April 29, 2009

Swine Flu Reeks Havoc


All schools in our district are closed until May 11 due to the Swine Flu epidemic. We heard this yesterday while watching AFV (America's Funniest Home Videos). Apparently, there are three suspected cases in our school district alone.

The Swine Flu claimed the first US victim in Texas yesterday, a 23-month old baby. The child traveled with family to Brownsville, TX from Mexico and died in Houston. Read "Toddler in Texas Becomes 1st Swine Flu Death in US." The Swine Flu gripped Mexico first claiming about 159 lives.

The past weeks San Antonio has been celebrating Fiesta, which is a big party that brings masses of people together for a week and a half long celebration. I've heard many relatives of San Antonio residents come in from Mexico for Fiesta events. Additionally, many San Antonio residents travel to Mexico to work, shop, visit family, and vacation. This leads me to believe the Swine Flu will only spread around here.

Up until the Texas death, most of the cases here have been mild.

After reading reports about this, my concern levels have risen. I started looking in to what we can do to prevent the disease from passing our doors. Swine Flu can live on surfaces for an extended time after placement and spreads hand to mouth.
  • Wash your hands frequently with antibacterial, hand sanitizing soap
  • Avoid letting people invade your personal space-keep them further than arm's length away
  • Do not interact socially
So, the kids and I are going to be hermits for the next week and a half. My poor husband has to go to work. I told him to get a face mask, not to touch anything, and avoid all of his co-workers. He told me that's impossible. If he comes home coughing, feverish, or otherwise ill, he will be banished to the garage.

Curious as I am, I wanted to know how this Swine Flu darkened our path. It comes from "intense exposure" to pigs. Pigs can get the flu. (No wonder those creatures always look like they have snotty noses.) However, you can not get Swine Flu by eating pork.

How do we get rid of this?
  • The disease must be prevented in pigs through vaccine-they're working on this strain.
  • Transfer to humans from pigs must be prevented-this has to do with environmental and cleanliness conditions at the pig farms.
  • Passing the flu from human to human must be stopped-wash your hands and avoid sick people.
Now, I was wondering if this ever growing situation could be some sinister plot gone array. I'm thinking germ warfare. There is a lot going on in the world today.
  • The borders of Mexico are exploding with stories of horrible acts by drug-Mafia types.
  • We still have situations overseas here, there, and everywhere.
Well, I'm not going any further with my list. Unless you live under a rock, you know what's happening.

Know this, we are on the verge of a pandemic. All people need to protect themselves and their families from contracting Swine Flu.

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10 comments:

  1. Muse:

    Good post and excellent advice. Anyone wanting to track this disease as well as learn as much as they can about it should visit the Centers for Disease Control's website at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

    Also, Maureen at "I'd Rather Be Blogging" blogged about some fantastic face masks at: www.ratherbeblogging.com. Check out her current post and pick the mask you love.

    Happy trails.

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  2. Yes, this is scary, and you give some good advice. Although I've paid attention to possible pandemics because my grandfather died in the original one. It appears the strain may already have mutated to a milder form, luckily! Plus modern medicine means a pandemic is less likely and even if it occurs we have solutions--we are so fortunate

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  3. Hello Past!

    Thanks for stopping by! I'll check it out...

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  4. Hey Swu!

    Wait a minute, I thought you were in Vegas racking it in?

    I hadn't seen that link, thanks!

    I don't know I'd go as far as a face mask...I'll get one for my husband though!

    Have a good one!

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  5. Hi Conda!

    We are so very fortunate to live in the times we do. The whole situation is scary. The teen is driving me nuts being home though.

    I read some reports some of the whole situation was blown out of proportion. I don't know that it was. People are getting sick and some are dying. To me, death is cause for alarm.

    I am so glad it's not as bad as what they had anticipated.

    Take care!

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  6. Hi! All seems to be ok Downunder. A few concerns turned out to be just the flu. What type of masks are we supposed to wear when treating a suspect case? A: Duck masks!

    Take Care,
    Peter

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  7. Peter you're so funny!

    I don't know what's wrong with me lately,

    I've had these strange feelings and sensations. And I've just been feeling a little off.

    All I want to do is eat corn and roll around in the mud.

    Have a great day!

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  8. I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. Passing the flu from human to human must be stopped-wash your hands and avoid sick people. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  9. That's really nice of you to share these tips with us.

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  10. Thanks a lot for spreading the awareness about H1N1

    ReplyDelete

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