Swine Flu. Are we in big trouble with this then?

[Meglet]

This sounds worse than the bird flu that thankfully never really happened.

news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_news/top_stories/801/80183/story8018356.shtml?

Sky news have a press conference on now about possible cases in new york. When do we start panic buying .

[JeanPoole]

corney, i was thinking a full cottonwool suit!

[rosalie12]

OMG if this is the brief from NHS, I am well pooping my pants!!

[CarmenSanDiego]

I'm studying management and just starting the module in healthcare. The final project is scenario planning and it seems to be the focus of the course. Scenario planning is all about thinking up worst case scenarios and extremes. So while this sounds horrendous, I think it's just the product of some imaginative management brainstorming.

I've certainly calmed down about this flu. It seems pretty mild and like average flu outside of Mexico.

Let's hope there are some serious questions about international farming asked to reduce the risk of animal flu occuring like this,

[badgermonkey]

I read someone saying that the various governments and institutions are using this as a way of testing their contingency plans - it might panic some people but the only real fallout will be that people are OVERprepared, which is no bad thing. And if nothing materialises, at least we know there is a robust set of plans that can be implemented remarkably swiftly - all this has been activated in a week, which is very reassuring.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Might be worth phoning nhsdirect Riven if your instinct says so.

[Lukilu]

I'm sure it's just a cold Riven. We're all bound to be a bit on the paranoid side at the moment! But if it gets worse it'd be worth checking with nhsdirect if you're worried. They might be a bit more helpful this time.

[NotmyELFtoday]

StripeyKnickersSpotty, I know you're probably a bit shocked about what you have been briefed on, but perhaps not the best thing to post onto websites.
Those are measures or plans for extreme circumstances, we're not there yet and given that some papers are reporting a decline in new cases reported, and Mexico has reduced its death toll as samples turned out to be negative for swine flu, its possible it wont be as bad as people initially thought.
People can get themselves upset/wound up reading measures like that, or watching disaster films - I remember watching "Right At Your Door" which was a flim about terrorists using a biological bomb in LA, and how the government stepped in and treated (or not) the people affected - the ending was a real twist and it left me TERRIFIED. So perhaps, in these circumstances, a little thought about sensitive people before posts like that?

[frasersmummy]

stripey.... I can imagine you have just terrified a lot of people

Is there any reason to post this

I appreciate you are freaked by what you were told but I imagine you were told this in a room with people round about to ask questions or to reassure those who got freaked

Typing these "facts"in such a manner on here is -in my rather humble non medical proffession - scaremongering

[coochicoo]

Agree with ELF and Frasersmummy. No need to post that on a website...it's obviously worst case scenario rather than what WILL happen. People aren't dropping like flies, even in Mexico. Like I said, the guy on the news last night was talking normally and said he was just peeved that he had to stay indoors for 5 days. They are not the words of a man knocking on death's door.

Please get some perspective!

It's no longer headline news so take some comfort in that.

[MANATEEequineOHARA]

NotmyELFtoday
I am glad you said that, I did not want to look too scared but disaster movies etc freak me out and leave me scared for weeks! Really, I avoid them! The post by Stripey was seriously freaking me out, until the but about Tesco refrigeration lorries, that just sounded silly.

I am being quite rational about this though, I hope, in thinking that ffs, it is like normal flu in symptoms, so...it is ok really...?

[coochicoo]

Sorry Riven, I wasn't trivialising your concerns. Your worries regarding your dd catching the virus are, of course, completely valid. It's all the normally healthy people stockpiling food and voicing tales of doom that I think need to get a little perspective.

[slackrunner]

Tesco lorries ? How do you get an upgrade to an Ocado lorry?

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

Slackrunner - pmsl. I want M & S myself. Was wondering if the nhs were getting mass clubcard points or something.

Seriously though, I know you must be shocked by what you heard Stripey, but really that is worst worst case scenario and sounds 'sensible' in that case (in a very cold hearted way - don't get me wrong I wouldnt think that was fair). Putting it on an internet forum where people who are scared in the first place may read it, and when others have been working so hard to reassure and calm people down, will frighten people needlessly.

Riven - my heart goes out to you it really does. It must be scary for you but we all think you are so strong - and you put the end of the world meeja people to shame.

[OhYouBadBadPig]

Riven

[frasersmummy]

oh riven

I hope your daughter gets better by morning

You sound like a sensible leveh headed parent..just remember to call for backup if you need it..

You are in my thoughts and prayers .. sending you strength to get you through the night

[expatinscotland]

Riven, wishing your DD and your family the best tonight.

[flymetothemoon]

Riven, hope she's ok.
Have you called again to chase them up?

p.s. sod the Ocado and M&S van, please can I have the one for Fortnum and Mason's food hall??

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

Apart from the Tesco lorry bit I haven't said anything that hasn't been reported in our local paper. I'd imagine if its in the local rag then other papers are also running similar stories.