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Sensible, non-panicking Swine flu measures?

271 replies

bella29 · 30/04/2009 12:13

Just wondered.....

they (a doctor) said on my local BBC radio station this morning that it would be wise to set by a stock of paracetamol, calpol etc. just in case.

Anything else you are doing?

OP posts:
jumpingbeans · 30/04/2009 13:31

this will be just my luck, next month is last payment on a very long, very high credit card, i know i will get pig flu and keel over just when that payment has cleared my bank.

JeMeSouviens · 30/04/2009 13:31

Our Pandemic Response Team (!)
has these recommendations:

Our recommendation to you is to practice good hygiene and take personal responsibility for your health. This includes:

Wash your hands with soap and water before eating, after using the restroom, or touching ?public? items like doorknobs or handrails. The use of a hand sanitizer will also minimize the potential for the spread of viruses and bacteria in those settings where soap and water is not readily available

Control your coughs and sneezes! Cough and sneeze into a tissue whenever possible, and then be sure to promptly wash your hands. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than your hand or into the air. Droplets from coughs and sneezes are primary routes of transmission of viruses from one person to the next

Dispose of tissues and any other personal barriers used (e.g., face masks) properly

If you feel ill with flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, vomiting), stay home and avoid public places to keep from further spreading the virus. If your symptoms become severe, seek medical care
Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes, as these places are routes of entry for the virus to enter your body

Do not share cups, beverages, or unwashed eating utensils with others

Consider cancelling social or business functions that will bring large numbers of people together

Report any flu-like symptoms to your regular doctor or onsite medical personnel

Avoid travel to affected areas unless absolutely necessary

wannaBe · 30/04/2009 13:37

but only five people in this country have been diagnosed with swine flu. (unless more have been since this morning). If it's as infectious as people are saying people would be dropping like flies...

Look at the noro (sp?) virus of a couple of years ago. That was extremely prevalent and spread like wildfire. but this really doesn't appear to be spreading quite that fast.. the difference being obviously that it has spread from country to country because of travel, but the levels in this country aren't even at epidemic level yet.

Yes it's always good to be aware. But talk of this being the end of humanity/that there will be no water/electricity is just scaremongering. And IMO the only issue with there being a lack of food would be either if people go and panic buy (as seems to be being suggested) or if imports are halted to limit the spread of the virus.

seeker · 30/04/2009 13:40

Those you you who know what they are talking about on this matter - presumably this is just like any other flu outbreak - the deaths and serious illness will be among the elderly and immuno-supressed - and presumably people in these groups or dealing with them will already be taking precautions to protect them from all infections?

Horton · 30/04/2009 13:47

"the deaths and serious illness will be among the elderly and immuno-supressed"

No, not necessarily.

Most of the people who have died so far are, I understand, between 25 and 45 - in other words, youngish and reasonably healthy individuals. The reason this happens is slightly unclear but basically a healthy immune response to something like this could be the actual cause of death.

This is from someone I know online who does know what he's talking about (he's a research scientist).

"The reason isn't known for certain at the moment, but one theory is a 'cytokine storm'. Cytokines are involved in regulating aspects of the immune system and when this regulation goes haywire (sometimes induced by certain pathogens) it can cause an exaggerated immune response which harms the host.

Some patients infected with the H5N1 (bird flu) strain died from acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by this cytokine storm rather than directly from the virus. Cytokine storms have also been induced in mouse models infected with the 1918 H1N1 flu strain, which also killed mostly young, healthy adults."

MadamDeathstare · 30/04/2009 13:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hannahsaunt · 30/04/2009 13:54

Dh has decreed that should one of us get it, they will be quarantined to the basement (plus a parent if it's ds3, for which straws will be drawn!) and the others will remain at home until the affected person is better and all others have had/are beyond the infectious period .

As such, we are to have a suffiency of painkillers, wine and one thermometer per person!

Buda · 30/04/2009 14:00

Actually I am panicking now as I definitely didn't buy enough wine and it is a holiday here tomorrow so shops are shut.

No cases in Hungary so far as far as I know.

Letter came home from school on Tues warning parents to keep children home if they showed any flu symptoms.

CompareTheMeerkat · 30/04/2009 14:03

I bought 20 bottles of beer yesterday.

And we have quite a bit of loo roll due to a good offer recently.

I suppose I could get some paracetamol.

MrsTittleMouse · 30/04/2009 14:09

Blimey, it must be serious, DH has actually agreed to get some extra supplies in. Plus I've checked that I actually have an inhaler, that it's in date and that it actually works. Which is a bit considering that I've had asthma since I was 10.

MadamDeathstare · 30/04/2009 15:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ivykaty44 · 30/04/2009 15:58

take zinc, vit B and wash hands more regular stop touching face and carry lots of packets of tissues

Chicken Soup
Bread rolls in freezer
extra loo rolls
a few extra froozen bits - fish, vegtables

asprin, neurofen

cough lozangers vit C

Shant be getting pet food

MadamDeathstare · 30/04/2009 16:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mosschops30 · 30/04/2009 16:07

bugger! I went out and bought £30 worth of tinned goods (did you know that decent soup is 87p, I feel like Ive woken up 20 years in the future)

But i havent bought anything like rice, or pasta or toilet rolls or bottled water, will have to go back tonight.

dh will be in hysterics as he already thinks I am waayyyy over the top (as did the woman on the checkout staring at all my tins)!

Ledodgy · 30/04/2009 16:11

My 3 year old is supposed to be getting is adenoids out on 14th May. This is probably a stupid question but do you reckon his op will be effected? I mean he has to stay at home for 14 days after anyway to prevent infection but do you think in this current climate it would be too much of a risk or am I over thinking this?

Ledodgy · 30/04/2009 16:11

My 3 year old is supposed to be getting is adenoids out on 14th May. This is probably a stupid question but do you reckon his op will be effected? I mean he has to stay at home for 14 days after anyway to prevent infection but do you think in this current climate it would be too much of a risk or am I over thinking this?

Marne · 30/04/2009 16:11

I think people are acting a bit OTT, i'm not stocking up (although i always have a cupboard full of cold and flu remidies)

Yes its possible that a lot of people will get it but its also possible that they wont get it. As long as people stay indoors if they are ill and not drag there selves to work/school, and people was their hands and use tissues then it might be contained.

I think we should just carry on as normal and stop getting stressed out by it all.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 30/04/2009 16:18

I think the best thing we can do at the moment is to watch and see how this progresses. I'm keeping up to date with confirmed cases and what the WHO is saying. Also as DH is in the military, I am waiting until they start implementing preventive strategies before stepping up to the next level. I'll also be watching what happens in NZ/ Australia, as from what I've read the real danger to us will come in the winter, and they are just entering their winter now, so it may be a clue as to what we can expect.

In the meantime, been teaching the kids the correct way to wash hands etc, and am prepared to forgo crowded places (not that we go to any anyway!) and withdraw the kids from school/ nursery if cases start arising locally. I think it is good to have a plan, though- it makes you feel more confident. I know some people scoff, but look at that guy in Australia who has prepared for bush fires every year and been laughed at by his neighbours- until this year, when his was the only house left standing! It's not a case of panicking, but better to have a plan and not need it than need it and not have it, is it not?

mosschops30 · 30/04/2009 16:21

8 confirmed cases now in Uk, 2 in London and 1 in Newcastle

Ivykaty44 · 30/04/2009 17:45

Ah the pet food is for pets - thank goodness I wouldn't like to eat pet food as the stuff my mate gives her dog makes him fart Being stuck in the house with farts is not good

MadamDeathstare · 30/04/2009 19:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ipanemagirl · 01/05/2009 09:23

so am I being ridiculous in wondering whether to take dd (7 months) swimming today in the baby pool which is the temperature of a hot bath at the public pool? I'm also in London.

I can't imagine a better environment for germs than a hot baby pool!
any thoughts? should I not take her?

AMumInScotland · 01/05/2009 10:25

Flu germs like lots of others are mainly spread mainly by coughs and sneezes. I don't think they would survive in hot chlorinated water, or else babies would be coming down with loads of other illnesses all the time, as we all harbour loads of bugs on an average day.

Unless you normally worry that the baby pool is a festering pile of germs, then there is no additional reason to worry because of swine flu than there is to worry about her catching anything else there.

So far as I know, there's no reason to worry about catching anything except verrucas at swimming pools.

Housemum · 01/05/2009 12:38

The Ocado man probably thinks I'm stockpiling for flu now - I wondered why he gave me a strange look! (Big boxes of nappies on 4-for-3 so bought nearly a year's worth!!)

My plan so far has been to ignore the news Although I see the need for the zombie-plan, I still can't really believe that it'll be needed, but I will go and stock up on Fray Bentos pies and multi-vitamins just in case... (Have a load of frozen fruit cubes of various sorts in freezer as they were such a bargain in Asda, they seem like a great idea now)

I think the NHS should re-use their sneezing campaign picture from Xmas, with the little girl sneezing out a load of germs (but only cos that's my DD2 and I'd like to see it again !!)

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 01/05/2009 12:41

So what does a mum who is breastfeeding do if she gets the flu? Does she continue to BF or does she keep away from her infant to minimise infection?