Bachmann reassures nervous Minnesota electorate: "I'm closely monitoring the swine flu situation."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5567303

:yoiks:

I'm sure she'd do a "heckuva job" if she had her hands on the situation.

In which case, I'd definitely be on the OMG-They're-Gonna-Kill-Us-All-Through-Sheer-Stupidity!!! end of the scale. :D

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. I'm already pretty much of a hermit, so there's little more I can do to limit

my exposure.

But I scare people - I've had a hacking cough since november (the doc can't seem to find a cause), and I notice people starting to give me odd looks and a wide berth.

[Lilith Velkor]

39. Same here.

Although the hacking cough is more recent in my case. The pollen count here is insanely high, so everybody is coughing and wheezing, which doesn't help.

I hope you figure it out and get better soon.

[eleny]

3. Here in colorado we're almost surrounded by states with confirmed cases

Being retired, I'm going to take Biden's advice and limit my exposure where possible. For instance, if I have to return library books I'll use the outdoor drop on the side of the building and then wipe my hands with a cleansing wipe.

I've had the flu a couple of times in my life and am not taking chances. It's a really awful couple of weeks.

[DevonRex]

47. COLORADO: Two confirmed cases, 1 in Douglas County and 1 in Arapahoe

County. My boss just got an email from Douglas County Schools letting parents know and she emailed me.

[ecstatic]

4. Normally I wouldn't have given it a second thought

I was forced to care due to a trip I had scheduled, but now that that is canceled, I can go back to not caring.

[MorningGlow]

5. Not very unless something changes for the worse

As it is, it seems there's a whole lot more concern going around than serious cases of the flu--so far, anyway.

My son has had a fever for a few days, so I took him to the pediatrician yesterday. She didn't even venture to speculate about ANY type of flu--and we had been traveling two weeks ago (Florida, but still). I thought she'd ask questions, you know? But nope--checked for ear infection (clear), did a throat culture, found strep, end of story. So if doctors aren't even bringing it up...

[high density]

6. Annoyed by the media coverage whipping everybody into a frenzy.

Certainly the seasonal flu gets worse than this every year? I know there is an unknown element about this flu, but to quote Don Rumsfeld, this is a "known unknown" and there's no sense worrying about it now.

[phantom power]

8. You know, I have not seen any "media frenzy."

I've seen a few news segments, and the advice has been "keep your hands clean, and stay home if you get sick."

Not exactly apocalyptic.

[phantom power]

7. "Concerned." Somewhat less now that the mortality rates are being downgraded.

[Aloha Spirit]

9. Someone in my household has a weakened immune system, so I'm being super cautious.

[Jennicut]

13. Yeah, the people that should really worry are the very old, very young, and people with bad immune

systems. I have diabetes so I am going to be very careful, and my kids are young (3 and 4). I am worried but I have a legitimate reason to be.

[Aloha Spirit]

19. Yep... normally I'd probably say, well getting infected will just confer some immunity

for when the virus is worse next winter, but if your loved ones are vulnerable, this isn't something to take lightly.
Honestly, there are so many questions the media isn't answering right now, that I feel like I have to assume this is a danger, ya know?
I'm probably going to the bike shop to buy some gloves or something, I think wearing gloves when I'm around town will be a reminder not to touch stuff too much.

[msallied]

22. Not a bad idea, really.

I stocked up on some hand sanitizers and am watching what I touch, and if I have to cough or sneeze, I do it into my sleeve. My mom is on methotrexate. I worry about her catching this.

[Jennicut]

30. Nothing wrong with being extra cautious

[Egnever]

41. Not that caution isn't expedient

Hasn't it been reported that the ones that are dying are the ones with robust immune systems? basically its the extreme reaction of the healthy immune system thats causing the deaths not the virus itself.

Again I am not saying you shouldn't be cautious just that this might be one of those times when the weakened immune system is a kind of plus.

[Aloha Spirit]

44. no.

[Egnever]

45. Yes

It's a fairly novel strain," he said, "and the deaths could be from healthy people who have a healthy, robust immune system that overreacts."

That could result in a "cytokine storm" in which the body secretes too many chemicals as it tries to kill offending microorganisms.

The hyper-response can lead to accumulation of fluid in the lungs and a condition called "acute respiratory distress syndrome."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/28/swine.flu.mexico/

[Aloha Spirit]

48. a weak immune system means you're more likely to contract the virus.

While strong immune reactions can cause fatality, strong immune systems are more likely to prevent the infection in the first place.
Those with weak immune systems are more likely to become infected and die of complications.
The CDC as of now still considers immune-compromised groups to be the most at risk.

[vaberella]

10. I'm concerned and that's about it. I do have a cold...and I was in Queens so we'll see.

All three of my friends who I worked on a project were recently sick from Brooklyn/Yonkers and the like but they said they didn't have swine flu. I know I could have gotten sick from those three clowns. I get everything from them. Ugh. I have to stop working on projects with them.

[tandot]

11. I am 8 month and 1 week pregnant and my immune system sucks

and we have 3 confirmed cases in our county. So, I am somewhat worried and try to stay away from public places as much as possible.

I've gotten a flu shot in November just to avoid getting the flu while I am pregnant. However, it won't protect me from that strain :(

[Jennicut]

14. Take care of yourself. Stay home and let others help you out if you can.

Good luck. :)

[tandot]

24. Thanks, Jennicut.

My husband is doing most of the shopping and he has been really good with washing/sanitizing his hands.

[Jennicut]

28. I had two babies back to back and my husband was great.

It was not really planned but I got pregnant right away with my second daughter. I got gestational diabetes with the second one and felt too weak to do anything. The baby's heartbeat had to monitored every week. It was struggle but worth it, I have a healthy 3 year old now and her equally healthy 4 year old sister. My husband, Mom and Mother in law were terrific through it all.

[tandot]

31. Good to know that I am not the only one with pregnancy problems

I've developed high blood pressure a couple of weeks ago and he had some dips in his heart rate. So, they have Connor monitored twice a week to keep a close eye on him and me. So far, he didn't have any dips anymore :)

This is our first child and I just turned 45. We are totally elated and scared :)

[Aloha Spirit]

32. Aaah!

That's awesome.
Someone I know was in a similar situation, now the baby's 18 months and the parents (in their mid forties) are in a constant state of bliss :-)

edit to clarify--awesome that you're both doing well!

[tandot]

35. Can't wait to reach that state of bliss :)

[Jennicut]

33. Don't worry,I felt like that too.

I was 28 with the first one, 29 with the second so complications can happen when you are any age. I still have the diabetes now as it never went away after Christa, my second daughter was born. I was probably diabetic or prediabetic with Morgan, my first daughter but somehow I barely passed the glucose test. She came out really big and had some issues with her own blood sugar. That is why I am worried about this flu thing, having the diabetes now.

Good luck with your baby, Connor is a cute name! I was scared too as they had to induce labor a few weeks early with Christa so she did not get too big but she and older sister Morgan are doing great now, healthy preschoolers.:)

[tandot]

37. Sorry about the diabetes. I hope they find a cure for that soon.

I had one high result (185) a couple of weeks ago on my 1-hour glucose test but when I did the 3-hour test all results came back normal.

Good luck to you and your family :hi:

[AngryOldDem]

12. Starting to get nervous, but not necessarily for my well being.

I work at a homeless shelter, and if this takes off, a lot of our guests will most certainly die. I'm sure of it. Minor respiratory infections already spread through the population like wildfire. Something like this...well, I can't go there.

As I walk through the women's dorm after lights out, it often sounds like a TB ward. Most are extremely fragile in terms of health to begin with, and most don't want to see the clinic. Why that is I don't know, but they prefer to go to the nearby hospital ER where they get next to NO care, and are treated shabbily to boot.

This is beginning to scare me because we can't turn anyone away, and we really have no room in the shelter for any kind of isolation area.

[windbreeze]

15. how about paying attention and preparing, just in case?....n/t

[RoadRage]

16. This is the Media's weekly obsession....

As soon as their is something more exciting to report on.. Swine Flu will be out, and the next new faux crisis will be in.

Seriously.. 1 death out of 109 cases is less then 1%. This is nothing.. but with 24 hours worth of news to fill.. you have to spin something.

Only 2 more years before we can move back to obsessing about the 2012 presidential election.. i have a feeling CNN, Fox & MSNBC have countdown calanders hanging on the wall.

Ugh.

[msallied]

17. The fiction writer in me is having a field day coming up with alternating horrifying scenarios.

I'm a little worried. I keep one eye on the news and the other elsewhere. I worry about my kids more than myself. I just hope this thing doesn't mutate beyond Tamiflu's grasp, because otherwise we are going to be in a world of hurt.

The only perspective keeping me from getting too grim is that the regular flu kills 35,000 people a year.

[LittleBlue]

18. Not worried nor concerned at all.

This isn't the Middle Ages. If all else fails, we can all just stay home for a week and wear masks.

[Forkboy]

20. I'm not worried, but that doesn't mean people shouldn't take common sense precautions.

[DevonRex]

21. Starting to take precautions. I'm high risk so I have to.

[TheKentuckian]

23. I feel like its already spread everywhere and can't be contained

but that its not that bad and we'll be ok.

Watching but not worried.

[Uzybone]

25. Not anymore concerned than I would be about regular flu

taking the same precautions all of us should be taking as regular habit and having my kids to the same. Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, clean areas with high traffic, and cover your mouth when you cough.

[DKRC]

26. Concerned ~ Reminded the kid about washing her hands as she went to school

We're outside of Seattle where there are 6 suspected cases. An 11 year old boy has been hospitalized.

[marlakay]

27. I would feel better if I wasn't sneezing and sore throat

I am sure its my spring allergies, but its hard not to wonder from all the hype.

[Marrah_G]

29. Concerned but calm

Reading the latest information and staying current but not panicking

[mvd]

34. Gone from slightly concerned to "this will pass"

I take the precautions I normally would.

[William769]

36. Being in a high risk group, starting to get nervous.

The man I trust the most (my Doctor), has already told me what precautions to take.

SOme people here have not taken into account the risk groups which are more than you think, and they do so at their own peril.

[demokatgurrl]

38. It's a flu. They come around every year

Every year researchers try to predict which strain(s) are likely to spread and make the vaccine for that. Some years they hit, some years they miss. And very year, tens of thousands die in the U.S. from flu and complications. We're not even CLOSE to that yet.
And if you get the flu and you don't have a compromised immune system or major health problem, a few days in bed and it's over. I had it last year.

Every should just CHILL.

[Phoonzang]

40. Alot less than I was yesterday, even though there's an outbreak at my universty.

I wasn't all that worried before, but the news that the virus isn't nearly as virulent as they first thought is a big comfort.

[Vinca]

42. If it starts popping up nearby I'll be more concerned, but even

if the worst case scenario happens . . . it's the flu virus, not the ebola virus. Most people have a mild illness, some with weakened immune systems fare worse. That happens during a regular flu season.

[AtomicKitten]

43. Not nearly as nervous as pigs. n/t

[quidam56]

46. Extremely worried. I am almost afraid to go into public places.

Especially emergency rooms and hospitals breeding MRSA ( Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aurea's ) Our very health care system is infecting our communities because Profit Care comes ahead of Patient Care. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 My link will take you to a page where you can see what is deemed, defended and supported in East Tennessee as "the acceptable standards of care"...